Terminology confustion (7900GTX part 2)
 

Ok, so I got the new Gainward 7900GTX card. After reading reviews and whatnot on the new nVidia hardware I was under the impression that the core clock would move at about 650mhz and the memory clock would be, roughly, 1600mhz (give or take depending on make and model). So far so good. I like big numbers hehe. :D

However, with the card installed I head into the nVidia display options and see this:

Core clock frequency: 650mhz
Memory clock frequency: 800mhz

So, um, what gives? Mind you, the card performs well and games are silky smooth (oblivion goes from "wow" to "omfgimgonnadieitssobeautiful") but that memory clock frequency bothers me a bit. So - I'm suspecting that I'm being confused on terminology or that numbers can be represented in different ways. I can set the over clocking sliders to 960mhz on the memory clock but it's a far cry from the 1600-ish mhz I see on reviews etc.

Anyone with the know-how feel like enlighten me? :confused:

Well, I just had my question answered over at bit-tech.net.

Turns out the actual memory clock speed is, in fact, 800mhz. However, the factual clock speed is 1600mhz. Why, I hear you ask. Well. The memory on most modern graphics cards are, wait for it, DDR. And DDR means Double Data Rate. So, presto, my measly 800mhz are actually twice that which would mean that if I crank the overclock slider to 960mhz I get... *mumble*... lots of mhz which is good and stuff.

I'm like Mr Rogers. :D