G.Skill RipjawDDR3 1600 7-7-7-24

[nheather]

I've just received some of this memory.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-043-GS&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=1387

I've just fitted it to my system and the good news is that it works.

I should say that at this point, I'm not ready to build a full system until I get my Windows 7 at the end of the month, so all I had for the test is

PSU
MoBo
CPU and Cooler
RAM
Video Card
Monitor
Keyboard

So all I've done so far is fire up the BIOS.

All started without a problem but I was surprised by the default memory setting.

It was running at 1333 - not really surprised by that because the MoBo treats 1600 as an overclock.

But it gave the SPD as 9-9-9-24.

Very surprised by this because the advert listing shows that it is SPD programmed at 7-7-7-24

I did try changing it manually to 7-7-7-24, still at 1333 and it rebooted fine - but that is hardly stressing it.

The other thing, if I do want to to run at the advertised speed I have to use Manual setting. That's fine for the 4 main parameters because they are quoted but there are a few others aswell - how do I know what to set them to?

Such as

TwTr Command Delay
Trfe
Write Recovery Time
Precharge Time
Row Cycle Time
RAS to RAS Delay

Anyone else got this memory? If so are you seeing similar?

I have a sneaky feeling that this isn't really SPD 7-7-7-24 RAM but is actually the normal 9-9-9-24 stuff which has been hand selected to run at 7-7-7-24.

Cheers,

Nigel

 

[nheather]

Glad it's working, I was going to buy this exact RAM for my new i5 build but after speaking to a member of OcUK sales staff I went for OCZ Platinum

Oh .... I did the opposite. I ordered the OCZ Platinum 1333 first and then I became a little concerned about the OCZ running at 1.8V and whether it would be better off with certified 1600 should I need it in the future.

Not sure about whether the BIOS is reading the SPD correctly. Even if it runs at 1333 by default I would have thought the SPD has an entry for 1333.

What I can say is that the BIOS has two columns against the RAM parameters, one headed SPD and one headed Auto. I would have assumed that the SPD column would show what it had read from the SPD and the Auto column the values it had decided upon.

Setting it manually is okay but for the parameters listed above as I have no idea what to set those to. All I can do is leave them on the SPD\Auto settings but since the ones for the main parameters are so wrong I don't have much faith in the settings for the ones I don't know.

Cheers,

Nigel

 

[nheather]

Did some research and found a review in German. Can't read German but I can understand the pictures.

The answer is that the 7-7-7-24 is in the SPD but as an XMP extension. My motherboard can't read XMP so doesn't pick it up.

Setting it manually seems to work.

I'm happy now - thought I'd been sent the wrong memory or that it had been over-sold.

Cheers,

Nigel

 

[nheather]

Right done some more testing and I've decided overall I am not happy.

From my testing

1333 @ 7-7-7-24 @ 1.65V = PASS
1600 @ 9-9-9-24 @ 1.65V = PASS
1600 @ 8-8-8-24 @ 1.65V = PASS

but

1600 @ 7-7-7-24 @ any volatge (1.65V to 1.85V) = FAIL

By fail, I mean won't even POST, the BIOS on my board traps it as a boot failure.

I should also add that the settings that PASS above mean that they POST, I haven't tried MemTest or anything.

Going to RMA mine and drop back to something more reliable - should have stuck with the OCZ Platinum in the first place.

Cheers,

Nigel

 

[nheather]

Mine runs at 1600 7-7-7-24 @ 1.65v

Which MoBo chipset is that on? If AM3, can you let me know what you had to do with the BIOS and voltages to acheive this.

I've had a response from G.Skill and they confirmed that it is hand-selected standard 1333 RAM (9-9-9-24) and that it will ONLY run at the specified speeds on P55 chipsets.

I've done a fair bit of research and it seems a lot of people are having problems with this RAM (AMD and Intel) and many are having success. It sounds like the RAM is pushed to it's absolute limits to acheive advertised speed and there is no guarantee that just because it does it in the test system that it will do it in yours.

Cheers,

Nigel

 

[nheather]

I ordered the Ripjaw 2000mhz stuff but Overclockers sent me the 1600mhz CL7, which I've decided to keep. All works perfectly at the recommended timings and voltage. I haven't pushed them anything further as yet.

Again, which MoBo chipset?

I'm not looking to push beyond the advertised - just trying to acheive them.

Cheers,

Nigel

 

[nheather]

P55

That's what G Skill tech support said it was targetted at. They said that they couldn't guarantee performance on any other chipset.

Mine has been returned now.

Cheers,

Nigel

 

[nheather]

Many thanks @DukeNukem

For general info

Many systems set RFC in nS rather than clocks. At 1600MHz (800MHz), 88 clocks equates to 110nS.

My Ripsaw has gone back now and I have the Patriot G memory on order. Unfortunately, it's out of stock, but I'm not in a major hurry so happy to wait a little.

Out of interest, how did you get the Patriot G to run?

(i) Did it just automatically setup using SPD
(ii) Did you use AOD to download a profile file
(iii) Did you use a bit of knowledge and bit of experimentation

I would be very interested in the parameters you have used - would be really grateful if you would post here or send in trust.

Cheers,

Nigel

 

[nheather]

Many thanks,

I shall try these when mine turn up and hopefully, I'll have the same success.

The guys for Patriot Tech Support said there was a profile file for AOD to download but sounds like they many have been telling little porkies.

Cheers,

Nigel