There have been some recent changes to CPUZ (Version 1.24) including a new "SPD" tab, the main reason I broke this review into 2 parts, here is a link to part 1:

http://forums.pcapex.com/showthread.php?threadid=28118

I will only be dealing with newer DDR memory modules, PC3200- PC4800, as most older modules (BH-5 excluded) are not realy worth using anymore for overclocking on modern 400FSB and up systems.

There are other 5 other "Tabs" besides the default CPU page I covered in Part 1, they are:
Cache, MainBoard, Memory, SPD, and About.


Cache
It shows you how much on die "Cache" your CPU has..think of it like having a stick of memory shrunk down on the CPU itself.
Typically it will be 256k for low end CPU's, 512k-1MB for Midrange CPU's and 2MB or more can be found on the Extreme Edition P-4's and Athlon FX Series.

MainBoard
Basic information about the Brand, Model number, Chipset and Revision (Version0 of the Mother Board.
It also lists what version fo the Bios you are currently using, along with AGP Transfer Rate (1x 2x 4x or 8x) AGP Aperture size (32,64,128 or 256) and Side Band Addressing (Enabled/Disabled)

Memory
Lists the type (DDR or DDR2) Channels (Single or Dual) and size of the Modules (128MB 256MB 512Mb or 1GB)

Also listed is the FSB: DRAM... that is theCPU Multiplier (9x) and FSB (270)



It also has a list of Memory timings, I will not go into them today, that is for another post...

Here is a link to Corsair, for those who would like to see a very detailed Flash Tutorial of Memory basics with Audio.

http://www.corsairmicro.com/corsair/...707/index.html

SPD (Serial Presence Detect)
This a very tiny EPROM or "Data" chip located on every Memory module.


It will boot up automatically using the Pre-Programmed timing information stored on board when the memory is set to "Auto" in the Bios.

CPUZ tells me the default SPD for my Crucial Ballistix PC3200 is CAS 2-2-2-8

The first thing you should notice is a tab on the upper left side of the page that allows you to view each module individualy (Slot 1, 2, 3, or 4)

This can be important, Zennzzo told me recently his BH-5 Kingston Hyper-X PC3000 that came as a "Dual Channel" matched pair (2x256MB) but ended up having very different weeks of manufacture.

That can explain why 1 module in a "Dual Channel" kit can reach very high overclock speeds, but the other one is rather average....remember, Memory only has to meet it's 'Official" rated speed, Overclocking is not garaunteed!

It also contains some other basic information about the module, but of note, it tells you the Manufacturer of the chip itself... Micron Chips are what is realy hiding in my Crucial Ballistix!

Now you can tell if that old "Generic" memory is real BH-5 hiding under "Re-Marked" chips, or memory that has been covered with heatspreaders

It also tells you when they were made (Week 37 of 2004) along with the Serial Number.
It also shows if it is ECC capable(Error Correction Code, used in servers and some AMD FX series CPU's) along with Buffered/Unbuffered or Registered/Non-Registered capabilities (More server stuff!)

About
It simply lists the Version Number (1.24 September) who made it, a website link, and Windows Version. It also has some tools at the bottom for a Registry Dump and a HTML Report if you so desire.

Well..that covers the highlights, I bet you never would have thougt there was enough information about CPUZ to warrant 2 posts eh?

SWEET thread, man (get used to that reply, you'll be hearing it from me a lot...i'll try to throw in a little variety, though)

Man, i really can't thank you enough(and the powers that be at PR who tapped you for the writing gig).
Your articles are concise and very easy to follow/understand, and this OC newb appreciates the heck out of them

Actually $SOLID$ it doesn't tell you if its BH-5. For exmple use my RAM, because I looked up the model in various forums I know it's CH-6; the testing and results I get proves that to me. However in CPU-Z it tells me I have 'Corsair' ram (where you have Micron)


It is nice to know what the manufacs think you ought be running at though, and then tighten the timings a little :p

Good point Ark

There will be enough information on that page to help you track it down though, I have just now found the link I was going to add for a listing of BH-5 codes.

http://xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=35598

Ahh! New version! Maybe I have BH5 in my generic PC3200? Nope.

I bought these a while back 2x512 of HyperX (bh-5). Look at when these sticks where made

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will be looking into all the following post to learn more about my system and pushing it alittle more.


(3dmark03 on my sys only coming to 200ish.) nut its the Vid card and meme that needs upgrade

Quote: Originally Posted by karthen will be looking into all the following post to learn more about my system and pushing it alittle more. (3dmark03 on my sys only coming to 200ish.) nut its the Vid card and meme that needs upgrade

Glad you "Stopped" in, we can help "Steer" you in the right direction


UPDATE: they have just released version of CPUZ 1.25, and have updated ClockGenerator too.

Downloading now. Thanks for the heads up and the linkage

Solid, did you see my screenies up above? Whats with the date, have you seen anything like that?

That is very odd, I will check in to it a bit more when I get home.

This is a new feature of CPUZ, and it might have a few glitches, did you try the just released version 1.25?

Or, most likely the information Kingston encoded on your SPD chip was wrong.

Yeah thats with 1.25.