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Inspiron 6000 IS Dual-Channel 533MHz DDR2 - and I have the screenshots to prove it!
Well, I received my Inspiron 6000 Tuesday. I bought it with only 256MB of RAM since I knew that Dell only put in 400MHz DDR2 RAM, and I replaced the single 256 MB 400MHz chip with TWO Micron MT8HTF6464HDY-53EA3 512MB 533MHz DDR2 chips that I bought from I guy on eBay for $100. The chips were originally factory installed in a Dell Inspiron 9300, and the original owner put in two 1GB chips. You can check out the auction here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6771086834
Well, I've installed the chips. The BIOS says:
Memory Installed = 1024MB
Memory Speed = 533 MHz
Memory Channel Mode = Dual
Memory Technology = DDR2 SDRAM
So in the BIOS everything seems ok.
So I run Everest Home 2.01 from www.lavalys.com. I run the 3 memory benchmarks.
Memory Latency: 104.7ns Memory: Dual DDR2-533 CL-RCD-RP-RAS: 4-4-4-12
Memory Read: 3127MB/s Memory: Dual DDR2-533
Memory Write: 808MB/s Memory: Dual DDR2-533
So everything from the benchmarks tells me this is running dual-channel 533MHz.
So I go to the Motherboard Section, and under
Memory Bus Properties is:
Bus Type: Dual DDR2 SDRAM
Bus Width: 128-bit
Real Clock: 267 MHz (DDR)
Effective Clock: 533 MHz
Bandwidth: 8533 MB/s
So I go to the SPD section, and under
Memory Module Properties is:
Module Name Micron Tech. 8HTF6464HDY-53A3
Serial Number 40063A76h
Manufacture Date Week 6 / 2005
Module Size 512 MB (2 rows, 4 banks)
Module Type Unbuffered
Memory Type DDR2 SDRAM
Memory Speed DDR2-533 (266 MHz)
Module Width 64 bit
Module Voltage SSTL 1.8
Error Detection Method None
Refresh Rate Reduced (7.8 us), Self-Refresh
Memory Timings
@ 266 MHz 4.0-4-4-12 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)
@ 200 MHz 3.0-3-3-9 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)
So I go check the Overclock section, and under
CPU Speed is:
Memory Bus 265.98Mhz
Under SPD Memory modules is:
DIMM1: Micron Tech. 8HTF6464HDY-53A3 5412 MB DDR2-533 DDR2 SDRAM (4.0-4-4-12 @ 266MHz) (3.0-3-3-9 @ 200MHz)
DIMM3: Micron Tech. 8HTF6464HDY-53A3 5412 MB DDR2-533 DDR2 SDRAM (4.0-4-4-12 @ 266MHz) (3.0-3-3-9 @ 200MHz)
Everything says this machine is running Dual-Channel DDR2 533MHz. So I check CPU-Z. Under Memory it says:
Type DDR2-SDRAM
Size 1024MB
Channels # Dual
Frequency 199.5MHz
FSB: DRAM 2:3
CAS# Latency 4.0 clocks
RAS# to CAS# Delay 4 clocks
RAS# Precharge 4 clocks
Cycle Time (Tras) 12 clocks
So CPU-Z says the correct memory timings for 533MHz, but says the speed is 199.5 MHz - someone posted that this is a flaw in the program, and everything else points to the fact that the Inspiron 6000 is indeed Dual-Channel DDR2 533 MHz. I don't know how to post pics on this message board, and although I may find the time later tonight to read up on it, I will provide by email all the screenshots of Everest Home 2.01, CPU-Z, and a few pics from my digital camera of the BIOS screen. So if anyone wants to post the pics, email me at wonka187@hotmail.com and I will send all the pics to you. 13 Pics - 4.43MB in JPEGs. I really encourage someone who can post pictures with ease to email me, so we can end this discussion about the 6000 only having a 400MHz memory controller.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6771086834
Well, I've installed the chips. The BIOS says:
Memory Installed = 1024MB
Memory Speed = 533 MHz
Memory Channel Mode = Dual
Memory Technology = DDR2 SDRAM
So in the BIOS everything seems ok.
So I run Everest Home 2.01 from www.lavalys.com. I run the 3 memory benchmarks.
Memory Latency: 104.7ns Memory: Dual DDR2-533 CL-RCD-RP-RAS: 4-4-4-12
Memory Read: 3127MB/s Memory: Dual DDR2-533
Memory Write: 808MB/s Memory: Dual DDR2-533
So everything from the benchmarks tells me this is running dual-channel 533MHz.
So I go to the Motherboard Section, and under
Memory Bus Properties is:
Bus Type: Dual DDR2 SDRAM
Bus Width: 128-bit
Real Clock: 267 MHz (DDR)
Effective Clock: 533 MHz
Bandwidth: 8533 MB/s
So I go to the SPD section, and under
Memory Module Properties is:
Module Name Micron Tech. 8HTF6464HDY-53A3
Serial Number 40063A76h
Manufacture Date Week 6 / 2005
Module Size 512 MB (2 rows, 4 banks)
Module Type Unbuffered
Memory Type DDR2 SDRAM
Memory Speed DDR2-533 (266 MHz)
Module Width 64 bit
Module Voltage SSTL 1.8
Error Detection Method None
Refresh Rate Reduced (7.8 us), Self-Refresh
Memory Timings
@ 266 MHz 4.0-4-4-12 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)
@ 200 MHz 3.0-3-3-9 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)
So I go check the Overclock section, and under
CPU Speed is:
Memory Bus 265.98Mhz
Under SPD Memory modules is:
DIMM1: Micron Tech. 8HTF6464HDY-53A3 5412 MB DDR2-533 DDR2 SDRAM (4.0-4-4-12 @ 266MHz) (3.0-3-3-9 @ 200MHz)
DIMM3: Micron Tech. 8HTF6464HDY-53A3 5412 MB DDR2-533 DDR2 SDRAM (4.0-4-4-12 @ 266MHz) (3.0-3-3-9 @ 200MHz)
Everything says this machine is running Dual-Channel DDR2 533MHz. So I check CPU-Z. Under Memory it says:
Type DDR2-SDRAM
Size 1024MB
Channels # Dual
Frequency 199.5MHz
FSB: DRAM 2:3
CAS# Latency 4.0 clocks
RAS# to CAS# Delay 4 clocks
RAS# Precharge 4 clocks
Cycle Time (Tras) 12 clocks
So CPU-Z says the correct memory timings for 533MHz, but says the speed is 199.5 MHz - someone posted that this is a flaw in the program, and everything else points to the fact that the Inspiron 6000 is indeed Dual-Channel DDR2 533 MHz. I don't know how to post pics on this message board, and although I may find the time later tonight to read up on it, I will provide by email all the screenshots of Everest Home 2.01, CPU-Z, and a few pics from my digital camera of the BIOS screen. So if anyone wants to post the pics, email me at wonka187@hotmail.com and I will send all the pics to you. 13 Pics - 4.43MB in JPEGs. I really encourage someone who can post pictures with ease to email me, so we can end this discussion about the 6000 only having a 400MHz memory controller.
bacillus
14.4K Posts
0
June 2nd, 2005 17:00
bahh, I rather have my memory running at 3:3:3:8 timings using the 400MHz DDR2 ram than your looser timings!
drew-and-not-u
494 Posts
0
June 2nd, 2005 18:00
wonka187
33 Posts
0
June 2nd, 2005 18:00
Tarique
18 Posts
0
June 2nd, 2005 18:00
Hey Guys,
The discussion about memory seems to be pretty interesting.
The inspiron 6000 uses intel 915gm /915pm chipset. If you look at the specification for these chipset on the intel website, you will see that the chipset supports DDR2 Ram at 400 Mhz as well as 533 Mhz. So inspiron 6000 will support both.
http://www.intel.com/products/chipsets/915gm/index.htm
http://www.intel.com/products/chipsets/915pm/index.htm
If anyone had problems using the 533 Mhz ram with inspiron 6000, maybe its because its a few months older and maybe back then dell used an older chipset.
As for bacillus comments, i think the improvement in latency he is getting is very minor, compared to the lower bandwidth 6400 MBps (i.e 2 x 8 x 400 ) compared to wonka187's 8500 MBps (i.e 2 x 8 x 533)
If anyone else has anything to add, please do. Hopefully i'll learn something new.
wonka187
33 Posts
0
June 2nd, 2005 18:00
Actually CPU-Z should be showing 266.5MHz for 533MHz DDR and 199.5MHz for 400MHz DDR - so it is a program flaw.
Message Edited by wonka187 on 06-02-2005 02:12 PM
Tarique
18 Posts
0
June 2nd, 2005 18:00
Hey Wonka,
Can i ask you one thing? In the 3 memory benchmarks that you ran, are you sure that your memory latency is 104.7ns? Cos thats odd. Memory latency is not supposed to be that high for DDR2 4-4-4-12 .
Thanks
wonka187
33 Posts
0
June 2nd, 2005 19:00
If you want the screenshots of all of the Everest benchmarks and stats, email me at wonka187@hotmail.com and I'll send them right over.
Tarique
18 Posts
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June 3rd, 2005 00:00
wonka187
33 Posts
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June 3rd, 2005 00:00
Thanks so much to Rick for hosting these. I think the argument about the Inspiron 6000's memory controller is over.
Bay Wolf
4.4K Posts
0
June 3rd, 2005 01:00
wonka187
33 Posts
0
June 3rd, 2005 01:00
I would not mind in the least. I am happy to help clear up the confusion about the Inspiron 6000s memory controller.
It seems that people have a tendancy to call the i6000 a "bargain" notebook or whatever, just because it is not a 9300 or an XPS. I think some people, like me, buy the 6000 because it is a good combination of size - I really enjoy the 15.4" widescreen display and its not gigantic like the 17" widescreen 9300 or the XPS, it has good battery life - >5 hours or so with the 9-cell battery, and a decent video card - although not the "best" gaming card, it fills my needs. The i6000 has all of the new technologies I was looking for, from the 2.0GHz Pentium-M, the 533MHz FSB, and of course the 1.8v 533MHz DDR2 Dual-Channel memory. The i6000 isn't just a "bargain" notebook, it is a great combination of technology and features at a great price without being as big as a suitcase.
I have to admit, the idea that the i6000 wouldn't support 533MHz DDR2 RAM bothered me before I bought it. I was just hoping that I could prove some of the other posts wrong, and I did. Hopefully when people see that the memory controller in the Inspiron 6000 is as good as any of Dells other laptops, it will help them choose the right notebook for their needs.
Bay Wolf
4.4K Posts
0
June 3rd, 2005 02:00
wonka187
33 Posts
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June 3rd, 2005 02:00
Unfortunately, I can't benchmark DDR2 400MHz because I don't have the RAM, but I am sure that someone else out there has 2x512MB DDR2-400 that they can benchmark with Everest so we can compare numbers...
ex.treme
1 Message
0
June 3rd, 2005 02:00
I wanna use 533 DDR II memory in this laptop. But in some threads i have reading , that in this book working only 400 ddr or 533 ddr but running on 400 ddr.
If i good understand , if i buy 533 DDR they run at full speed= 533 DDR .
Its right?
Wonka > can you make a some benchmarks with 400 and with 533 ddr? Im interesting how much it's difference between both.
I have else one question> Try anyone overclock cpu with cpufsb or clockgen?
thx
Tarique
18 Posts
0
June 3rd, 2005 05:00