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The gating item.
Something that renders everything else dependent upon its outcome or
performance. The
type of SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory) you have
installed in your PC weighs heavily on the overall stability of your
system and the various other components that rely on it. These
include just about every other device in today's X86 based computer.
For this article we are focusing on SDRAM since it is the mainstream
base memory component used in today's PC. Older technologies such as
EDO DRAM and Fast Page Mode still exist in some computers but all
new systems are designed with SDRAM now. Future generations of
memory, such as RAMBUS and DDRAM (Double Data Rate SDRAM), are
forthcoming with newer chipset technologies but there is still some
life left in SDRAM.
In addition,
there are a few types of Memory Modules that have evolved from the
SDRAM chips themselves. The original SDRAM Modules made were
specified to perform at a system bus speed of up to 83MHz. Then came
PC100 Modules. You guessed it, 100 MHz. Recently, a couple of
manufacturers have brought to market PC133 SDRAM Memory Modules.
These SDRAM
Modules are designed to operate at a memory bus speed of 133 MHz.
and higher. The good folks at Enhanced
Memory Systems,
were kind enough to send us one of their 128MB HSDRAM PC133 Modules.
HSDRAM stands for High Speed SDRAM which I assume is their own
acronym. Here are some of the features that make their product
different.
(click
for a closer look)
- Fast 4.6 ns
Clock Access Time
- Lower Latency
Than Other PC-133 Modules (3:2:2) @ 133 MHz
- CAS Latency =
3
- RAS to CAS
Delay = 2
- Precharge
delay = 2
- High Quality
6-Layer PCB for System Stability
- Uses 64Mbit
Enhanced Memory Systems Chips for Consistent Performance
- Overclock
Existing PC Systems to 133 MHz
- On-board
Serial Presence Detect (SPD) EPROM
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As
you will note above, the Clock Access Time otherwise known as Clock
To Data Out is 4.6 ns. This is on average about 24% faster than the
typical High End PC100 SDRAM Module. A PC100 Module, with decent
discrete chips on it, will have a tAC
(or clock access time) of 6ns.
In addition, the latency specs such as CAS (Column Address Strobe)
and RAS (Row Address Strobe) are less than most SDRAM chips on the
market today. As you can see 3,2,2 for CAS Latency, RAS to CAS delay
and Precharge Delay, respectively. Most other SDRAM types at 133
MHz. clock speeds, need to be run at least in 3,3,2 mode and
sometimes 3,3,3,. What does that mean to your system? Well,
simplified, this means you have less latency (less latency good/more
latency bad) or fewer useless dead clock cycles before your CPU can
read or write to the memory. In a nutshell, FASTER. In additon,
these SDRAMs are rated at 7.5ns Clock Cycle Times, which means they
are slightly faster in general than most 8ns. SDRAMs used on current
modules.
The EMS modules should, for all intents and purposes, be faster
because they can run in 3,2,2 at 133 MHz. and also be more stable at
that speed because of faster clock access times which allow the
delay timings more slack on a clock cycle. So, you're thinking
"prove it", right? That's what we're all about here at Hot
Hardware. Let's fire up Ol' Besse and take a look,shall we? |
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Testing
1, 2, 3.... --------> (next
page)
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