bugdmidecode - Bugs: bug #50871, DDR2-800 Identified as DDR2-667

 
 

bug #50871: DDR2-800 Identified as DDR2-667

Submitted by:  None
Submitted on:  Mon 24 Apr 2017 11:50:12 PM UTC  
 
Category: NoneSeverity: 3 - Normal
Item Group: NoneStatus: Invalid
Privacy: PublicAssigned to: Jean Delvare <khali>
Open/Closed: Closed

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Tue 25 Apr 2017 07:28:38 AM UTC, comment #1:

You are comparing apples to bananas. The Windows tools you are running are scanning the SMBus to access the SPD EEPROMs on the memory modules directly. They report the physical characteristics of the memory modules, and in particular their maximum speed.

On the other hand, dmidecode reads the DMI table as filled out by the BIOS. Nowhere it claims that you have DDR2-667 memory. It says that you have DDR2 memory operating at 667 MHz (or more accurately 667 MT/s, which would correspond to a 333 MHz clock - that was clarified by a later version of the SMBIOS specification.)

The bottom line is that you have 800 MT/s memory modules operating at 667 MT/s. Nothing unusual, it's probably a limitation of the motherboard's chipset or the CPU or the combination of both.

If you want an equivalent tool on Linux that you are running on Windows to access the physical characteristics of your memory modules, try decode-dimms from the i2c-tools package.

To answer your other question, having the exact same part number is OK, in fact it is a good thing, it means the 2 modules are perfectly identical, which is ideal for dual-channel operation. However, the fact that the serial numbers are the same means you bought very cheap memory ;-) It should not happen with quality memory modules.

Jean Delvare <khali>
Project AdministratorIn charge of this item.
Mon 24 Apr 2017 11:50:12 PM UTC, original submission:

Medion Akoya P6618 (MD97620) Laptop
- MS-Windows Vista
- Manjaro 16.08 i686
- Xubuntu 17.04 amd64
Chinese DDR2-800 (? -- Check Part Number) 2SODIMM×4GB

CPU-Z Output (Vista):

DIMM # 1
SMBus address 0x50
Memory type DDR2
Module format SO-DIMM
Manufacturer (ID) (0000000000000000000000)
Size 4096 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC2-6400 (400 MHz)
Part number 16HTF25664HY-667E1
Serial number E2113A9E
Manufacturing date Week 13/Year 11
Number of banks 8
Data width 64 bits
Correction None
Nominal Voltage 1.80 Volts
EPP no
XMP no
AMP no
JEDEC timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC @ frequency
JEDEC #1 3.0-3-3-9-12 @ 200 MHz
JEDEC #2 4.0-4-4-12-16 @ 266 MHz
JEDEC #3 5.0-6-6-18-24 @ 400 MHz

DIMM # 2
SMBus address 0x52
Memory type DDR2
Module format SO-DIMM
Manufacturer (ID) (0000000000000000000000)
Size 4096 MBytes
Max bandwidth PC2-6400 (400 MHz)
Part number 16HTF25664HY-667E1
Serial number E2113A9E
Manufacturing date Week 13/Year 11
Number of banks 8
Data width 64 bits
Correction None
Nominal Voltage 1.80 Volts
EPP no
XMP no
AMP no
JEDEC timings table CL-tRCD-tRP-tRAS-tRC @ frequency
JEDEC #1 3.0-3-3-9-12 @ 200 MHz
JEDEC #2 4.0-4-4-12-16 @ 266 MHz
JEDEC #3 5.0-6-6-18-24 @ 400 MHz

SpeedFan 4.52 (Vista)

Scanning SMBus at $1C00...
Decoding DIMM #0
Memory type is DDR2
DIMM type is SO-DIMM
Size is 4096 MBytes
Speed is PC2-6400
Supported DRAM voltages are 1,80 V
Data ECC is not supported
Manufactured on week 13 of 2011
Part number is 16HTF25664HY-667E1
Serial number is E2113A9E
Timings : 400 MHz 5,0-6-6-18
Timings : 267 MHz 4,0-4-4-12
Timings : 200 MHz 3,0-3-3-9
Decoding DIMM #2
Memory type is DDR2
DIMM type is SO-DIMM
Size is 4096 MBytes
Speed is PC2-6400
Supported DRAM voltages are 1,80 V
Data ECC is not supported
Manufactured on week 13 of 2011
Part number is 16HTF25664HY-667E1
Serial number is E2113A9E
Timings : 400 MHz 5,0-6-6-18
Timings : 267 MHz 4,0-4-4-12
Timings : 200 MHz 3,0-3-3-9

xubuntu@xubuntu:~$ sudo dmidecode bios

Handle 0x0016, DMI type 17, 27 bytes
Memory Device
Array Handle: 0x0015
Error Information Handle: No Error
Total Width: 8 bits
Data Width: 64 bits
Size: 4096 MB
Form Factor: SODIMM
Set: 1
Locator: M1
Bank Locator: Bank 0
Type: DDR2
Type Detail: Synchronous
Speed: 667 MHz
Manufacturer: 0000000000000000
Serial Number: E2113A9E
Asset Tag: 110D
Part Number: 16HTF25664HY-667E1

Handle 0x0017, DMI type 17, 27 bytes
Memory Device
Array Handle: 0x0015
Error Information Handle: No Error
Total Width: 8 bits
Data Width: 64 bits
Size: 4096 MB
Form Factor: SODIMM
Set: 1
Locator: M2
Bank Locator: Bank 1
Type: DDR2
Type Detail: Synchronous
Speed: 667 MHz
Manufacturer: 0000000000000000
Serial Number: E2113A9E
Asset Tag: 110D
Part Number: 16HTF25664HY-667E1
[Manjaro 16.08 i686 similar to the above]

Only dmidecode identifies my RAM as DDR2-667, but what makes me wonder is a. the part number (ending in -667E1) and b. that the serial numbers of both SODIMMs are identical.

dmidecode bug or is dmidecode the best of three?

Anonymous

 

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    Date Changed By Updated Field Previous Value => Replaced By
    Tue 25 Apr 2017 07:28:38 AM UTCkhaliStatusNone=>Invalid
      Assigned toNone=>khali
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