ShadowDragoon

I've noticed that there aren't really a lot of tutorials/explination threads on this site for things that are for midline-to-advanced computer users. I mean, I'm pretty good with computers (I even took a year of schooling specifically about computers), but I still have no idea what some of these things are. For instance: What's the difference between your Core Clock and your Memory Clock on a GPU, and how do they relate to your Streaming Processors? Just general-nature questions.

The main reason I bring this up? I've had a lot of questions over the years, and had to feel like a total n00b making a thread just to ask something that's so common-sense to so many of you on this site. My question this time? What the heck is Timing on RAM? I go to a site like Newegg, and I see things like "4-4-4-12" or "4-5-4-15", and I have NO IDEA what that means, let alone what it's for, and what effect it has on your memory. And the difference between that and Latency? I just want to be able to tell what the best RAM out there for me is, and I need to know what some of these things mean for that. Can someone help me out here? Maybe point me in the direction of a site with a lot of answer threads for questions like these?

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Zipperhead

Hope it helps....

http://www.overclock.net/amd-memory/...explained.html

Acoma_Andy

Because there are so many different memory modules and chips, it's hard to draw one line for them. I'll try explaining the basics.

Lower timings is better, so 4-4-4-12 is better then 5-5-5-15. However, most 5-5-5-15 sets are clocked at 1000mhz and up, which makes the difference in latency neglectible. A set like the G-Skill PI PC7200 does 4-4-4-12 @ 900mhz, which is a good deal. Then there is the G-Skill PI PC8800 which does 5-5-5-15 @ 1100mhz, also a good deal. Both sets are 2x2GB and run at a lower voltage then most modules.

You'll notice most high performance modules run at 2.1v or 2.2v. The G-Skill PC8800's only require 1.9v. More voltage = more heat.

Hmm, this almost looks like an ad for G-Skill

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ShadowDragoon

That's funny, because I was looking at some G.Skillz RAM. I already have one set of 2x1GB in (I had another set of 2x1, some OCZ Platinum, but it got whacked while trying to replace a CPU...), and I'm thinking of putting in a set of 2x2GB as well, and G.Skillz was what I was looking at... They had the lowest latency, lowest timing, AND lowest voltage rating... 4-4-4-12 and 1.8-1.9v for $55... Just wanted to make sure I was reading the timings correctly before I seriously considered buying.

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Chaos: Where Great Dreams Are Born

Acoma_Andy

Can't go wrong with those

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Asus Mobile

Shadow to answer question in theory/concept which is how I read? Not what RAM you should buy and G-Skill is kill? Sorry Andy.

Point number one. GPU? Consider core the same as CPU it is the crunching power of the processor. Memory speed is the same as RAM. How fast can the processor be fed? Now Nvidia has higher clock shader speeds than the core? At this point I don't understand. As such think other than comparing Nvidia to Nvidia who cares. ATI's so far lock shader speed with core. I do know a little about this but do not want to get off track.

OK are we at memory already? I am not even going to look up I will do from memory. The point is so others do not jump down my back. And I must say 99% of the time they would lack a clue.

OK the primary is CL. Cas Latency. That is the number of clock cycles needed for a request to be executed. If this and most things I say confuse you? Not a problem just consider the numbers, not a big deal.

All right so on this one number. And I will use notebook RAM as I am most familiar with, it is the same with desktop, trust me.

If I have 667Mhz RAM and 800Mhz RAM? Well the 800Mhz is clearly faster? OK let us say it is Cas latency 5 vs 6? The long and the short as my math brain is fried. 667/800=.83? Well 5/6=.83? Do you see the offset? Also I must point out the latency does have a downward cascade. By that I mean the final number many do not consider is for all practical purposes the reset. The trigger to restart that 5 or 6 clock cycles. It is much like the CL and does increase clocks. And is more likely to be closer to 24 say?

Anyway I got tired and fell short on this. Maybe tomorrow I can say more? If you go to wiki on CL you can learn all about.

Good Luck!

Acoma_Andy

Ok, I'm sorry Asus Mobile. It just seemed easy using those modules as quick example

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Asus Mobile

I meant no offense. I died in the middle of my post, did you notice? I mean a basic concept I know but am having trouble expressing. And Andy does not Kill mean good with you kids?

ShadowDragoon

I was also just wondering if there are general computer-related tutorials around here explaining some advanced terms and such for other things. Like I said, explaining Pixel Shaders and Pipelines and such for graphics cards, or the benefits of a Quad-Core over a Dual- or Tri-Core CPU...

Is there just a place to find that kind of stuff on this site that I've never noticed before? If not, it would be really helpful to put a "Help" section in the forum, full of general tutorials, with some of the more useful and in-depth ones stickied. It would really be nice... and smart on the Moderators' part...

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Chaos: Where Great Dreams Are Born