1600 DDR3 vs 1333 Ram?

cje · 27 Feb 2009 at 00:09

I've currently got 2x TWIN3X2048-1333C9DHX (4gb total) on an ASUS Striker II Extreme. One of the modules developed a fault, that I noticed after upgrading to vista 64 bit. The faulty module was in the last slot on the mobo, and my guess is , that it wasn't being addressed often enough until I migrated from 32 bit to 64 bit.

Anyway, I'm running the board at 1600 fsb at the moment. Some people say these modules can be clocked to 1600 mhz with 2T command rate, but I think thats optimistic, as I've been told on the corsair forums that running 4 sticks will require me running them at 1066mhz.

So, what I want to know is, since I'm running 1600 fsb stable with an 8x multi. Would it be worth my while buying these:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-154-CS

That would give me my 4gb and wouldnt put so much strain on my NB. Any ideas?

Yellowbeard · 27 Feb 2009 at 05:55

Keep in mind we'll replace the faulty module. Actually, we replace the whole kit of 2 x 1GB so you get a matched pair in return.

The kit you linked is a great choice for the 790i chipset MOBOs.

cje · 27 Feb 2009 at 07:48

Thanks for your reply yellowbeard. They have been sent for RMA a week ago. My setup currently runs sweet at 1600 fsb, but the RAM is set to 1066 mhz. It blue screens constantly if I set timings to 9-9-9-24 2T. BUT if I let it on AUTO, (8-8-8-20-1T) it ok. I'm awaiting the return of the 2 sticks that have been sent for RMA, then I'll see if both kits will run together at 1333 mhz. If they won't, I'll buy this memory.

Yellowbeard · 27 Feb 2009 at 08:31

Very cool and sorry you had the bad module. Let me know if you need anything else from Corsair.

nathanc · 27 Feb 2009 at 13:43

This memory is a good choice... Linked and Synch'd at 1600 to match your FSB will give you the best performance on this MB.

BTW, my memory is apparently 1T yet my sample of this board only works at 2T :-(

cje · 27 Feb 2009 at 13:55

Yeah setting command rate to 2T is sometimes beneficial for stability on this board. I am going to see if I can run 4 sticks (when I get the 2 back from corsair) at 1333mhz. If I can't I'll buy this kit. The offer probably will have finished, but oh well.

Yellowbeard · 27 Feb 2009 at 15:35

With 4 modules, it's not going to run 1T stable.

AndyOcUK · 27 Feb 2009 at 15:39

Yes it will. Ran my Q6600 @ 4GHz with 4 X XMS3 at 2T.

S2E board.

Yellowbeard · 27 Feb 2009 at 15:46

AndyOcUK said:
Yes it will. Ran my Q6600 @ 4GHz with 4 X XMS3 at 2T.
S2E board.

LOL....perhaps I should have said most won't. What frequency were you able to hit at 1T?

AndyOcUK · 27 Feb 2009 at 16:05

1600

Yellowbeard · 27 Feb 2009 at 16:08

I'd say you had an exceptional memory controller there. :eek:

AndyOcUK · 27 Feb 2009 at 16:12

H20 helps

nathanc · 27 Feb 2009 at 20:51

AndyOcUK said:
H20 helps

It's true that the 790 Ultra chipset is one hot piece of silicon!

My memory is very hot to touch (at 1600) even though its only running at 1.9volts!

cje · 27 Feb 2009 at 22:23

@Andy, you reached 1600mhz with all four modules? What voltage you gave them? 1.6v? What timings?

I can only get my Q6600 to 3.2ghz, which is a disappointment, it needs just under 1.6v to stay stable with 3.6ghz. Runs sweet at 1600x8 so need my ram to match it now.

EDIT - I only got 2 modules in right now, I set ram to 1600, 1.6v in BIOS, 9-9-9-24-2T. Passd 17 passes memtest, but froze after 5 minutes in Vista. Suggestions?

nathanc · 2 Mar 2009 at 08:43

cje said:
@Andy, you reached 1600mhz with all four modules? What voltage you gave them? 1.6v? What timings?

I can only get my Q6600 to 3.2ghz, which is a disappointment, it needs just under 1.6v to stay stable with 3.6ghz. Runs sweet at 1600x8 so need my ram to match it now.

EDIT - I only got 2 modules in right now, I set ram to 1600, 1.6v in BIOS, 9-9-9-24-2T. Passd 17 passes memtest, but froze after 5 minutes in Vista. Suggestions?

1.6v sounds very low for 1600 DDR3 unless it's some of the newer low voltage triple channel stuff...

AndyOcUK · 2 Mar 2009 at 15:05

cje said:
@Andy, you reached 1600mhz with all four modules? What voltage you gave them? 1.6v? What timings?

I can only get my Q6600 to 3.2ghz, which is a disappointment, it needs just under 1.6v to stay stable with 3.6ghz. Runs sweet at 1600x8 so need my ram to match it now.

EDIT - I only got 2 modules in right now, I set ram to 1600, 1.6v in BIOS, 9-9-9-24-2T. Passd 17 passes memtest, but froze after 5 minutes in Vista. Suggestions?

1.82V with an antec spot cool basting over them

cje · 2 Mar 2009 at 22:28

AndyOcUK said:
1.82V with an antec spot cool basting over them

Whoa! 1 stick of mine died with just over 1.8v. So I ain't going nowhere near that again. I've got 2 sticks at 1600 9-9-9-24 2T with 1.6v in BIOS.

When adding 2 more sticks, would I need to up the VDIMM more? I know NB would need to be raised.

Yellowbeard · 2 Mar 2009 at 23:07

2 modules or 4 modules should not necessitate raising Vdimm unless your board has poor voltage regulation. Each module only needs its rated voltage to run at its rated specifications, regardless of the number of modules used. If more than 2 modules causes a significant voltage drop, I'd suggest a different, dare I say better board.

cje · 2 Mar 2009 at 23:12

Better board. lol. I must say I have a love/hate relationship with it. But having got it nearly stable. I didn't see any drop from 2 modules to 4 modules though. Don't know if anyone else had this, but it behaves the same now as it did with 4 in it. 1600 ram and fsb will be sufficient for my needs - for now anyway.

Yellowbeard · 2 Mar 2009 at 23:27

LOL...I was not saying you have a low quality board. That was more of a general statement. But if in this specific case, if you did have such a voltage drop with 4 modules that it caused instability then I'd say that is grounds for an RMA.