Corsair ordenador PC-3200 (DDR-400) velocidad de bus de memoria (RAM)

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How to Get the Most Out of DDR

Computers are all about processing data, and the more rapidly they can get that data into the CPU, the better they can do that job. Getting that data from system memory to the processor is the job of the memory bus. 

How Do You Read Those Numbers?

Every module has a series of numbers which explain exactly how fast it is and what kind of system it's compatible with. This lets you know the answer to the most important question, whether it will fit in your motherboard. When it comes to RAM, there are basically two ways to describe the speed. Once you understand them, they both provide the same information, but they do it by focusing on a different aspect of performance:

  • Transfer Rate: This refers to the number of memory transactions per second; for DDR400 that works out to 400 million transfers per second.
  • Bandwidth: This is how much total data can transfer in a second. Thus, Corsair PC3200 can transfer 3.2 GB/sec or 3200 MB/sec based on 400 MHz transfers over a 64-bit bus.

What is SDRAM Anyway?

SDRAM is the kind of memory in most computers and it stands for Synchronous Dynamic RAM. It was a huge step forward from previous designs because it enabled the system to synchronize the memory bus with the CPU bus to maximize efficiency. DDR SDRAM was the next step upwards, doubling the data rate by transmitting two bits of data on every cycle rather than just one. The new standard required new hardware so the DIMMs are not interchangeable:

  • DIMMs: The standard single data rate module runs at anywhere from 66 MHz to 166 MHz and comes in a 168-pin package that draws 3.3 Volts.
  • DDR DIMMs: The standard DDR module runs at anywhere from 200 MHz to 400 MHz once you figure in the doubled rate, and comes in a 184-pin package that draws 2.5 Volts.

Using PC3200 Memory

PC3200, or DDR400, is the fastest grade of DDR SDRAM Corsair you can find before switching to DDR2 and higher. With XMS modules that support the overclocker, it would commonly appear in gaming desktops. Many memory modules featured integrated heatspreaders to cool the RAM chips and reduce the chance of memory errors. You could also deploy it in dual-channel configurations which allowed for even more desktop bandwidth, at the cost of reduced timings. Depending on the RAM, you could also increase the voltage for stable operation at higher speeds at the cost of more heat. It was very much a performance approach to desktop memory and most often found in gaming systems rather than home or business desktops.

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