Memory Continued

Memory Speed

The other big RAM issue you'll need to pay attention to is speed. Since Nvidia has essentially freed hardware manufacturers to create their own board configurations, you'll see a wide range of RAM types and brands being used to complement the TNT2 processor.

In general, the standard recommended TNT2 memory speed is 150MHz, which requires 7ns RAM. The recommended memory clock for TNT2 Ultra is 183MHz, or 5.5ns. While there's nothing wrong with using RAM of the recommended speed, sticking to spec does hinder overclockability, as the memory used is not rated to operate any faster. It's far more likely to overclock a vanilla TNT2's memory to 166MHz if its RAM is rated at 6.5ns, or a TNT2 Ultra to 183MHz with 5.5ns memory.

5.5ns = 183MHz

7ns = 150MHz

Faster RAM is not an absolute guarantee of a more successful overclocking, although it can greatly increase your chances. FiringSquad recommends that RAM speed be an important considering for TNT2 purchasers, especially those seeking to overclock their cards past manufactuer specifications.

The downside is of course that faster memory is generally more expensive. Memory speed information is one thing that will not be readily available to the average consumer - since one manufacturer may spec different RAM types from several memory manufacturers, it's never set in stone, and thus won't be advertised.