DDR Memory and WTF

K

Kalvaer

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Recently I bought an extra 3 x 512 meg DDR memory modules to put into my Gaming PC.

Now not being a complete idiot and having spent several years with varies computer courses/degrees I specifically asked for 3 chips to match my current one with a CAS of 2.5-3-3. This would allow me to run 2 gigs in two dual channels.

Now when I got my chips, especially since it was what I had asked for, it came to a big shock to me that the CAS latency was 3-3-3, and of course I could not get the modules to run into dual channels.

I sent off a few emails to the supplier who returned emails from the distributer stating the following:
Hi there, sorry I couldn’t respond to your mail sooner. As per the PM – you can go into the bios settings and change it to read it as 2.5.

If not you may bring it through to our technical department.
Click to expand...
I immediatly replied stating that I would not over clock my system, but ended up with the following response
Hi there, certain memory modules do not identify themselves to the BIOS correctly or the BIOS does not read the memory timings correctly.
In this case the BIOS or MEMORY slow down to the slowest possible speed for safety reasons. The memory does indeed support The 2.5CL timings and this will need to be changed in the BIOS.
I hope that this helps
Click to expand...
Being the idiot that I am, I gave in and ordered another of the "low Latency" CAS 2.5-3-3 chips(marked at 3-3-3) so that I could actually get the dual channel mode working!

Imagine my surprise (yeah right) When the chip arrives and actually states 2.5-3-3. Not trusting them at all anymore I sent an email off to the manufacturer of the chips to which I got the following email in response
I am sorry.
CL3-3-3 can't up to CL 2.5-3-3, because this is overclock, and it might
let your system become unstable. We don't know the vendor which sold
XXX memory to you, thus we can't let our sales talk to this vendor.
And let this vendor to notice this problem.
Sorry for causing this question. We really hope we can help you to solve
your problem.
Click to expand...
I am currently still awaiting a reply from the distibuter in SA.
Firstly where do I stand..
Secondly anyone think it would be a good idea to send these emails to NAG, PC Format, any other PC mag you can think of with the above emails explaining how this distributer is ripping us of in SA and lying to us?
 
It sounds quite a lot like you got hold of several different people... Judging from the language used in the last reply, the first person to help you was unavailable. I'd wait to hear back for the last time before acting.
 
The first two replies where from the distributor. Both of them being the exact same person. The last one was the manufacturer in Asia

EDIT: Oh yes and in my first few emails to the manufacturer I specifically left out the distributers name as I wanted a direct anwser from the manufacturer about if I had been lied too. I have replied again to the manufacturer with the distributors details now, and of course with international time delays, I expect a reply sometime monday.

I have also forwarded all the emails from the manufacturer to the distributer here in SA... Not a single word of response from them today, while I got 3 from their Asian manufacturer
 
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uuum, well i also had a few problems hey. I asked for 2.5CL ram from my supplier, and got 3CL. Kinda sux, but i wasnt up to fighting with them at the time. It is irritating though and there is also quite a performance hit using CL3 ram. i feel ur pain.
 
Curious, I am currently running 1GB (2 X 512) of Corsair XMS memory. If I bought 2 more identical DIMMS would the system automatically run it in dual layer or is it a BIOS setting?
 
Its not Corsair, and its "supposed to be" low latency memory from manufacture that is not supposed to be bad either. But the distributor is lying through its teeth.
Curious, I am currently running 1GB (2 X 512) of Corsair XMS memory. If I bought 2 more identical DIMMS would the system automatically run it in dual layer or is it a BIOS setting?
Click to expand...
If you have 2 sticks they should be running in dual channel automatically if your board supports it. Since you asked if adding two more would work I'm assuming you have 4 slots on your board, check the manual, sometimes to get 2xchannel working you need to put it in slots 1 & 3 and 2 & 4 instead of in order.

My board has 6 slots so for me its 1 & 4 and 2 & 5 and 3 & 6
 
each piece of memory has a chip onboard to define spd (serial presence detect)...the bios queries this chip and would then set the cas etc as per the spd information. It is not uncommon for spd info to be incorrect. I am not taking sides, and you email whomever you feel is best, but from a technical standpoint the spd info is very often a guideline (i.e the chip can run faster than the spd suggests), and very often incorrect (later fixed with a motherboard bios upgrade). It is not an overclock if the memory modules themselves can run at the faster speed, yet the spd is telling the bios to run the ram slower, kapish?

http://searchsmb.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid44_gci533524,00.html
 
I agree werner, most of my chips report CL3 altho they would either be CL2.5 or at best CL2. I never bother about SPD anyways, try and get the cl,tras etc as low as possible and stable as possible and thats my optimal.
 
My point is this.
I ask the distrubuter WTF... I ordered 2.5-3-3 chips..
They say: "Those are 2.5-3-3- chips.. your MB is screwy (bought it from them as well and its a DAMN good board)
I reread the label 3-3-3.
I give up and so ok fine, send me another one.
It arrives
The label states 2.5-3-3
I email the Manufacturer of the chips with photo's and all the serial numbers, They make the chips so I believe them.
They say :
I am sorry.
CL3-3-3 can't up to CL 2.5-3-3, because this is overclock
Click to expand...
What do I do with this distributer, since I cant seem to get 4 chips the same to enable dual channel mode

EDIT
As to my computer knowledge and backround, I have my MSCE+I/MSCD, A+, N+, diploma in Business Managment and Computer Science, worked for computer companies for the last 11 years including 1 distributer, 3 retailers (managed 2, owned one.. sold it :) ) and currently work as a Network Admin for another company, Part time studying BSC computer Science/Physics (of which my current average is 90%) ..

IE: I do understand that they can be detected differently and how they work but I know when I'm being screwed over.. What do I do about it
 
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Give it back, if its a respectable distributor, u wont have a problem.
 
Clipse said:
Give it back, if its a respectable distributor, u wont have a problem.
Click to expand...
Define respectable...
Though none the less I think you answered my question.. I think I'm screwed.. any one got extra vaseline, if its not telkom its somebody else :(
 
corsair value select is awesome as long as they are the same

you prolly bought samsung or hynix although they not bad
 
It was not samsung or hynix.

I have however got an email from the manufacturers accounts manager this morning explaining that the supplier will be contacting me soon with regards to correcting the mistake and should be supplying me with the correct 2.5-3-3 chips... Though knowing them, I will now have to pay in or who knows what
 
Well to let you all know, I got them swopped out and finally have everything running like a dream!

I am still half uspet that I had to go through to a manufacturer to get any joy from a company who for 3 weeks just gave me the run around. I have tried to explain everything to them now, but well it seems like I'm getting the brush off. They have me off their backs and seems like that is all they are interested in instead of trying to solve a problem that could help them in the long run.

Oh also want to say sorry :) I see their new price list was released not very long after I got my modules swopped out. 3-3-3 and 2.5-3-3- memory is now finally listed seperatly.. and the 2.5-3-3 is now R100 more than it was.
 
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