Microsoft has begun updating the unit of measurement for RAM speeds in the Task Manager from MHz to MT/s (mega transfers per second). This modification aligns with the ongoing industry shift toward a more accurate representation of memory speeds, particularly for DDR technologies. The update is being rolled out to beta users starting with build 22635.3570, as detailed on the Windows Insider blog. The shift from MHz to MT/s addresses the discrepancies between actual clock frequencies and effective speeds. Historically, RAM was measured in MHz, which directly correlated to the number of cycles it could perform in a second. This was accurate when RAM technology predominantly involved single data rate SDRAM, where the effective data transfer rate was equivalent to the clock speed. However, with the introduction of DDR (Double Data Rate) SDRAM in the early 2000s, the scenario changed significantly. DDR SDRAM technology enabled two transfers per cycle, effectively doubling the data rate compared to the clock speed. For example, a module with a clock speed of 100 MHz would achieve an effective rate of 200 MT/s.

Despite the advancement in technology, RAM manufacturers continued to use MHz in product branding to avoid consumer confusion, even though it no longer accurately represented the performance. For instance, a RAM module advertised as DDR5 6000 MHz is actually operating at a clock speed of 3000 MHz but delivers a performance of 6000 MT/s. This issue is even more pronounced with newer technologies like GDDR5X and GDDR6 used in graphics cards, which employ Quad Data Rate (QDR), further distancing the clock speed from the effective transfer rate.

In response to these developments, RAM manufacturers are now gradually transitioning to labeling products with just the data rate (e.g., DDR5-6000) or explicitly using the MT/s unit (e.g., DDR5 6000 MT/s). Users who are eager to see this change can update to the latest beta release through the "Get the latest updates as they are available" option in the Windows Update section of their system settings. However, those who prefer to remain on stable releases will need to wait until the changes are implemented in the non-Insider versions of the operating system.

Source: tomshardware, Image credit: Dallin Grimm)