My 1600 Mhz memory is running at 800, i wish i knew how to fix it

[mrconfus3d]

yeah so I used cpu-z to check on my system and see if everything is running right cause lately my computers been running terrible, and it turns out that the DRAM frequency of my 4gb 1600mhz ram is at 800mhz. I tried taking it out the slot and changing the slot, i tried turning the computer on without ram then restarting and putting it back in, ive also tried changing the AUTO function in my bios for dram frequency to 1600 Mhz, nothing. it also says in BIOS that the current frequency is 1600 mhz, but it doesn't feel like it at all and it says its 800 in cpu-z. What can i do, i think this recently happened because my computer was never this slow.

 

[GlenicoNico]

Go to your BIOS and change the frequency. This always happens when you install a new memory, it'll run at 1333mhz at stock, I'm confused why yours runs at 800mhz, but just try it.

 

[mrconfus3d]

I have, i went to BIOS and it says its running at 1600 MHz, and i even changed the frequency from AUTO to 1600, no change, stuck at 800 mhz according to CPU-z

 

[GlenicoNico]

What OS are you using? If you're using Win 8.1, go to task manger -> performance -> Memory, at the bottom you'll see the speed.

 

[Bluemoon_9]

CPU Z is correct. 1600MHz memory is actually 800 (Remember it's double data rate 800MHz). CPU Z is reporting the actual frequency.

Just be assured it's running at 1600 mhz. The real clock of DDR3 is actually half of the labelled clock speed.

Check here is you need more explanation
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Understanding-RAM-Timings/26/1

 

[Tradesman1]

This is DDR (DOUBLE data rate), so take true freq 800 (which is what you are seeing) x 2 = 1600 effective rate - and you are spot on at 1600 as you should be

 

[mrconfus3d]

Thank you very much guys, sounds about right. Only problem is that it kind of did feel like a memory problem. Everything runs slower than usual and i thought i had nailed the problem but i guess not. Eh, either way this is getting off topic, original issue was about the ram. Thank you very much again!

 

[Tradesman1]

Is this a single stick? what was in there before?

 

[mrconfus3d]

Yes its a single stick of 4GB Patriot 1600mhz, always has been.

 

[Tradesman1]

Might check for virus's and a malware check....look in startup and see if anything new has been added or is uneeded, (might be hogging DRAM)

 

[mrconfus3d]

Yeah that was my first guess but i had avast installed. I actually just uninstalled it and its doing a little better, what would you recommend? I used to have eset and it was great, thinking of going back to it.

 

[Tradesman1]

Might give it a try, I think it has lower overhead, but don't remember for sure, sorry 🙁