RAM question

[AWT]

Hi. I read somewhere that it made sense to activate the DOCP profile stored on my memory, so I did so. Previously, I had it running in default, but with a specified rate of 3200MHz.
However, my memory is now running at 1066-1600MHz, instead of the 3200 MHz it ran on previously. Does it really make any sense to lower the clocking that much? (You can find my full specs in my profile, my RAM is a Patriot Viper 3200 (2x8GB).

[76561198343548661]

Where did you get those readings of the RAM speed from ? If RAM is rated as 3200 it means the real speed is 1600 (=3200/2) , since it is called Double Data Rate

[Magma Dragoon]

What do you mean 1066-1600?
If it is running at 1600mhz that is effectively 3200mhz, DDR means Double Data Rate, two operations per clock cycle.

[76561198343548661]

It s obvious - from 2133MHz to 3200MHz ( multiply by 2), it should be fine

[Magma Dragoon]

Originally posted by smallcat:

It s obvious - from 2133MHz to 3200MHz ( multiply by 2), it should be fine

What software reports a range of numbers? I've never seen that.

[_I_]

ddr speed = 2x freq
1600mhz = ddr 3200

[76561198343548661]

@Magma Dragoon , CPU-Z for instance .It shows the default speed and the 2 XMP profiles of the RAM

[AWT]

Got the Values from CPU-Z. DRAM frequency 1596.2MHz. JEDEC #5 1037MHz, JEDEC 6/7 1066MHz, XMP-3200 1600 MHz.
I'm pretty sure it was showing 3200MHz when I set it to default and 3200 specified clock speed, but have to re-check. The voltage seems to have dropped slightly too.

[Cathulhu]

Could you upload the results of CPU-Z?

[76561198343548661]

Originally posted by AWT:

Got the Values from CPU-Z. DRAM frequency 1596.2MHz. JEDEC #5 1037MHz, JEDEC 6/7 1066MHz, XMP-3200 1600 MHz.
I'm pretty sure it was showing 3200MHz when I set it to default and 3200 specified clock speed, but have to re-check. The voltage seems to have dropped slightly too.

Everything is fine . Open Task Manager and you ll find out the exact speed the RAM is running at (frequency = /2)

[Supafly]

Originally posted by AWT:

Got the Values from CPU-Z. DRAM frequency 1596.2MHz. JEDEC #5 1037MHz, JEDEC 6/7 1066MHz, XMP-3200 1600 MHz.
I'm pretty sure it was showing 3200MHz when I set it to default and 3200 specified clock speed, but have to re-check. The voltage seems to have dropped slightly too.

Under the Memory Tab the DRAM Frequency will be half as its Double Data Rate.

1600Mhz in the DRAM Frequecy means it's effective speed is 1600*2 = 3200 Mhz
1700Mhz in the DRAM Frequecy means it's effective speed is 1700*2 = 3400 Mhz
1800Mhz in the DRAM Frequecy means it's effective speed is 1800*2 = 3600 Mhz

If you use the SPD tab you can select different slots. When you select one that actually has Ram installed you see some of the different available timings available. Again notice the Frequency. Half what you expect

Lets say CPU-Z currently show a frequency of 1600Mhz
As explained above DDR, Double Date Rate, means the frrequency * 2 is the effective speed
Open Task manager > Memory
Bottom Right of the window you'll see

Speed: 3200 Mhz
Slots used: 2 of 4
Form Factor: DIMM
Hardware reserved: xxxMB

[Bad 💀 Motha]

CPU-Z showing at approx 1600 means it's actually running at 3200

[Meatball]

1600Mhz = 3200Mhz -___-

[_I_]

ddr # is not mhz

[AWT]

Thanks to everyone for answering.
You must be right, as today I noticed that one of the more CPU-heavy games in my collection, Watch Dogs 2, now runs much smoother. I doubt the .6 GHz overclock made the difference, but I think the combined improvement of using DOCP and overclocking boosted the speed just above the threshold I needed for the game to run more smoothly than before.
My computer is now ready for the RTX 3080 arriving Wednesday :) .
Unfortunately, Steam won't let me upload the CPU-Z screenshot, but I'm pretty sure you must be right.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

As long as your selected the 3200 profile under DOCP/XMP and applied that then you're fine.
DDR means Double Data Rate. So it's always been X2. So 1600x2 to get your 3200.

Examples:
DDR-400 shows as 200Mhz
DDR2-800 shows as 400Mhz
DDR3-1600 shows as 800Mhz
DDR4-3200 shows as 1600Mhz

Please do not confuse this with Single Channel vs Dual Channel. Nothing to do with that.