[SOLVED] Testing RAM speed

skwurl nutz · 10-08-2009, 03:23 PM

I just upgraded my comp to 2 GB from 512 MB. Is there a way to test how fast it's working now. It SEEMS faster but would like to know exactly how fast it's working. Thnx

**wrench97** · 10-08-2009, 03:54 PM

CPUz on the Memory tab will show the current speed, remember to double the speed shown for DDR(DDR= Double Data Rate it reads/writes on the up and down of the pulse so DDR2 800 would be shown as a 400Mhz buss speed).> http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

skwurl nutz · 10-08-2009, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrench97

CPUz on the Memory tab will show the current speed, remember to double the speed shown for DDR(DDR= Double Data Rate it reads/writes on the up and down of the pulse so DDR2 800 would be shown as a 400Mhz buss speed).> http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

This is what shows under 'memory'. I'm going to guess it's working at 2 gigs. Am I right?

**wrench97** · 10-08-2009, 05:12 PM

That looks like 2Gigs running at 333Mhz.

skwurl nutz · 10-08-2009, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrench97

That looks like 2Gigs running at 333Mhz.

Cool, thnx for the links and help.

Phædrus2401 · 10-08-2009, 06:01 PM

The "gigabyte" part is the amount of RAM; it also has a clock speed (MHz), latency (clock cycles), and format.

A larger amount of RAM (2048MB instead of 512MB) may not be "faster"--it may even be slower. However, it can make the system as a whole faster, because if you have too little RAM the computer will have to read/write excess data to the hard drive instead, and that's a *lot* slower than RAM of any speed.

skwurl nutz · 10-08-2009, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phædrus2401

The "gigabyte" part is the amount of RAM; it also has a clock speed (MHz), latency (clock cycles), and format.

A larger amount of RAM (2048MB instead of 512MB) may not be "faster"--it may even be slower. However, it can make the system as a whole faster, because if you have too little RAM the computer will have to read/write excess data to the hard drive instead, and that's a *lot* slower than RAM of any speed.

One thing I noticed lately is that the HDD spins a lot when opening up things. Also I will be in the middle of something and the HDD starts spinning and will sometimes freeze the comp up a little. Is this a sign of too low memory?

Phædrus2401 · 10-08-2009, 09:02 PM

If it does it while opening files or programs that simply means it's just reading a large file from the disk. It may have been doing it for quite some time and you just didn't notice. Programs also load information into what is called the page file. This is used to store information that isn't used as often as what is stored in RAM; when you're low on RAM it stores things to the page file that would normally go in RAM, hence why having more RAM can speed up your system, to an extent. However, programs will always load things into the page file, so it's nothing to worry about.

skwurl nutz · 10-09-2009, 08:02 AM

Thnx for all the info.

10-08-2009, 03:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
skwurl nutz Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 17 OS: win XP w/ sp3	[SOLVED] Testing RAM speed I just upgraded my comp to 2 GB from 512 MB. Is there a way to test how fast it's working now. It SEEMS faster but would like to know exactly how fast it's working. Thnx

10-08-2009, 03:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,527 OS: Win7	Re: Testing RAM speed CPUz on the Memory tab will show the current speed, remember to double the speed shown for DDR(DDR= Double Data Rate it reads/writes on the up and down of the pulse so DDR2 800 would be shown as a 400Mhz buss speed).> http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php __________________ Power Supply and Selection

10-08-2009, 05:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,527 OS: Win7	Re: Testing RAM speed That looks like 2Gigs running at 333Mhz. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

10-08-2009, 06:01 PM	#6 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,794 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: Testing RAM speed The "gigabyte" part is the amount of RAM; it also has a clock speed (MHz), latency (clock cycles), and format. A larger amount of RAM (2048MB instead of 512MB) may not be "faster"--it may even be slower. However, it can make the system as a whole faster, because if you have too little RAM the computer will have to read/write excess data to the hard drive instead, and that's a lot slower than RAM of any speed. __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for. Last edited by Phædrus2401; 10-08-2009 at 06:04 PM.

10-08-2009, 09:02 PM	#8 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,794 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: Testing RAM speed If it does it while opening files or programs that simply means it's just reading a large file from the disk. It may have been doing it for quite some time and you just didn't notice. Programs also load information into what is called the page file. This is used to store information that isn't used as often as what is stored in RAM; when you're low on RAM it stores things to the page file that would normally go in RAM, hence why having more RAM can speed up your system, to an extent. However, programs will always load things into the page file, so it's nothing to worry about. __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for.

10-09-2009, 08:02 AM	#9 (permalink)
skwurl nutz Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 17 OS: win XP w/ sp3	Re: Testing RAM speed Thnx for all the info.