explain importance of RAM speed?

[/dev/rhetorical]

I see cards with ram speed listed as 5 ns...4 ns...even 2.8ns...what does that mean and what conclusion could I draw about the RAM's ability to be overclocked?

The lower the "ns", the faster the chips. If you get a card rated at 250MHz (4ns) and the chips are marked at 2.8ns, then you've got some OC'ing available.

To get the "ns", you just divide 1 by the Frequency . . .

1 / 250,000,000 = 0.000000004 (4ns)

2.8ns ~ 350MHz

[bugalaman]

i oc'd my 3.0ns (300MHZ DDR) to 366 easilly with no ramsinks, on my 9800NP. I dont think it really matters what speed it is, thats the point of overclocking.

[Sweeper]

My Sapphire 9600 Pro has 2.8ns (300MHz DDR) and will do 360