Why Does Kingston Do This?

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Agent_C

I just bought a stick of their Hyper-X (KHX6400D2LL/1G) super dooper
memory. It's advertised as: "1GB 800MHz DDR2 Non-ECC Low-Latency CL4
(4-4-4-12) DIMM".

However, when you read the data sheet, it says: "This module has been
tested to run at DDR2 800MHz at low latency timing of 4-4-4-12
at 2.0V. The SPD is programmed to JEDEC standard latency 667Mhz
timing of 5-5-5-15 at 1.8V".

Why do they do this? Why don't they just program the SPD for the
optimal timings?

Thanks,

A_C
 
Agent_C said:
I just bought a stick of their Hyper-X (KHX6400D2LL/1G) super dooper
memory. It's advertised as: "1GB 800MHz DDR2 Non-ECC Low-Latency CL4
(4-4-4-12) DIMM".

However, when you read the data sheet, it says: "This module has been
tested to run at DDR2 800MHz at low latency timing of 4-4-4-12
at 2.0V. The SPD is programmed to JEDEC standard latency 667Mhz
timing of 5-5-5-15 at 1.8V".

Why do they do this? Why don't they just program the SPD for the
optimal timings?
Click to expand...

Longevity, aka MTBF. There's nothing wrong with the standard timings
entered into SPD. What they are saying is that the RAM *CAN* run faster.
But it makes sense to set the timings for default voltage at slower
settings. MOST buyers won't know the difference, and the RAM will last
longer. Translates to more happy customers. -Dave
 
Dave said:
Longevity, aka MTBF. There's nothing wrong with the standard timings
entered into SPD. What they are saying is that the RAM *CAN* run
faster. But it makes sense to set the timings for default voltage at
slower settings. MOST buyers won't know the difference, and the RAM
will last longer. Translates to more happy customers. -Dave
Click to expand...

Misleading advertising leads to happy customers?

Strange concept.
 
Misleading advertising leads to happy customers?

Strange concept.
Click to expand...

I thought I got ripped when I recently bought HyperX DDR too but it does
run at the advertised timings of 2-3-2-6, you just have to set it manually.
 
Agent_C said:
I just bought a stick of their Hyper-X (KHX6400D2LL/1G) super dooper
memory. It's advertised as: "1GB 800MHz DDR2 Non-ECC Low-Latency CL4
(4-4-4-12) DIMM".

However, when you read the data sheet, it says: "This module has been
tested to run at DDR2 800MHz at low latency timing of 4-4-4-12
at 2.0V. The SPD is programmed to JEDEC standard latency 667Mhz
timing of 5-5-5-15 at 1.8V".

Why do they do this? Why don't they just program the SPD for the
optimal timings?

Thanks,

A_C
Click to expand...

They try to use JEDEC standard SPD contents, so if some
noob sticks it in a non-enthusiast motherboard, it still
works and there won't be an RMA. An enthusiast will know
how to set the memory timings manually, to get the advertised
operating conditions.

Also, some of the Intel Northbridge datasheets, have
warnings like this in them:

"DDR2-667 1Gbit technology or DDR2-667 4-4-4 are not supported"

The last time I looked, this is what JEDEC supported (JESD79-2B.pdf)

DDR2-800 CL-tRCD-tRP = 4-4-4 ,5-5-5 , 6-6-6
DDR2-667             = 4-4-4 ,5-5-5
DDR2-533             = 3-3-3, 4-4-4
DDR2-400             = 3-3-3, 4-4-4

Notice that the Intel disclaimer is one of the JEDEC listed
speeds. A company like Kingston is going to use both kinds
of information, to select as safe a generic timing specification
as possible. It won't take an enthusiast long to figure out
how to change it.

Paul
 
I've done a Google on various groups and web pages but can't find an
answer to what seems like a simple question.

Where do I put the thermistor probe to record the CPU temperature? I
have a Cooler Master fan controller, with minimum documentation. The
probes are very thin but still I'm hesitant to sandwich these between
the Opteron CPU and the heatsink as I'm sure the sensor would get
crushed and I suspect that would reduce the effectiveness of the
heatsink-CPU contact and heat transfer.

So can I tape (and if so what kind of tape) it along the edge of the
heatsink base? Or are there better sites and methods?

Terry Clark
 
I've done a Google on various groups and web pages but can't find an
answer to what seems like a simple question.

Where do I put the thermistor probe to record the CPU temperature? I
have a Cooler Master fan controller, with minimum documentation. The
probes are very thin but still I'm hesitant to sandwich these between
the Opteron CPU and the heatsink as I'm sure the sensor would get
crushed and I suspect that would reduce the effectiveness of the
heatsink-CPU contact and heat transfer.

So can I tape (and if so what kind of tape) it along the edge of the
heatsink base? Or are there better sites and methods?
Click to expand...
That's exactly what you are supposed to do. On CPUs with pins, you
place it on the underside of the core, threading the thin wires through
the pins before placing it in the socket.


--
Conor
Sig under construction. Please check back when Duke Nukem Forever ships
and/or Windows Vista is released.

Cashback on online purchases:
http://www.TopCashBack.co.uk/Conor/ref/index.htm
 
I've done a Google on various groups and web pages but can't find an
answer to what seems like a simple question.

Where do I put the thermistor probe to record the CPU temperature? I
have a Cooler Master fan controller, with minimum documentation. The
probes are very thin but still I'm hesitant to sandwich these between
the Opteron CPU and the heatsink as I'm sure the sensor would get
crushed and I suspect that would reduce the effectiveness of the
heatsink-CPU contact and heat transfer.

So can I tape (and if so what kind of tape) it along the edge of the
heatsink base? Or are there better sites and methods?

Terry Clark
Click to expand...

These things are kind of a no-win situation.

The thermistor assembly should not be bent. If you bend a
thermistor like that, it ruins the calibration, so the
temp readout will no longer be correct.

The thermistor cannot be placed between the CPU and heatsink.
It prevents proper contact between the two metal surfaces.

The thermistor could be placed to the side of the
CPU heat spreader, but the "thermistor-in-plastic-film"
is too fat and unwieldy, to make good enough contact.
So that is not a good configuration.

You can stick the thermistor between a couple of fins
on the heatsink, but the heatsink is a good deal cooler
than the heat spreader on the CPU.

The only thing that would help, is if this unnamed product
had a sensitivity setting, so if it was only getting
weakly heated, you could increase the response to that weak
heat. Otherwise, if there is no sensitivity adjustment,
then contacting the fins of the heatsink, is likely
to leave you under-impressed with the results.

While you could put a dot of thermal compound on the working
surface of the thermistor, then tape the thing in place with
a good quality adhesive tape (some kits include the necessary
tape), I'm not sure that is worth the bother and mess. And
if the adhesive tape is really strong, the next time you go
to remove the thermistor, you are likely to bend it :-(

In the Intel and AMD thermal documentaton, the technique they
use is to mill a slot and hole in the heatsink, on the base.
Then, a thermocouple can be place in the slot, before the CPU
and heatsink are mated. That is not a practical method, unless
you happen to own a machine shop. And the sensor has to be
smaller than the one you are using, because otherwise you'd
need a monster sized hole for it.

There are smaller thermistors available, but they are not
commonly used. They would get lost or broken too easily.

Paul
 
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