Could you run CPU-Z to give us a bit more info?

http://www.cpuid.com/downloads/cpu-z/1.65-en.zip

You're actually running at PC3-10700 speeds instead of PC3-12800 but its probably running with tighter timings ie 670Mhz 9-9-9-24 2T instead of 800mhz 10-10-10-27 T3

Could do with seeing the SPD page too, that will tell us the rams pre-programmed speeds

sorry, was just adding that after seeing it.

so thats what the bit on the right is reporting?

xmp 1.3?

so the ram actually should run at 800 with some sort of multiplier at 2x to make it up to 1600? or is that where the dual channel comes in?

I think we're better off already.

but realistically, will i notice anything different?

there is a practical edge to this question too. a server at work has been specced by dell with 10 32 GB sticks in and the boss has decided to go with 16 x 16s because we don't need that much RAM and because it'll raise the FSB speed to 1600 from 1333 with the 32s in.

I'm saying you won't notice two tenths of bugger all, but you will notice the massive cost of replacing them all when you need 32s to populate the server with 512 down the line (24 slots at 16 means you cant hit 512 withs 16s).

how much difference does increasing the bus speed of the RAM mean, when the RAM will likely run increased timings as a balance to incresasing the bus speed?

and whats the laymans explanation for dual channel and quad channel?

confirmation on both points, thanks for that.