| No one likes a slow computer. Well, at least not | | | | and usually only wields nominally performance gains. |
| anyone I know. People spend thousands of dollars on | | | | There's no simple way to say it, so I'll apologize in |
| upgrades and cutting edge systems to use a faster | | | | advance for spitting some tech jargon your way. RAM |
| computer. However, upgrading your computer is not | | | | timing are measured in CAS, RCD, RP, and RAS. CAS |
| the only way to have a quicker computing experience. | | | | refers to the amount of clock cycles to reach the |
| For those looking to squeeze the last bit of | | | | correct column of memory, RCD refers to the amount |
| performance out of their machines, there are many | | | | of cycles between RAS to CAS, RP refers to the |
| ways to optimize your system for speed. | | | | amount of cycles needed to close a row and open |
| Overclocking your CPU, tweaking your registry, and | | | | the next row for reading, and RAS refers to the |
| fine tuning the bios are some the most common ways | | | | smallest number of clock cycles a row must be |
| to optimize your system. Another often overlooked | | | | actively accessed. To simplify that explanation, |
| method is reducing your RAM's latency. | | | | remember that RAM timings are measured in FSB |
| RAM latency occurs when the CPU needs to retrieve | | | | clock cycles, so the lower the number, the faster your |
| information from memory. In order to receive | | | | system is. |
| information from RAM, the CPU sends out a request | | | | For example, my RAM timings are 3-3-3-8 |
| through the front side bus (FSB.) However, the CPU | | | | (CAS-RCD-RP-RAS.) To optimize my timings, I first |
| operates faster than the memory, so it must wait | | | | tried lowering my CAS in my bios to 2.5 and rebooting. |
| while the proper segment of memory is located and | | | | Windows booted just fine and everything worked |
| read, before the data can be sent back. RAM latency | | | | correctly, so I then rebooted and went back into my |
| is measured in wasted FSB clock cycles, since the | | | | bios and dropped my CAS down to 2, so now my |
| data is transferred through the FSB. The bigger the | | | | timings were 2-3-3-8. Again, this setup seemed stable |
| latency number, the more FSB clock cycles it missed. | | | | so I went in and tried reducing my RAS, since it was |
| The goal in reducing latency is to get the data back to | | | | pretty high. This was the last stable tweak that I could |
| the CPU in the least amount of FSB clock cycles | | | | do. When I tried to go below 2-3-3-7 in any timing my |
| possible. | | | | system either wouldn't boot or Windows would |
| The easiest way to reduce RAM latency is to | | | | generate a mass amount of memory related areas. I |
| increase the speed of the front side bus. This means | | | | used 3dMark 2005 to get an idea of how much |
| that the FSB can send and receive data between the | | | | improvement my memory adjustments made, if any. |
| CPU and memory faster. However, this also | | | | Before tweaking my timings I posted a 2105 3dMark |
| overclocks the CPU, RAM, and possibly the AGP bus | | | | score, after the tweaking I scored 2114. Not much of |
| as well. Overclocking your system will void your | | | | difference, but when it comes to optimizing your |
| computer's warranties and could possibly damage and | | | | system for speed, every last bit helps. |
| or destroy your system, so only attempt it if you're | | | | While reducing RAM latency may not have a huge |
| willing to risk frying your computer. Adjusting your PC's | | | | impact on system performance, it can give it a little |
| FSB is usually performed through the BIOS or through | | | | extra kick, which combined with other methods of |
| jumpers on your motherboard, although not all | | | | optimization, can result in a much quicker PC. So until |
| motherboards support overclocking. | | | | you're ready to buy a new computer, consider tuning |
| A safer method is to adjust your RAM's timings, | | | | up your current one to it's fullest potential. |
| although this can still potentially damage your system | | | | |