bios and memtest86+ show different memory cas latency as linux kernel, ram speed explained, how, why?

From: Jelle de Jong
Date: Sun Aug 04 2019 - 07:59:49 EST


Hello everybody,

memtest86+ shows latency 9-9-9-24 with dimm part 36JSF2G72PZ-1G9E1
memtest86+ shows latency 9-9-9-23 with dimm part 9965516-115.A00LF
memtest86+ shows latency 9-9-9-23 with both dimm part 9965516-115.A00LF and 36JSF2G72PZ-1G9E1

https://www.micron.com/products/dram-modules/rdimm/part-catalog/mt36jsf2g72pz-1g9 (IBM 16GB DDR3 PC3-14900R 1866MHz ECC Reg)

https://www.kingston.com/datasheets/KVR16R11D4_16.pdf (9965516-115.A00LF) (Kingston 16GB DDR3 2Rx4 PC3-12800R 1600MHz 1.5V CL11 ECC Reg)

However when I check "dmidecode -t memory" and "lshw -short -C memory" it shows the module 9965516-115.A00LF running at 800 MHz (1.2 ns) but the 36JSF2G72PZ-1G9E1 module 1600 MHz (0.6 ns).

This is confusing to me! Can the kernel have different CAS latency timings as memtest86+ and the system bios? Can I increase the speed of the module somehow (no bios option found).

I was looking at buying quite a few of the 36JSF2G72PZ-1G9E1 but if they can not run at the maximum latency timings of the system then I think I have to find other modules. I am trying to see if I am making a mistake reading the data.

I got screenshots of the memtest86+ outputs if needed.

# uname -a
Linux viktoriya 4.19.0-5-amd64 #1 SMP Debian 4.19.37-6 (2019-07-18) x86_64 GNU/Linux

Handle 0x003D, DMI type 17, 28 bytes
Memory Device
Array Handle: 0x003A
Error Information Handle: Not Provided
Total Width: 72 bits
Data Width: 64 bits
Size: 16384 MB
Form Factor: DIMM
Set: None
Locator: CPU0 DIMM1
Bank Locator: Not Specified
Type: DDR3
Type Detail: Synchronous Registered (Buffered)
Speed: 800 MHz
Manufacturer: JEDEC ID:80 2C
Serial Number: E5004045
Asset Tag: Not Specified
Part Number: 36JSF2G72PZ-1G9E1
Rank: 2

Memory Device
Array Handle: 0x003A
Error Information Handle: Not Provided
Total Width: 72 bits
Data Width: 64 bits
Size: 16384 MB
Form Factor: DIMM
Set: None
Locator: CPU0 DIMM1
Bank Locator: Not Specified
Type: DDR3
Type Detail: Synchronous Registered (Buffered)
Speed: 1600 MHz
Manufacturer: JEDEC ID:01 98
Serial Number: 11442EEB
Asset Tag: Not Specified
Part Number: 9965516-115.A00LF
Rank: 2

lshw -short -C memory
H/W path Device Class Description
=================================================
/0/1 memory 128KiB BIOS
/0/5/7 memory 256KiB L1 cache
/0/5/8 memory 1MiB L2 cache
/0/5/9 memory 8MiB L3 cache
/0/6/a memory 256KiB L1 cache
/0/6/b memory 1MiB L2 cache
/0/6/c memory 8MiB L3 cache
/0/3a memory System Memory
/0/3a/0 memory 16GiB DIMM DDR3 Synchronous Registered (Buffered) 1600 MHz (0.6 ns)
/0/3a/1 memory 16GiB DIMM DDR3 Synchronous Registered (Buffered) 800 MHz (1.2 ns)
/0/3a/2 memory DIMM DDR3 Synchronous [empty]
/0/3b memory System Memory
/0/3b/0 memory 16GiB DIMM DDR3 Synchronous Registered (Buffered) 1600 MHz (0.6 ns)
/0/3b/1 memory 16GiB DIMM DDR3 Synchronous Registered (Buffered) 800 MHz (1.2 ns)
/0/3b/2 memory DIMM DDR3 Synchronous [empty]
/0/3c memory Flash Memory
/0/3c/0 memory 2MiB Chip FLASH Non-volatile
/0/0 memory
/0/2 memory

Vendor: Hewlett-Packard
Version: 786G4 v03.61
Release Date: 03/05/2018

Product Name: HP Z600 Workstation
Serial Number: CZC13377H1

Kind regards,

Jelle de Jong