As we all know, RAM is one of the crucial components of your computer system. Depending on what your interest is, you might need less or more of it. However, all of us require it in some amount. Also, one of the important factors when choosing the best RAM for your needs is its speed.
After some reading, I noticed there is a lot of misinformation and confusion among people when talking about it. This is especially true when people notice that their RAM speed is not at the level it is advertised.
Namely, when I thought my PC was finally working fine, I noticed something odd. Namely, I know that my RAM frequency is 2133 MHz, but my CPUz showed half of that, only 1066MHz. I was shocked. What is going on? Was I scammed? These are the questions most people wonder when they encounter this problem.
However, you have nothing to worry about, and you will see why.
Why does it say that my RAM running at half speed?
As tech enthusiasts, we often turn to system profilers like CPU-Z for valuable system insights. One of the most critical components it analyzes is RAM. RAM stores data that the CPU frequently accesses, and its read/write speed directly affects overall system performance.
I noticed that a common concern arises when users notice that the DRAM frequency displayed in CPU-Z is only half of the RAM’s advertised speed. However, there is no need for alarm, as this discrepancy can be easily explained by the nature of DDR (Double Data Rate) memory technology.
DDR RAM has the unique ability to transfer data twice per clock cycle. This is achieved by utilizing both the rising and falling edges of the clock signal, effectively doubling the data transfer rate. The different generations of DDR memory, from DDR to DDR5, have consistently improved in terms of speed and performance while maintaining this underlying double data rate principle.
When CPU-Z (or some similar program) displays a DRAM frequency that appears to be half of the RAM’s rated speed, it actually presents the base frequency or true clock speed. To ascertain the effective data rate of the RAM, simply multiply the DRAM frequency shown in CPU-Z by 2.
This calculation accounts for the DDR mechanism and provides the actual data transfer rate for the memory modules. For instance, if the CPUz says that your DRAM frequency is 1066MHz, your actual frequency is 2133 MHz.
Understanding this aspect of DDR memory is crucial when comparing system specifications to the advertised RAM speed or ensuring the best performance possible. Remember that the DRAM frequency displayed in CPU-Z represents the base frequency, and doubling that figure will reveal the true speed of the RAM.
So don’t worry, your RAM is fine.
Understand the difference between MT/s and MHz
To be honest, I learned this only when I encountered this “issue” on my own PC. Ok, let’s just say that you are looking to buy RAM. After some research, you found your ideal RAM. For the sake of a simple example, let’s say that its name is XYZ 16GB DDR4 DRAM 3200MHz.
Almost everyone would think that 3200MHz refers to RAM’s speed clock. Well, you would be wrong. It actually refers to the transfer rate, which is measured in MT/s, not MHz. Here is an analogy that would simply explain the difference between the two.
Consider a conveyor belt in a factory, where the speed of the conveyor belt represents the frequency (MHz), and the number of items moved on the conveyor belt per second represents the data transfer rate (MT/s).
MHz – The Speed of the Conveyor Belt
Think of MHz as the speed at which the conveyor belt moves. A faster conveyor belt (higher MHz) means that it can move more items per second. However, the number of items moved per second also depends on how many items can be placed on the conveyor belt simultaneously.
MT/s (Mega Transfers per second) – The Number of Items Moved
MT/s represents the actual number of items moved per second on the conveyor belt. This depends on both the speed of the conveyor belt (MHz) and the number of items that can be placed on it simultaneously.
In the context of DDR memory, the conveyor belt moves data during both the rising and falling edges of the clock cycle, doubling the number of items that can be placed on the conveyor belt simultaneously. This is similar to having two conveyor belts (one for the rising edge and one for the falling edge) working simultaneously at the same speed.
To sum it up, the speed of the conveyor belt (MHz) tells you how fast the clock cycle is in the RAM, while the number of items moved per second (MT/s) indicates the effective data transfer rate, which considers both the clock speed and the DDR technology’s ability to transfer data twice per clock cycle.
So, why do RAM manufacturers use the term MHz?
This is a very good question. After some thinking, I came up with 3 possible reasons:
Familiarity: MHz has been used as a unit of measurement for a long time in the context of various electronic components, including RAM. Most people (especially beginners) are familiar with the term and have grown accustomed to using it when discussing and comparing the performance of electronic devices. The use of MHz is deeply ingrained in the tech community, and changing that perception will take time.
As new memory technologies emerge, such as DDR, GDDR, and HBM, they often come with updated performance metrics like MT/s. However, the industry’s transition to these new metrics is not yet complete, and many people still use MHz as a reference point when discussing older or more traditional memory types.
Simplicity: MHz is a simpler unit of measurement as it directly refers to the frequency, or clock rate, of a component. Many people find it easier to understand and compare MHz values as opposed to MT/s, which requires a deeper understanding of memory architecture and data transfers per clock cycle.
Marketing: Many manufacturers and marketers still use MHz in their product specifications and promotional materials because it is a well-known and easily recognizable term. This familiarity can make MHz a more attractive choice for marketing purposes, even if it is not the most accurate way to convey memory performance.