GeIL 2GB PC6400C4 800MHz Ultra Low Latency DDR2 Dual Channel problem

BillTheButcher

BillTheButcher

BillTheButcher

Associate
Joined
2 Nov 2005
Posts
395
Hello. :)

Last week I bought a load of bits from OCUK and I'm having trouble getting the RAM to work at the right timings.

I have an Asus P5N32E-SLI mainboard running an E6600 @ (stock) 2.4GHz.

The memory is GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC6400C4 800MHz Ultra Low Latency DDR2 Dual Channel.

On default settings the BIOS sets the timings at 5-5-5-18 @ 1.85v. With these settings the memory is completely stable and runs at the correct speed of 800MHz. However GeIL rate this RAM at 4-4-4-12 @ 2.1v but as soon as I change any of the settings the PC locks solid within a minute or so of booting.

The FSB:RAM ratio is 2:3 (266:400) but I've tried linking and unlinking this and it's made no difference.

It's not a huge deal - if I have to run it at the slower timings then so be it - but it would be good to be able to run it at the manufacturer's recommended timings.

I could accept the system freezing if I was trying to overclock but I haven't even got that far.

I've read a few threads on here about people having similar problems but as yet (AFAIK) no one has found a solution.

Any ideas? TIA. ;)
 
Have you tried 2.0v or 2.2v?

But tbh I would RMA them if they can't boot at their stocks speeds.
 
Cob said:
Have you tried 2.0v or 2.2v?

But tbh I would RMA them if they can't boot at their stocks speeds.
Click to expand...
No I haven't. I don't fully understand memory timings so I just changed the settings to what the sticker on the RAM said. When this didn't work I set the voltage and timings back to auto.
 
Are you sure that you're changing the correct timings? Have you had the chance to check CPU-Z's Memory tab after trying to boot at 4-4-4-12?
 
Cob said:
Are you sure that you're changing the correct timings? Have you had the chance to check CPU-Z's Memory tab after trying to boot at 4-4-4-12?
Click to expand...
I think I'm changing the correct timings. :confused: It showed as 4-4-4-12 on the POST screen and also in CPU-Z. But then I tried to run 3DMark06 and it either locked up or rebooted the PC.
 
They should be ok then.

Download, burn and run MemTest+ at the stock settings and see if it throws up any errors before it crashes.
 
Cob said:
They should be ok then.

Download, burn and run MemTest+ at the stock settings and see if it throws up any errors before it crashes.
Click to expand...
Will do. Thanks. :) It crashes anywhere from 30 seconds to a minute after booting into XP so I'll have to be quick. LOL!

Could it be anything to do with the FSB:RAM ratio of 2:3?
 
Cob said:
They should be ok then.

Download, burn and run MemTest+ at the stock settings and see if it throws up any errors before it crashes.
Click to expand...
OK I've been running MemTest+ this morning and at GeIL's recommended settings it throws up errors all over the place (I also tried 2.0 and 2.2v but it made no difference), but at the BIOS default timings there are no errors at all.

I suspect that the problem is a conflict between the board and the RAM, rather than the RAM being faulty. The reason I say this is because if the RAM was faulty then I thought it would show errors at any timings, or is this not how it works?

Basically, my question now is this: does it really matter? By that I mean, the RAM is running at the right speed (800MHz) in dual channel - will the timings make any realistic difference to the speed of my machine or would I not even notice?

Of course I would like to be able to set the timings to GeIL's recommendations but if my games will run just as quick at 5-5-5-18 as they would at 4-4-4-12 then I'm not too worried.
 
There's a note in the box with the Geil that tells you that the SPD rating (the built-in table of timings that the motherboard defaults to for the RAM) is set to be safe, not to the actual stock values. Your RAM should run at 4-4-4-12 at 2.1V and if it doesn't then it is defective based on the specs that you bought.

Does it matter? Well, it matters if you want what you paid for, but it won't make an enormous difference in your frame rates. If you would be happy with slower RAM then there are likely cheaper options though and it seems odd to "make do" under the circumstances.
 
i just found out mine are defective, which is quite annoying since i bought them 4 months ago.

I suggest you RMAing them asap, cuz now I have to wait ages for Geil to send me new ones.
 
mwtb said:
There's a note in the box with the Geil that tells you that the SPD rating (the built-in table of timings that the motherboard defaults to for the RAM) is set to be safe, not to the actual stock values. Your RAM should run at 4-4-4-12 at 2.1V and if it doesn't then it is defective based on the specs that you bought.

Does it matter? Well, it matters if you want what you paid for, but it won't make an enormous difference in your frame rates. If you would be happy with slower RAM then there are likely cheaper options though and it seems odd to "make do" under the circumstances.
Click to expand...
Thanks. :) I read the note and I do want what I paid for. I'm just thinking out loud (or at least on a forum :D).

I think I'll exchange it for another set and if I have the same problems then at least I'll know it's to do with the board/RAM combination rather than faulty RAM and I can then try a different manufacturer.
 
BillTheButcher said:
I've now tried it with another 2x 1GB GeIL and the problem remains. So either I've got a duff mainboard or the P5N32-E doesn't like GeIL RAM at those timings. :(
Click to expand...

What's the LDT set at?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom