A PC2-6400 RAM that refuses to run at 400MHz!

I have 4 Hynix 2GB PC2-6400 RAM modules. I tried them in two laptops with an Intel GL40 chipset. The CPUs in both laptop are the T4400 and the T7300, and both run at an FSB of 200MHz. One laptop has Win7 and the other WinXP.

Is it normal that my RAM is running at 333MHz only? If not what can I do to make it operate at 400MHz?

P.S.
I used CPU-z to monitor the RAM speed.

 

I thought that chipset only ran at 333mhz?

EDIT

Hmm I stand corrected

http://www.intel.com/products/notebook/chipsets/gl40/gl40-overview.htm

 

Hmz the ram multiplier might be locked...

 

No, it does support 400MHz too. The datasheet can be downloaded from here.

Might be but...!
When the PC2-6400 is installed the FSB/Dram ratio is 3:5. When I install a PC2-5300 the FSB/Dram ratio is 1:2. So the chipset does have access to both multipliers.

Is there a way to force my laptop to use the ratio 1:2 with the PC2-6400? This will allow the RAM to operate at 400MHz

 

Unless you can change it in the bios then I would say no. You can't run it at 400mhz.

I'm pretty sure you have already taken a look.

 

Yes I did, and my bios is like most other laptop, apart from setting the date, time , and boot sequence , everything else is locked.

 

You could look into bios mod?


http://www.bios-mods.com/forum/archive/index.php

 

Thanks for the link. I've looked into bios modding in the past and it is kind of too complicated. Having the right tools and a solid knowledge of the assembly language is a must. I don't have the tools nor the knowledge so I'll have to pass

Thanks anyways.

 

I'm still bugged about this. Can't I get the RAM to operate at 400MHz but changing something on the RAM itself? like timing using SDTool or something similar?

 

Modding the BIOS would be easier.

I don't think it's the RAM that's refusing. I think it's something to do with your notebooks, and that if you put the RAM in a notebook that's a little less of a budget system (the GL40 being Intel's budget chipset at the time it was produced), it would run at the appropriate speed. Have you tried the RAM in an Intel i965 or 4-series chipset notebook?

Despite Intel's documentation, I have sometimes seen limitations in GL40 chipset laptops. Whether that is due to the chipset, chipset stepping, or the vendor not making a lot of BIOS options, I can't say. Also, according to Intel's docs, it appears some GL40 systems run at DDR2-667MHz, not 800.

http://ark.intel.com/chipset.aspx?familyID=35507

 

thats what my GL40 is.

 

Run crucial ram upgrade scanner,,,I run GL40 and it says I can run pc-6400
Part #: CT945672,,I wonder if its the ram thats the problem, "Guaranteed-compatible upgrades for your 3000 G530 Series (All Types)" ,

Memory upgrades from Crucial.com - Determine My Memory Needs

Download ram upgrade scanner here,,shows upgrade path as well:

Use the Crucial System Scanner software to find out what type of memory is in your computer

I have talked with the General Manager of ram manufacturing in Idaho,before,,He's there to help,,,

When I upgrade my ram to pc-6400,,I'm going crucial for the win!! of course Intel T6500 as well.

Any problems you have your scan number id so they can get busy, eg-Scan Id: 2E6FB9F231D926C3

Time for some liquid refreshment.

Cheers
3Fees

 

What does CPU-Z say about your RAM? It should look like this... well not exactly it's a diff RAM you know what I meant.

 

The BIOS on the laptop is Phoenix BIOS. I'll try to mod the BIOS if someone can explain how to do it.

I think you're right. Two of the modules were originaly installed in a Dell Latitude E6400. On that laptop it was running at 400MHz.

I'm aware that the GL40 is a budget chipset, but according to Intel's datasheet the GL40 supports 333 and 400MHz and both DDR2 and DDR3. I think that the BIOS is selecting the wrong divider. It is selecting an FSB/DRAM ratio of 3:5 instead of 1:2.

I tried on a toshiba with an intel i960 but since the CPU is the T2370 the RAM was working at 266MHz

Is the RAM in your lenovo operating at 400MHz?

here we go

 

I wonder if KHX6400S2ULK2/4G would work.

 

Do you think that there is a sort of incompatibility between the BIOS in my laptop and the RAM I'm using?

 

It used to be much more common, but perhaps this is one of those times a quirk like this turns up?

 

I see. I'll try to get a better RAM and test again. Thanks for the help

 

Im sorry?? Am I completely stupid?

Does this-



Not say its at 400mhz????

 

Your not stupid. The photograph in the previous post didn't show the correct tabs.

The DRAM is 333MHz as shown below.

 

The more I look at this, the more I think it that your GL40 chipset (also known as the 940GML) doesn't support more than 667MHz speeds, and possibly less (i.e., 533MHz).

List of Intel chipsets - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

hahahaha

Nope I have that chipset and the highest frequency is 667Mhz.

 

The 940GML and the GL40 are not the same. The 940GML was meant for the first generation of Celeron and Core Duo on a socket M. The GL40 is for the last generation of Celeron and Core 2 Duo on socket P.

In the wikipedia link, the GL40 is under the section titled 'Core 2 Mobile chipsets' (the end of the wiki page) while the 940GML is under the section titled 'Core/Core 2 Mobile chipsets' (the top of the page). The GL40 code name 'Cantiga' is while the 940GML code name is 'Calistoga'. The GL40 is about two to three years newer than the 940GLM

The Intel datasheet for the Series 4 chipset can be downloaded from here. As you can see, the GL40 supports 667, and 800MHz FSB; i.e. the RAM can operate at 333, and 400MHz. 533MHz doesn't work as I've already tested