How do I know my RAM is working it's best?

[davidticknor]

My system:
PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2hqUt
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2hqUt/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2hqUt/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($149.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H60 54.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($64.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: ASRock 990FX Extreme3 ATX AM3+/AM3 Motherboard ($119.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($76.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 770 2GB Video Card ($335.30 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Rosewill Line Glow ATX Mid Tower Case ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast 650W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($94.99 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer ($14.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($82.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1035.18
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-12-08 23:36 EST-0500)

This was my first build and everything is running perfect! I'm slowly working through everything and making sure it's all working as best as it can. The only thing I have no idea about how to test is if the RAM is operating as fast as it can. Can anyone shed some light upon how to figure out if my RAM is working as best as it can?
I don't know much about the technicalities of RAM, so sorry my terminology is probably off.

 

[Beezy]

download a program like CPU-Z to check the speed of your RAM, make sure its not being run at 1300 MHz. Or you can usually check/change this settings in the BIOS.

 

[davidticknor]

download a program like CPU-Z to check the speed of your RAM, make sure its not being run at 1300 MHz. Or you can usually check/change this settings in the BIOS.

on cpu-z is it the NB frequency i should be looking at? If so it's running at 2195.5 Mhz

 

[Bushmaster]

Don't worry about NB frequency, it's too complicated. Just boot into the bios and check if the ram frequency, voltages and timings match the specs of the ram.

 

[Beezy]

Don't worry about NB frequency, it's too complicated. Just boot into the bios and check if the ram frequency, voltages and timings match the specs of the ram.

yes this will confirm what the RAM is set to on the motherboard, but you would need a different program to tell you the real speed of the RAM.

 

[Beezy]

open CPU-Z, click Memory tab, look at DRAM frequency. I have dual channel memory with a 4GB along side another 4GB 1600 MHz G.Skill Ripjaws. It reads at 802 Mhz, and we x2 that since its dual channel = 1604Mhz. as advertised :]. If i overclock the NB frequency a tad and maybe up the ram voltage in the BIOS from 1.5 to maybe 1.6 or something you can possibly squeeze more performance out of it, but thats how you check it

 

[davidticknor]

open CPU-Z, click Memory tab, look at DRAM frequency. I have dual channel memory with a 4GB along side another 4GB 1600 MHz G.Skill Ripjaws. It reads at 802 Mhz, and we x2 that since its dual channel = 1604Mhz. as advertised :]. If i overclock the NB frequency a tad and maybe up the ram voltage in the BIOS from 1.5 to maybe 1.6 or something you can possibly squeeze more performance out of it, but thats how you check it

Ok so my DRAM frequency is 400MHZ, so is one of my sticks not working?

 

[davidticknor]

open CPU-Z, click Memory tab, look at DRAM frequency. I have dual channel memory with a 4GB along side another 4GB 1600 MHz G.Skill Ripjaws. It reads at 802 Mhz, and we x2 that since its dual channel = 1604Mhz. as advertised :]. If i overclock the NB frequency a tad and maybe up the ram voltage in the BIOS from 1.5 to maybe 1.6 or something you can possibly squeeze more performance out of it, but thats how you check it

Never mind found the issue! In the bios the DRAM was set to ddr3 @ 800, changed it to 1600 and I now have 800 so x2 and 1600. Thanks for the help!

 

[Beezy]

open CPU-Z, click Memory tab, look at DRAM frequency. I have dual channel memory with a 4GB along side another 4GB 1600 MHz G.Skill Ripjaws. It reads at 802 Mhz, and we x2 that since its dual channel = 1604Mhz. as advertised :]. If i overclock the NB frequency a tad and maybe up the ram voltage in the BIOS from 1.5 to maybe 1.6 or something you can possibly squeeze more performance out of it, but thats how you check it

Never mind found the issue! In the bios the DRAM was set to ddr3 @ 800, changed it to 1600 and I now have 800 so x2 and 1600. Thanks for the help!

wonderful!