Hi all

Just wondering if anyone knows whether or not memory speed and memory clock speed are the same thing? 
I'm fairly sure they are and I'm trying to decide which RAM to buy.

I have found this one at amazon  which I know for sure is the same as I have on my board right now but also a cheaper one at ILGS which looks to be identical but it's giving different speeds in the tech spec.

The cheaper RAM at ILGS says it is 1333MHz "memory clock speed" but it is advertised as 1600MHz.
Perhaps it's an error in their advert. I have emailed them but they are closed until Wednesday due to holidays. 
I'm in no great hurry but if it's not the same as the RAM on amazon then I'll order it now from amazon but I like to save money where ever I can 

Steve

Both of the memory sets you link to are described with the Corsair part number as :TR3X6G1600C9. That should mean that they are identical, although there have been cases where differences in the programming of the firmware on the same part number memory chips differ enough to matter in some systems.
 
Here are the specs according to the manufacturer:
http://www.corsair.com/memory-by-product-family/xms-classic/tr3x6g1600c9.html
 
WarrantyLifetime
Size6GB Kit (3 x 2GB)
Performance ProfileXMP
Fan IncludedNo
Heat SpreaderXMS
Memory ConfigurationTriple Channel
Memory TypeDDR3
Package - Memory Pin240
Package - Memory FormatDIMM
Tested Voltage1.65
SPD Voltage1.5
Speed RatingPC3-12800 (1600MHz)
SPD Speed1333Mhz
Tested Speed1600Mhz
Tested Latency9-9-9-24
SPD Latency9-9-9-24
 
And  links to some information about memory "speed" and timing to add to your confusion:
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Understanding-RAM-Timings/26
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_presence_detect
 
 

I would make sure whatever memory you buy is compatible with the motherboard.  I see a lot of comments about memory problems that turn out to be the memory was not listed as compatible by the motherboard vendor.    I'm in the process of building a new system and bought memory (G Skill Ripsaw) that was listed as compatible by my new motherboard vendor (ASRock Z77 Professional M/B).

Thanks for you replies.

Yes those are pretty much my thoughts Slarty, that the model number being the same should mean they are identical. 
It's just that 1333MHz that made me question it. 
The RAM I bought a few months ago is all of a sudden giving me continual blue screens as I bought in haste and have just discovered that not only is it 1333MHz but it's also 1.50Volts whereas it should be 1.65Volts  The RAM already installed is the same as the ones in the links (or at least the amazon link)

I think though it's the voltage difference and not the memory speed that is causing me blue screens.

Indeed firebred, both have been tested to work with my X58 board.

I'll wait for them (ILGS) to respond to my email and probably buy it cheaper from them. Amazon charge a further £8 postage which seems very steep.

Steve

The RAM I bought a few months ago is all of a sudden giving me continual blue screens as I bought in haste and have just discovered that not only is it 1333MHz but it's also 1.50Volts whereas it should be 1.65Volts

 
The nominal voltage to the ram on your MB is 1.5 V. Overclockers often find that when they push the clock above nominal, they also need to raise the voltage to the components. Reporting a tested voltage of 1.65 gives overclockers some confidence that their ram can be used at this abnormal voltage. Unless your system is overclocked, or for some other reason the MB is delivering overvoltage to the ram, the 1.5 volt memory parameter should not cause blue screens.
 
More to the point, are you sure that the blue screens are due to ram problems at all. It would be unusual for memory incompatability to start showing problems after the memory was working for a while. Incompatability starts immediately. If your memory develops a defect during use, it could cause delayed onset of problems. The cheapest way to check for memory problems is to test the memory, rather than replace it.

Ah, good point. I forgot to mention that my system is overclocked.
It was built by  scan uk and it has several bios profiles saved in bios that I can access by pressing f12, one of which is overclocked. I have thoroughly tested both sets of RAM using memtest and when I tested them in their groups of three they showed no errors but when I tested them together I had errors showing with 20 seconds.  
This is the RAM that I mistakenly bought back in November. And I guess now the reason it was blue screening when I put it in on it's own yesterday was because the overclock voltage was set to 1.65Volt. So I could run the two together but not at the overclocked voltage.


Anyway I'll be buying the higher voltage RAM so I can keep it overclocked.

Steve

The problem is clearer now. Most MB manufacturers strongly recommend/require that the exact same memory modules be used in sets that are splitting addressing,  i. e. if three modules make a set installed in slots for that set, they should all be the same module. Sometimes you can mix two different part number modules if the ones for each set are the same part, but in general all the memory on the board being identical is the best bet.