Memory Questions...

Raptor3dPilot · Posted: Thu, 22 Feb 2007 17:55:57 Post Subject: Memory Questions...

Okay so I just built up my first PC and I'm pretty clueless on memory "clocking." I see alot of people stating they're running something like 5-5-5-12-T1... How do I figure out what my sticks are running at?

Also, can anyone steer me in the right direction as far as increasing the voltage a bit to the memory sticks? The sticks require 2.1v and the MB puts out 1.8v to them.

Oh yeah, here's my current setup: Raidmax X1, IntelÂ® Core 2 Duo E6400, Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 P965, OCZ OCZ2P800R22GK 2GB Kit DDR2 PC2-6400.

The MB came with some software called EasyTune5 which allows me to increase the voltage to the sticks to 2.1v but it does not hold it there (basically would have to adjust each time I turn the machine on)

I tried using MemTest86 but it seemed like it just kept repeating the tests over and over... I let it run for about 40 mins before ending it... Is there an end to it or does it just keep going until you quit??

Lot's of questions...I know Smile

but this is a nice website!

**Modulok** · Posted: Thu, 22 Feb 2007 17:59:43 Post Subject:

download and run cpu-z

acruxksa · Posted: Thu, 22 Feb 2007 18:15:14 Post Subject:

To get to the memory timings in the BIOS you need to press Alt-F1 at the main BIOS screen. This will enable the extra settings/options.

The Gigabyte D965's don't allow you to adjust the T setting, I believe it's done automatically. Not sure about other Intel chipset boards though. I also can't remember if it defaults to T1 or T2, but for some reason I think it's T2

You should also up the memory voltage in the BIOS. It is under the same option as your memory timings (assuming you pressed Alt-F1 to make them show up). I would run your memory voltage up to 2.1v then save and reboot before messing with the timings though.

Also Memtest just keeps running. Ideally you should let it run for several hours. Test 5 & 7 are the ones I usually notice errors on if there is a problem, but sometimes not on the first or even second pass.

Raptor3dPilot · Posted: Thu, 22 Feb 2007 18:17:01 Post Subject:

Okay so I've done that (thanks by the way!) and it looks like I'm running 5-5-5-15 at 400MHz... this doesn't seem correct though. Shouldn't my sticks be running at 800MHz? At least that's what it states in the specs. They are PC2 6400 sticks

acruxksa · Posted: Thu, 22 Feb 2007 18:19:03 Post Subject:

Raptor3dPilot · Posted: Thu, 22 Feb 2007 18:27:37 Post Subject:

Ahhh prefect!! HAHA

Thanks for the help!! I stepped up the voltage to 2.1 through the advanced bios menu. Still running the 5-5-5-15's...but now it's a steady 400MHz rather than 399MHz. I think I'm good with the current latency settings though because I don't have a good cooling system yet... and for what I use the computer for now I doubt I'd notice the difference.

Thanks again for the awesome help!

edvallie · Posted: Fri, 23 Feb 2007 01:13:33 Post Subject:

acruxksa · Posted: Fri, 23 Feb 2007 02:17:46 Post Subject:

Ordinarily that would be true, but most high speed DDR2 these days runs at 2.0-2.1v and the Gigabyte boards default to 1.8v so there is a need to up vdimm in order to achieve stability. I wouldn't go beyond 2.2v w/o some sort of ram cooling though.