Inspiron 6000 IS Dual-Channel 533MHz DDR2...

...and I have the screenshots to prove it!

Well, I received my Inspiron 6000 Tuesday. I bought it with only 256MB of RAM since I knew that Dell only put in 400MHz DDR2 RAM, and I replaced the single 256 MB 400MHz chip with TWO Micron MT8HTF6464HDY-53EA3 512MB 533MHz DDR2 chips that I bought from I guy on eBay for $100. The chips were originally factory installed in a Dell Inspiron 9300, and the original owner put in two 1GB chips. You can check out the auction here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6771086834

Well, I've installed the chips. The BIOS says:

Memory Installed = 1024MB
Memory Speed = 533 MHz
Memory Channel Mode = Dual
Memory Technology = DDR2 SDRAM

So in the BIOS everything seems ok.

So I run Everest Home 2.01 from www.lavalys.com. I run the 3 memory benchmarks.

Memory Latency: 104.7ns Memory: Dual DDR2-533 CL-RCD-RP-RAS: 4-4-4-12
Memory Read: 3127MB/s Memory: Dual DDR2-533
Memory Write: 808MB/s Memory: Dual DDR2-533

So everything from the benchmarks tells me this is running dual-channel 533MHz.

So I go to the Motherboard Section, and under
Memory Bus Properties is:
Bus Type: Dual DDR2 SDRAM
Bus Width: 128-bit
Real Clock: 267 MHz (DDR)
Effective Clock: 533 MHz
Bandwidth: 8533 MB/s

So I go to the SPD section, and under
Memory Module Properties is:
Module Name Micron Tech. 8HTF6464HDY-53A3
Serial Number 40063A76h
Manufacture Date Week 6 / 2005
Module Size 512 MB (2 rows, 4 banks)
Module Type Unbuffered
Memory Type DDR2 SDRAM
Memory Speed DDR2-533 (266 MHz)
Module Width 64 bit
Module Voltage SSTL 1.8
Error Detection Method None
Refresh Rate Reduced (7.8 us), Self-Refresh

Memory Timings
@ 266 MHz 4.0-4-4-12 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)
@ 200 MHz 3.0-3-3-9 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)

So I go check the Overclock section, and under

CPU Speed is:
Memory Bus 265.98Mhz

Under SPD Memory modules is:
DIMM1: Micron Tech. 8HTF6464HDY-53A3 5412 MB DDR2-533 DDR2 SDRAM (4.0-4-4-12 @ 266MHz) (3.0-3-3-9 @ 200MHz)
DIMM3: Micron Tech. 8HTF6464HDY-53A3 5412 MB DDR2-533 DDR2 SDRAM (4.0-4-4-12 @ 266MHz) (3.0-3-3-9 @ 200MHz)

Everything says this machine is running Dual-Channel DDR2 533MHz. So I check CPU-Z. Under Memory it says:
Type DDR2-SDRAM
Size 1024MB
Channels # Dual
Frequency 199.5MHz
FSB: DRAM 2:3
CAS# Latency 4.0 clocks
RAS# to CAS# Delay 4 clocks
RAS# Precharge 4 clocks
Cycle Time (Tras) 12 clocks

So CPU-Z says the correct memory timings for 533MHz, but says the speed is 199.5 MHz - someone posted that this is a flaw in the program, and everything else points to the fact that the Inspiron 6000 is indeed Dual-Channel DDR2 533 MHz.

Rick from RickMktg has hosted the pics of the RAM benchmarks and pics from my BIOS. You can check it out here: <url>http://www.rickmktg.com/i6000_memory.htm</url>

Thanks so much to Rick for hosting these. I think the argument about the Inspiron 6000's memory controller is over.

 

bios tells you if you're running in dc mode or not.

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by drumfu

 

This looks great, the Everest results are about the same as the M70 I'm using right now. I'm planning to get a 6000 but the offer I'm targeting comes with 333MHz memory.

I'm wondering what's the increase in performance compared to a 6000 with 333MHz memory?