Kingston RAM running at 1333 only

LEK-89 · 13 Jul 2011 at 22:30

Hi all,

I've just noticed with the RAM in my new build (Kingston HyperX 2x4GB DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz) is only running at 667Mhz according to CPU-Z (I know that really, it's 667x2 which makes up 1333Mhz and the BIOS shows it running at 1333Mhz too). Why is it running lower than specified and how do I get it back up to the normal 1600Mhz?

I'm running it on an i5 2500K at stock speeds & an MSI P67A-GD53 board.

Thanks all - Liam

PapaLazaru · 13 Jul 2011 at 22:47

Should be able to change it simply in the bios. Have a dig around under RAM settings.

LEK-89 · 13 Jul 2011 at 22:53

I've just looked in the BIOS and it was set to default, and for some reason it defaults at 1333Mhz? Anyway, I have changed it to "DDR3-1600" and it's now set to 1600 and it seems to run fine. Was this all I had to change? Nothing else like the voltage etc?

Thanks - Liam

Orange · 13 Jul 2011 at 22:56

You might need to change the voltage to 1.5?
I think the voltage is at 1.65 if i'm not mistaken, best to check

I got the same cpu/MB and have yet to change the memspeeds over

LEK-89 · 13 Jul 2011 at 22:59

Orange said:
You might need to change the voltage to 1.5?
I think the voltage is at 1.65 if i'm not mistaken, best to check

I got the same cpu/MB and have yet to change the memspeeds over

Yep - I've just changed back to Auto (default 1333Mhz) as the voltage was running at 1.648, close to the 1.65 limit! :eek:

What shall I do, set it to 1.5v as suggested and is this safe?

Thanks all - Liam

Plec · 13 Jul 2011 at 23:01

LEK-89 said:
What shall I do, set it to 1.5v as suggested and is this safe?

The lower the voltage the better - as long as the system remains stable. 1.5 should be fine - if not bump it up to 1.52V

Plec · 13 Jul 2011 at 23:02

Your memory should be running at:

1600Mhz (frequency)
9-9-9-27 (timings)
~1.5V (max voltage - is 1.65V)
2T (Command rate - but 1T may be possible)

LEK-89 · 13 Jul 2011 at 23:08

Plec said:
Your memory should be running at:

1600Mhz (frequency)

9-9-9-27 (timings)

~1.5V (max voltage - is 1.65V)

2T (Command rate - but 1T may be possible)

1.492v or 1.507v?

Thanks

Liam

LEK-89 · 13 Jul 2011 at 23:19

1.492v or 1.507v? I also could not find an option in the BIOS to change from 1T to 2T

Edit - according to the data sheet on the Kingston website, my RAM can run at 1.65v at 1600Mhz, shall I leave it set to Auto (where it does run at 1.65v at 1600Mhz) or should I still set it manually at 1.5v?

Thanks

Liam

Surveyor · 13 Jul 2011 at 23:33

LEK-89 said:
1.492v or 1.507v? I also could not find an option in the BIOS to change from 1T to 2T

Edit - according to the data sheet on the Kingston website, my RAM can run at 1.65v at 1600Mhz, shall I leave it set to Auto (where it does run at 1.65v at 1600Mhz) or should I still set it manually at 1.5v?

Thanks

Liam

Set it manually.

Lower = better.

LEK-89 · 13 Jul 2011 at 23:58

Surveyor said:
Set it manually.

Lower = better.

Thanks.

I've just realised as well that my motherboard is not running the latest BIOS. I've just looked on the MSI website for the latest BIOS for my board and it states on the notes for the new BIOS - "Improved memory compatiability".

If I updated to the latest BIOS, would this mean that it may recognise the BIOS as 1600mhz by default? I may give this a go tomorrow.

Thanks all - Liam

jak731 · 14 Jul 2011 at 00:01

Only update the bios if you need to, if you can set it manually I would leave it.

Surveyor · 14 Jul 2011 at 00:05

LEK-89 said:
If I updated to the latest BIOS, would this mean that it may recognise the BIOS as 1600mhz by default? I may give this a go tomorrow.

No it won't.

1600MHz is technically overclocking for DDR3 and will require setting manually in the BIOS.

No matter what BIOS version you have it will default to 1333MHz.

LEK-89 · 14 Jul 2011 at 08:18

Surveyor said:
No it won't.

1600MHz is technically overclocking for DDR3 and will require setting manually in the BIOS.

No matter what BIOS version you have it will default to 1333MHz.

Yeah I found that out first this morning when I updated the BIOS lol

Anyway, so manually shall I set the voltage to 1.492v or 1.507v?

Thanks all - Liam

Plec · 14 Jul 2011 at 08:27

1.492V is better - but either will do.

If you feel happier at 1.507V pick that - as it's still 0.073V under tolerance (1.58V) - which is good.

LEK-89 · 14 Jul 2011 at 08:41

Plec said:
1.492V is better - but either will do.

If you feel happier at 1.507V pick that - as it's still 0.073V under tolerance (1.58V) - which is good.

Thanks Plec, I will give this a go later

Do you recommend that I run Memtest overnight as well once setting the new values to test stabililty or is it a case that if it boots it works fine?

Thanks - Liam

Plec · 14 Jul 2011 at 09:19

Personally, I would run memtest for few hrs just to be sure - it's recommeneded to check the stability of newly installed memory no matter what the settings.

A 'blend test' (prime95) will also stress the memory combined with CPU.

spleenharvester · 14 Jul 2011 at 14:45

A lot of RAM is this way.

1600MHz capable, i.e 1333MHz by default

1333MHz = 1.5v
16000MHz = 1.65v

Though my OCZ stuff runs 1600 at 1.65. I just set mine at 1.65 'cause I quite frankly can't be bothered to stress test, it'll work fine. But I know I've had mine running C7/1600MHz/1.5v before now, 6 hours OCCT stable.

LEK-89 · 14 Jul 2011 at 19:51

Right I've set it back to 1600 with the voltage set to 1.507v. Ran Prime95 with the blend test for 40 minutes and no problems

I also found out how to change the command rate from 1T to 2T. Originally when I first set it to 1600 with the 1.507v voltage I booted it with command rate from 1T and it seemed to still run fine. Shall I keep it at 2T or do you think it will be fine with 1T, what's the difference?

Thanks all - Liam

Plec · 14 Jul 2011 at 19:55

LEK-89 said:
Shall I keep it at 2T or do you think it will be fine with 1T, what's the difference?

None that you would notice - unless the system became unstable...

You may as well leave it at 1T - but if the system starts hanging or you get random BSODs then change the command rate to 2T as this would be the weakest setting (that you know about).

But if you would rather have peace of mind revert it back to 2T as you won't notice any difference in day to day usage.