How to Figure the Bandwidth a PC3200 Runs

The amount of bandwidth varies between memory module types.

Memory modules found in computers and video graphics cards have a set bandwidth at which the modules process volatile system data. The bandwidth of any SD-RAM memory module relies on the bus width and bus speed. By calculating the two, users can determine the actual bandwidth of a PC3200 and other similar modules. Although this figure is usually included within the marketing description of some memory modules, the following calculation provides a more reliable way of determining bandwidth.

Things You'll Need

• Scientific calculator

Instructions

1. Locate the bus width of the memory module on the stickers located on the modules. Low-density DDR SD-RAM features a bus data width of 8 bits for each of the 16 chips located on the memory module.

2. Locate the bus speed of the memory module on the stickers located on the modules. PC3200 memory features an effective clock rate of 400 megahertz.

3. Convert the bus speed into cycles-per-second. For reference, 1 megahertz equals 1,000,000 cycles per second. Converting 400 megahertz should result in 400,000,000 cycles per second.

4. Calculate the bandwidth using the following equation: bus width X bus speed. Enter 8 x 400,000,000 into the scientific calculator and press the "Equal" sign button. The result should be "3,200,000,000."

5. Convert the result from cycles per second to megabytes per second. For reference, 1,000,000 cycles per second equals 1 megabyte per second. Converting 3,200,000,000 megabytes per second should result in a bandwidth of 3,200 megabytes per second.

References

• Information Technology Resource and Forum: The Bus
• Information Technology Resource and Forum: DDR and RDRAM

Resources

• Accelware Unit Conversion: Megahertz to Cycles/Second Conversion Calculator