Does this look right?

MT01XP · 11 Apr 2009 at 02:25

Just put together a new Core 2 Duo build (specced by a friend) and the last build I did was an AMD64 several years ago so I'm totally out of touch with what I should be expecting.

Specs:

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Socket 775 (3.0GHz) 1333FSB 6MB L2
OCZ 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 1066MHz/PC2-8500 Gold
Asus P5Q P45 Socket 775

The memory speed in the BIOS is set to Auto and CPUz is indicating that the memory is PC6400 400Mhz as opposed to PC-8500???

Do I need to charge this setting in the BIOS.

Sorry for the n00b question...it's been a while :confused:

ConnectionFX · 11 Apr 2009 at 03:25

The memory is not your only problem! your CPU is running @ 2.0Ghz It should be 3.0Ghz

Try adjusting the multiplier up abit untill you get to 3Ghz

bremen1874 · 11 Apr 2009 at 03:56

The memory is not your only problem! your CPU is running @ 2.0Ghz It should be 3.0Ghz

Try adjusting the multiplier up abit untill you get to 3Ghz

The processor speed is okay. It's just SpeedStep dropping the multiplier because the processor isn't loaded. It's normal, and not a problem unless it causes instability when overclocking.

The memory is running at the fastest speed it can according to its SPD rating. You'll need to set the timings (and possibly the voltage) manually in the BIOS to overcome this limitation. Whether you'll actually notice a difference in day-to-day use is debateable. If you're planning to overclock then it may become more of an issue.

RJC · 11 Apr 2009 at 09:18

Yep, you need to manualy setup the timmings, speed and voltage in the BIOS the memory, these should stamped on the side of each modules.

Here is a thread a did a while ago regards speedstep like bremen1874 mentioned, may be of use.
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17972811

MT01XP · 11 Apr 2009 at 15:55

I set the multiplier to 9 and the CPU is now running at 3Ghz.

I wasn't aware that PC2-8500 is PC2-6400 tested and selected to run at PC2-8500 hence SPD shows it as PC2-6400.

Anyway, I've now switched the memory speed in the bios from auto to 1066Mhz and now CPUZ is showing a DRAM Frequency of 533Mhz as I would expect. Also upped the memory voltage to 2.1V as advised by OCZ. Didn't change the timings as it seems to be automatically running at the advised timings of 5-6-6-18.

Now my question is since the 8500 has a quad pumped 333Mhz FSB (1333) and the memory is DDR which is double pumped, to run at a FSB of 333Mhz (1333) I would need memory that is capable of 666MHz operation: PC2-5300, therefore is my PC2-8500's potential wasted unless I overclock my FSB?

MT01XP · 12 Apr 2009 at 20:40