rams timings

[aj2003]

i know this has been posted be4 in another topic but i still dont understand what they mean

ive looked on the sites microbell posteed before

http://www.obm.co.nz/guides/overclocking/speedupddr.htm

and

http://www.techwarelabs.com/reviews/memory/memory_timings/index_3.shtml

my ram is at 2.5 /3 /3 /8 is lower number better or higher number? its generic ram will there be a noicable performance ugrade if i go to

http://www.dabs.com/uk/channels/components/memoryandaccessories/productView.htm?quicklinx=2LGM

or

http://www.dabs.com/uk/channels/components/memoryandaccessories/productView.htm?quicklinx=2NDG

jus because they both say cas3 but none of he other timings :S

thanks

 

[zerozero]

first with the simple stuff.
3200 is the frequency. Normally, there is one bit processed per clock cycle. Since there are 8 bits in a byte, you have 400 MHz RAM. DDR stands for Dual Data Rate, which means that one bit of info will be processed on the upclock and downclock so therefore, 3200 = 400 DDR = 800 MHz.

In order to understand the timings involved with those other numbers, you have to imagine your RAM as a grid composed of Rows and Columns.

At each intersection is a memory location. In order to acces this location, your CPU needs to access both columns and rows.
Those numbers represent the number of clock pulses to address your column (CAS or column address strobe) and your row (RAS or row address strobe).

The smaller the number, the faster the access time, the better the performance.
They also determine the time delay (in clock pulses) required to pass from row address to column address since the CPU can only address either one at one time. Again, the lower the better.

This site gives you a little bit more info in fairly clear layman's terms.

http://www.iamnotageek.com/articles.php?aid=1&page=1
Hope this helps.

 

[Apokalipse]

the fastest currently out is Corsair Micro PC3200 XL with timings 2-2-2-5

 

[aj2003]

ok so mine atm has CAS 2.5 which is better than the kingston and crucial? but what does the 3 / 3 / 8 mean? and do you know what the rest of the timings are for these two ram types cos i cant find them :s