At my default settings, my memory timing is set at CAS 2.5. However, I went into my BIOS and changed it to the faster CAS 2.0 setting. I assume that because my computer accepted the newer, faster setting that now it will speed up slightly. I am not sure of the brand of memory in my computer, but because it seems to be working fine and not locking up, can I assume that it is indeed running at the faster setting? Also, will I see any improvement in FS2002 now? Thanks,Robb

www.rojakpot.com

If the machine is stable after doing that, congrats! Seems like your memory is forgiving. If you get any BSOD's try setting it back to defaults.

Thanks,Essentially what is the difference between CAS 2.5 and 2? By me having my setting changed to CAS 2.0, will it affect overclocking my CPU? What's BSOD stand for?Thanks,Robb

Cas 2 runs the memory a litle faster giving you a few more frames per second. It will not affect your CPU. BSOD stands for blue screen of death. :)

Running CAS2 will indeed effect the ability to overclock a CPU - not because it effects the CPU directly, but because it pushes the memory subsystem harder than CAS2.5.CAS basically controls the latency of access to your memory modules (eg: how amount of time it take to get and/or set individual bits of memory on the DIMM). The shorter, the better - depending upon circumstance.Its worth trying to run your memory at CAS2 if you are overclocking, as long as you are aware that your FSB may be limited by that choice. Backing off to CAS2.5 and gaining a proportionately higher FSB can be a good tradeoff - often a higher FSB will gain you more in overall system speed. Its one of those things you have to test on your own system to get the best results.Good luck,Elrond---MS Flight Simulator Tips and TricksEnthused AVSIM Peon - with minor Bucket and Mop duties (they only let me roam near the AVSIM toilets!)

Thanks guys!Robb

Elrond,A quick question: Will running CAS 2.5 memory at CAS2 increase the risk of physically damaging the memory chip if it can't handle the lower latency?Thanks,Dan

Probably not, you will probably experience memory failures or system crashes because of missed or corrupted data.

I agree with Bill. The dirty little (not so) secret of the chip industry is that most chips, including memory and CPU's, are "bin" processed... What this means is, each chip coming off the line is stability tested at different speeds and settings (depending upon criteria). When one chip does much better than another, it is bumped up into a "bin" that eventually sells as a higher spec'd chip.The point being: you most likely won't damage a chip by overclocking it or running it at more stringent speed settings because chips even from the same batch have a variety of tolerances. Think of the spec's of a chip as the guarenteed minimum ratings: not the possible maximum settings. In this case, at most you'll get memory errors or stability problems and have to back off the settings a bit, which will completely cure the "problem". Its when one starts pumping out-of-spec voltage through a DIMM that the lifetime of the board may diminish... That too however depends more upon build quality than chip design.A large aspect of a DIMM's ability is the quality of the board design itself: not the chips on them (although that certainly plays a big part). As an example, most Crucial DIMMs are rated at CAS2.5, but can easily pull off CAS2.0 (among other latency and higher FSB settings) because their boards are almost always of such high quality. In the end that means: decent RAM on the cheap. Not, of course, guaranteed.As always: your milage may vary.Take care,Elrond---MS Flight Simulator Tips and TricksEnthused AVSIM Peon - with minor Bucket and Mop duties (they only let me roam near the AVSIM toilets!)

Not a lot to add, expect that there are benchmarks available that make the gain in memory speed "visible" and also give a first indication as to whether or not your new settings are stable.E.g. go to www.sisoft.com.Also I would encourage everyone who had stability problems when they got there new memory and applied the faster settings to try again after some time. While some consider it a fairy tale my own experience is that memory gets burned-in after a while. When I got my new rig I was not even possible to run it stable at few wait-stages, let alone Cas 2. After I had it for a month it now runs stable with all mem settings set to "very mean".Alex