Desktop Memory

Questions

Why does PC memory have MHz ratings and what do they mean?

The MHz rating for PC memory is an indication of how quickly it can transfer data. The higher the MHz rating, the quicker the memory can transfer data. However, the transfer speed is bottlenecked by the motherboard and processor. If a stick of memory is rated at 1600 MHz but the processor and motherboard are limited to 1333 MHz, the memory will operate at the slower speed.

What does latency or timing mean for PC memory?

PC memory timings are performance measurements based around four parameters. These four ratings are written as four numbers separated by dashes, such as 7-8-7-24. It is better to have lower timings, as that means less latency. You should prioritize having lower latencies over faster MHz ratings.

What does memory voltage mean?

In order for PC memory modules to achieve their rated timings, they must operate at indicated voltages. If the memory modules are ran either under or over-voltage, there will be a risk of system instability and damage to the memory. However, increasing memory voltage can also lower timings for slightly faster performance.

Are there any advantages to multi-channel memory kits?

Multi-module PC memory upgrades are often marketed as dual-channel, triple-channel, or quad-channel. Known as matched memory, they are designed to work in conjunction for slightly increased performance. However, the motherboard must support multi-channel memory for there to be any benefit.