I don't know what memory timings are available through the BIOS settings of
your computer (if any).  Since you set the same timings for all the memory
installed, there's no need to add lower latency memory, if the memory that
you already have installed is not capable of keeping up (though buying lower
latency memory and running it at slower (higher) timings would not be a
problem).

I think of latency timings as wait states that are required for various
memory operations.  Lower timings mean less idle clock cycles, which means
higher memory bandwidth.  However, the performance gains from lower
latencies, while detectable with various benchmarks, are not that dramatic
in actual usage.

Tom's Hardware has an article delving into these issues in more detail,
http://www7.tomshardware.com/motherboard/20040119/index.html .

John


----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Hachmeyer" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2005 4:46 PM
Subject: [PCBUILD] chip latency and timing


> Looking to add ram to my hp mediacenter, with currently 2 512mb
> pc3200 chips.  Looking at the ads, I see viking with a latency of
> 3, timing of 3,3,3.  Rosewill shows latency 3, timing 3,4,4.  Some
> brands just don't indicate what the number are.  What do the
> numbers mean, ands what effect is there to mix them with other
> brands with different timing?

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