Memory question

Question

I have a couple of questions about memory.
1. I have Corsair TwinX XMS PC3200 2x1024mb. settings at corsair are 2.5-3-3-6 It shows up in speedfan as:       
 FSB-DRAM................. CPU/14
 CAS# Latency............. 3.0 clocks
 RAS#to CAS# Delay..... 3 clocks
 Ras Precharge...............3 Clocks
Cycle Time(tras).............7 Clocks
Bank Cycle Time(trc)......10 clocks
DRAM IdleTimer.............16 clocks
  I just want to run it at a better speed to get the most out of it.
2. Plus my MB supports DDR266/333/400 modules. Does that mean I can't run the 433/500/533/550?
 When I started to overclock I had the DRAM set on 400 and with the OC it went to 424. with no problems. Then I had to drop it to 333 to keep OCing and got the DRAM up to 198 running stable. I had to drop the FSB so eventually the DRAM went to 184. I ran Sandra with the 424mhs setting and the 184mhz setting and the 184mhz setting was really a lot quicker...so I stayed there.
    Now how can I get better speeds out of the memory? Would it be better to buy a different memory to achieve my goals?

Answer 1

MR,
You Stated :
1. I have Corsair TwinX XMS PC3200 2x1024mb. settings at corsair are 2.5-3-3-6 It shows up in speedfan as:       
FSB-DRAM................. CPU/14
CAS# Latency............. 3.0 clocks
RAS#to CAS# Delay..... 3 clocks
Ras Precharge...............3 Clocks
Cycle Time(tras).............8 Clocks
Bank Cycle Time(trc)......12 clocks
DRAM IdleTimer.............16 clocks
  I just want to run it at a better speed to get the most out of it.
The figures you posted above look more like figure you would have gotten from the memory Tab in CPU Z. Can you confirm this and also post all figures you get form the SPD Tab in CPU Z regarding your RAM. If you RAM setting are set to Auto in BIOS then the above figures are really your SPD readings that were applied by your BIOS Auto RAM setting feature.  The CPU Z SPD read out will confirm this. If this is the Case then you have Corsair TwinX2048-3200 Kit (3-3-3-8) vice the TwinX2048-3200C2 (2--3-3-6*) with the asterix annotated as [* These parts support 2-3-3-6 latency on Intel platforms, and 2.5-3-3-6 latency on AMD platforms.]. Double check your product number on your RAM and pay perticular attention to letters and/or numbers after TwinX2048-3200....>  Check result against listing the TwinX matched pair memory listing here http://www.corsairmemory.com/corsair/xms.html
Plus my MB supports DDR266/333/400 modules. Does that mean I can't run the 433/500/533/550?
You could likely use memory up to DDR 500 on your board if you wanted to OC and leave ram at 1:1 ratio. Higher memory  would be wasted money.
Good luck,