DDR2 SODIMM Timings/SPD Inspiron 6400 question.

[Clunk]

Oooh first post in the forum

Dell Inspiron 6400
C2D T5500
Bios version A12 (december 19th 06)
If you need more specs, please let me know.

I have a matched pair of DDR2 2x1GB SODIMM sticks and they are advertised as 4-4-4-12 (which is the same as the samsung 2x512mb sticks that i took out), but with the Corsair sticks, it defaults to 5-5-5-15.

Cpu-z shows the SPD of the sticks to be 5-5-5-15.

There are no settings in the bios to manually set the ram to 4-4-4-12, so could someone tell me if the ram I have, has been wrongly packaged or is there something wrong as the laptop runs noticably slower with the 2gb kit installed.

any ideas?

Thanks

[Yellowbeard]

Can you list the complete part # for your Corsair memory? Can you also link the advertisement for the memory you bought.

[Clunk]

On the packaging, there is VS2GSDSKIT667D2 and 06421311

and on the sticks, VS1GSDS667D2 and 173774 and 0642131-1

Here is the link

Is that what you need?

[Yellowbeard]

Corsair VS/SO DIMM Specifications

Our VS and SO DIMMs conform to JEDEC specifications as opposed to having guaranteed timings like OCing parts. So, 5,5,5,15 is correct for a 667mhz part and also why your MOBO runs them at that speed.

Our memory configurator suggests the PC4200/DDR533 SO DIMMs. However, I see no reason why the 667 won't run just fine. When you look at CPU-Z has the CPU speed been dropped with the new DIMMs? On a notebook you should never notice the difference between CAS4 and CAS5 so I would suspect some issue other than the the latencies.

[dave87]

The 2gb Samsung Kit I've got in my laptop runs at 5-5-5-13, as was supplied by dell. Afaik - it runs at the full 667mhz, or at least it does with my Core Duo T2500

[Clunk]

Thanks,

Yes, it does run at 667 with seemingly no problems. I did some sandra benchmark tests with cas 4 1gb and cas 5 2gb but I cant find them. Ill redo them now and post the result here so you can see if I'm imagining it being slower

currently we have

SiSoftware Sandra

Benchmark Results
Memory Latency (Random Access) : 180 ns
Speed Factor : 55.8
Results Interpretation : Lower index values are better.

Benchmark Breakdown
1kB Range : 5.4 clk (~3.2 ns)
4kB Range : 5.4 clk (~3.2 ns)
16kB Range : 5.5 clk (~3.3 ns)
64kB Range : 25.2 clk (~15.1 ns)
256kB Range : 28.2 clk (~17.0 ns)
1MB Range : 29.4 clk (~17.7 ns)
4MB Range : 127.8 ns (212.5 clk)
16MB Range : 166.1 ns (276.2 clk)
64MB Range : 179.8 ns (298.9 clk)

Performance Test Status
Run ID : XXXXXX on 09 January 2007 at 23:43:42
System Timer : 3.6MHz
Memory Access : Random

Processor
Model : Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU T5500 @ 1.66GHz
Speed : 1.66GHz
Performance Rating : PR2825 (estimated)
Cores per Processor : 2 Unit(s)
Type : Mobile, Dual-Core
L2 On-board Cache : 2MB ECC Synchronous, ATC, 8-way set, 64 byte line size, 2 threads sharing

Chipset 1
Model : Dell Computer Corp 955XM/945GM/PM/GMS/940GML Express Processor to DRAM Controller
Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 277MHz (1108MHz data rate)
Width : 64-bit
Maximum Bus Bandwidth : 8864MB/s (estimated)

Logical/Chipset 1 Memory Banks
Bank 0 : 512MB DDR2-SDRAM 5.0-5-5-15 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS) CR1
Bank 1 : 512MB DDR2-SDRAM 5.0-5-5-15 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS) CR1
Bank 4 : 512MB DDR2-SDRAM 5.0-5-5-15 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS) CR1
Bank 5 : 512MB DDR2-SDRAM 5.0-5-5-15 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS) CR1
Shared Memory : 8MB
Channels : 2
Speed : 4x 277MHz (1108MHz data rate)
Width : 64-bit
Memory Controller in Processor : No
Maximum Memory Bus Bandwidth : 17728MB/s (estimated)

Performance Tips
Warning 2544 : System/Video shared memory greatly reduces performance. Use external video card.
Tip 2 : Double-click tip or press Enter while a tip is selected for more information about the tip.




SiSoftware Sandra

Benchmark Results
Combined Index : 9103 MB/s
Results Interpretation : Higher index values are better.
Speed Factor : 20.5
Results Interpretation : Lower index values are better.

Float SSE2 Cache/Memory Results Breakdown
Data Item Size : 16 byte(s)
Buffering Used : No
Offset Displacement Used : Yes

Performance Test Status
Run ID : XXXXXX on 09 January 2007 at 23:55:56
NUMA Support : No
SMP Test : No
Total Test Threads : 2
Multi-Core Test : Yes
SMT Test : No
Dynamic MP/MT Load Balance : No
Processor Affinity : P0C0T0 P0C1T0
System Timer : 3.6MHz
Page Size : 4kB
Use Large Memory Pages : No

Processor
Model : Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU T5500 @ 1.66GHz
Speed : 1.66GHz
Performance Rating : PR5654 (estimated)
Cores per Processor : 2 Unit(s)
Type : Mobile, Dual-Core
L2 On-board Cache : 2MB ECC Synchronous, ATC, 8-way set, 64 byte line size, 2 threads sharing

Features
SSE Technology : Yes
SSE2 Technology : Yes
SSE3 Technology : Yes
Supplemental SSE3 Technology : Yes
HTT - Hyper-Threading Technology : No

Chipset 1
Model : Dell Computer Corp 955XM/945GM/PM/GMS/940GML Express Processor to DRAM Controller
Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 277MHz (1108MHz data rate)
Width : 64-bit
Maximum Bus Bandwidth : 8864MB/s (estimated)

Logical/Chipset 1 Memory Banks
Bank 0 : 512MB DDR2-SDRAM 5.0-5-5-15 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS) CR1
Bank 1 : 512MB DDR2-SDRAM 5.0-5-5-15 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS) CR1
Bank 4 : 512MB DDR2-SDRAM 5.0-5-5-15 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS) CR1
Bank 5 : 512MB DDR2-SDRAM 5.0-5-5-15 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS) CR1
Shared Memory : 8MB
Channels : 2
Speed : 4x 277MHz (1108MHz data rate)
Width : 64-bit
Memory Controller in Processor : No
Maximum Memory Bus Bandwidth : 17728MB/s (estimated)

Performance Tips
Notice 5008 : To change benchmarks, click Options.
Notice 5004 : Synthetic benchmark. May not tally with 'real-life' performance.
Notice 5006 : Only compare the results with ones obtained using the same version!
Tip 11 : Use the 'Switch Chart Type' button to switch between Detailed and Combined charts.
Warning 2544 : System/Video shared memory greatly reduces performance. Use external video card.
Tip 2 : Double-click tip or press Enter while a tip is selected for more information about the tip.


That is with the 2gb of corsair @ cas5 Ill put the samsung in and post those results in a sec.

[Clunk]

SiSoftware Sandra

Benchmark Results
Memory Latency (Random Access) : 174 ns
Speed Factor : 52.9
Results Interpretation : Lower index values are better.

Benchmark Breakdown
1kB Range : 5.5 clk (~3.3 ns)
4kB Range : 5.5 clk (~3.3 ns)
16kB Range : 5.8 clk (~3.5 ns)
64kB Range : 25.9 clk (~15.6 ns)
256kB Range : 28.9 clk (~17.4 ns)
1MB Range : 30.5 clk (~18.4 ns)
4MB Range : 121.8 ns (202.6 clk)
16MB Range : 160.0 ns (266.0 clk)
64MB Range : 174.2 ns (289.5 clk)

Performance Test Status
Run ID : XXXXXX on 10 January 2007 at 00:18:17
System Timer : 3.6MHz
Memory Access : Random

Processor
Model : Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU T5500 @ 1.66GHz
Speed : 1.66GHz
Performance Rating : PR2827 (estimated)
Cores per Processor : 2 Unit(s)
Type : Mobile, Dual-Core
L2 On-board Cache : 2MB ECC Synchronous, ATC, 8-way set, 64 byte line size, 2 threads sharing

Chipset 1
Model : Dell Computer Corp 955XM/945GM/PM/GMS/940GML Express Processor to DRAM Controller
Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 277MHz (1108MHz data rate)
Width : 64-bit
Maximum Bus Bandwidth : 8864MB/s (estimated)

Logical/Chipset 1 Memory Banks
Bank 0 : 256MB DDR2-SDRAM 4.0-4-4-11 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS) CR1
Bank 1 : 256MB DDR2-SDRAM 4.0-4-4-11 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS) CR1
Bank 4 : 256MB DDR2-SDRAM 4.0-4-4-11 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS) CR1
Bank 5 : 256MB DDR2-SDRAM 4.0-4-4-11 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS) CR1
Shared Memory : 8MB
Channels : 2
Speed : 4x 221MHz (884MHz data rate)
Width : 64-bit
Memory Controller in Processor : No
Maximum Memory Bus Bandwidth : 14144MB/s (estimated)

Performance Tips
Warning 2544 : System/Video shared memory greatly reduces performance. Use external video card.
Tip 2 : Double-click tip or press Enter while a tip is selected for more information about the tip.




SiSoftware Sandra

Benchmark Results
Combined Index : 9191 MB/s
Results Interpretation : Higher index values are better.
Speed Factor : 20.8
Results Interpretation : Lower index values are better.

Float SSE2 Cache/Memory Results Breakdown
Data Item Size : 16 byte(s)
Buffering Used : No
Offset Displacement Used : Yes

Performance Test Status
Run ID : XXXXXX on 10 January 2007 at 00:20:58
NUMA Support : No
SMP Test : No
Total Test Threads : 2
Multi-Core Test : Yes
SMT Test : No
Dynamic MP/MT Load Balance : No
Processor Affinity : P0C0T0 P0C1T0
System Timer : 3.6MHz
Page Size : 4kB
Use Large Memory Pages : No

Processor
Model : Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU T5500 @ 1.66GHz
Speed : 1.66GHz
Performance Rating : PR5650 (estimated)
Cores per Processor : 2 Unit(s)
Type : Mobile, Dual-Core
L2 On-board Cache : 2MB ECC Synchronous, ATC, 8-way set, 64 byte line size, 2 threads sharing

Features
SSE Technology : Yes
SSE2 Technology : Yes
SSE3 Technology : Yes
Supplemental SSE3 Technology : Yes
HTT - Hyper-Threading Technology : No

Chipset 1
Model : Dell Computer Corp 955XM/945GM/PM/GMS/940GML Express Processor to DRAM Controller
Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 277MHz (1108MHz data rate)
Width : 64-bit
Maximum Bus Bandwidth : 8864MB/s (estimated)

Logical/Chipset 1 Memory Banks
Bank 0 : 256MB DDR2-SDRAM 4.0-4-4-11 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS) CR1
Bank 1 : 256MB DDR2-SDRAM 4.0-4-4-11 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS) CR1
Bank 4 : 256MB DDR2-SDRAM 4.0-4-4-11 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS) CR1
Bank 5 : 256MB DDR2-SDRAM 4.0-4-4-11 (tCL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS) CR1
Shared Memory : 8MB
Channels : 2
Speed : 4x 221MHz (884MHz data rate)
Width : 64-bit
Memory Controller in Processor : No
Maximum Memory Bus Bandwidth : 14144MB/s (estimated)

Performance Tips
Notice 5008 : To change benchmarks, click Options.
Notice 5004 : Synthetic benchmark. May not tally with 'real-life' performance.
Notice 5006 : Only compare the results with ones obtained using the same version!
Tip 11 : Use the 'Switch Chart Type' button to switch between Detailed and Combined charts.
Warning 2544 : System/Video shared memory greatly reduces performance. Use external video card.
Tip 2 : Double-click tip or press Enter while a tip is selected for more information about the tip.

[Clunk]

Its weird, with the 2x512mb fitted, it boots quicker, when I click on a program to open, it loads quicker (apart from photoshop), it just feels quicker in general.

over to you

[Clunk]

Did I imagine it then?

[Clunk]

Hello? Dorris, is that you?

[Yellowbeard]

LOL...sorry for the delay Clunk. It's that pesky Atlantic Ocean and the time difference thing, I was asleep.

I have a couple of ideas but I have to admit I have not done much notebook troubleshooting.

Based on the configurator recommendation, your machine needs DDR533 SO DIMMs. Since it has 667s, I'm guessing the sluggishness is coming from the bios trying to negotiate the new DIMM speed. So, is there a way to reset the CMOS? In some cases when adding memory, especiallly a different type or speed, a bios clear is necessary. Also, is there a bios revision available for it? I see DEC 2006 above so I doubt it.

And, just for troubleshooting, can you run the machine with just 1 DIMM and see how it does? As a last resort, I'd contact Dell to see if they know of any issues with adding 667 DIMMs to your specific machine. It does not appear that they are defective per se but, obviously there is some issue here.

I just now sent a link for this over to RAM GUY. I'll add his wisdom when I hear from him.

[Clunk]

Thanks for the reply - I forgot about you being in America

Dell actually sell a 2gb 667 upgrade, so I know that its ok for it.

No newer bios revisions as yet.

I can ask Dell, but I'm sure that you know that they will blame the ram as it isnt their own stuff.

If RamGuy comes up with anything, that will be great.

Thanks

[Tamper]

Clunk, you are not imagining the slow down with the 667 Ram. Please refer to the Wikipedia article on the Core 2 CPU.

Apparently 1066MHZ FSB CPUs like the one in your Dell run faster with 533 because the clocks are in synch. The Corsair configurator was correct in its reccommendation.

[cube3D]

Mobile versions of Core 2 Duo has 667 FSB. Only desktop versions E6700 etc. has 1066 FSB.

Anyway I has just bought the same pack - on the packaging, VS2GSDSKIT667D2 and on the sticks, S1GSDS667D2.

I bought it as CL4 and I was convinced that the parts has been changed in the pack by the shop when I discovered CL5.

I have the same configuration ie. I have got samsung 512MB 533 CL4 and the same Corsair pack. I haven't noticed drop of speed. Actualy I was dissapointed that there is no increase of speed as I expected because of FSB match (667).

I am going to do the same tests with sisoft and I will compare them.

I will update here test results shortly.

Regards,

[dave87]

This probably won't help, but I'm running the dell supplied 2gb kit, but on the original core duo (not c2d). I can run benchmarks if it would be any help?

[cube3D]

This probably won't help, but I'm running the dell supplied 2gb kit, but on the original core duo (not c2d). I can run benchmarks if it would be any help?

It depends which core duo you have. Some of them have 533 and some 667, see there:
indigo.intel.com/compare_cpu/default.aspx?familyid=2&culture=en-US

You have to match memory speed with core fsb to achieve maximum performance. According to Intel your T2500 has 667 fsb.

Anyway, my c2d (T7200 667MHz)is 64 bits and it really accerelated with 667MHz memory upon 64 bits windows. With 32 bits windows the difference 533 vs 667 was hardly any.

Unfortunately Sisift Sandra is not working on my new operating system. However it should - only prompts problem "unable to open database".