Getting RAM to run @ 1066MHz. Advice please.

vwgolfman

vwgolfman

vwgolfman

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Joined
26 Jan 2005
Posts
221
Location
Dorset
This is my hardware:

Abit iX38 Quad-GT
Intel Core 2 Quad-Core Q6600 G0
2GB (2x1GB) Corsair TwinX DDR2 XMS2 Dominator, PC2-8500 (1066)
Zalman CNPS9700-LED Super Aero Flower Cooler

I have upped my FSB to 333MHz giving me a CPU Clock of 3GHz (X9 multiplier).

I now wish to configure my RAM to run at 1066MHz.

I have set the timings and DDR2 Voltage as specified by Corsair but anything above 800MHz seems to bomb out.

The divider is currently on 1:1.2 (799MHz) with a default DDR2 Voltage of 1.8V.
If I up it to 1:1.25 (833MHz) it doesn't like it, even if I raise the DDR2 Voltage.

I will add that with a default FSB of 272MHz, a divider of 1:1.5 (816MHz) and the default DDR2 Voltage of 1.8V it is fine also.

Please can I ask your advice?
 
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Some divider ratios can cause instabilities in particular setups and clocks. Yes you'll need at least 2.1v for 1066.
 
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Put your FSB back to 266mhz and try the 1:2 divider to see if it lets you run the memory at 1066mhz.
 
Hi Cob and thanks for your help.

I have done as you asked and yes it works.

But...Prime95 Blend crashes (possibly indicating RAM issues).
However it also crashes when I am running everything at stock and the RAM at 800MHz / 1.8V so I don't know whether this is a good test.

Will Memtest tell me what I want? Will it perform an adequate test?

My modules have 1066MHz 5-5-5-15 @2.15V (Ver 2.3) written on them so they are the timings I have set manually in the BIOS.
Can I ask whether it's necessary to set these manually or whether "by SPD" will work?
Also what is EPP?

I would like to up the CPU frequency to 3GHz or more but now at 266FSB and X9 multiplier I am stuck at the stock of 2.4GHz for the CPU. Please can you tell me how I can get it up to 3GHz and more whilst still having my RAM performing correctly at 1066MHz?


I left a message on the Corsair forums regarding my RAM and one of the techies answered it (see below).

Max supported Voltage would be 2.1 Volts for version 2.X (MY VERSION) and 2.2 Volts for version 1.3 and that is normal for that chipset or the I975 chipset.
As you over clock the CPU the memory frequency will have to be more in sync with the CPU Frequency.

DDR2 Memory runs at:
DDR2-533 = 266 Clock Frequency 2 X 266 = DDR2 533
DDR2-667 = 333 Clock Frequency 2 X 333 = DDR2 667
DDR2-800 = 400 Clock Frequency 2 X 400 = DDR2 800
DDR2-1066 = 533Clock Frequency 2 X 533 = DDR2 1066

Intel CPU:
400 MHz = 100 MHz Clock Freq. 100 X 4 = 400 FSB
533 MHz = 133 MHz Clock Freq. 133 X 4 = 533 FSB
800 MHz = 200 MHz Clock Freq. 200 X 4 = 800 FSB
1066 MHz = 266 MHz Clock Freq. 266 x 4 = 1066 FSB
1333 MHz = 333 MHz Clock Freq. 333 X 4 = 1333 FSB
 
Which OS are you using? The latest Prime95 (v25.5) seems to have issues running Blend on Vista.

Memtest86+ will preform an adequate test.

By SPD should be fine as it will set them to 5-5-5-15 anyway, but it won't make any difference from setting them manually.

You'd need to find a 1:1.6 ratio to run the memort at 1066mhz at 3ghz.

Which Corsair techie answered your question?
 
Once again thank you for getting back to me. I would be lost without yourself, another user called flibby and the others who have chipped in to help.

I have been working hard to Overclock my CPU to 3GHz and above and today found a good balance. However everything was only stable with the RAM at 800MHz. Any higher and it bombed out.

Now I am looking at getting the RAM functioning at 1066MHz as you know.

I am using Vista so that is probably why Blend is crashing.
I have just booted with my RAM timings set "by SPD" and all seems OK so far. I shall run Memtest86+ in a while to double check.
How do you know SPD will set them to 5-5-5-15 for 1066MHz?

I have also left my DDR2 Voltage on Auto. Will this automatically set it to 2.15V as opposed to 1.8V for 800Mhz?

When I use CPU-Z the SPD tab shows 3 columns.
JEDEC#1 270MHz, JEDEC#2 400MHz and EPP#1 533MHz.
The first two columns indicate 1.8V and the third indicates 2.15V.
What generates these figures?

The Corsair techy was called "RAM GUY"
 
PS I have the following dividers available:

1:100
1:1.20
1:1.25
1:1.50
1:1.66
1:2.00

With the FSB on 333, multiplier on X9 and divider of 1:1.50 this will give me a CPU frequency of 3GHz and RAM speed of 1066MHz.

However the RAM doesn't appear to like a divider of 1:1.50

I get BSOD's
 
The SPD figures are pre-programmed into the modules and can't be changed, so they will stay at 5-5-5-15/18 til you manually change them.

Manually set the voltage to 2.15v, or 2.2v if there isn't a 2.15v option.
 
I can set the DDR Voltage to 2.15 or leave it on "Auto". If I leave it on Auto it appears to perform OK. Do you think the "Auto" setting sets it to 2.15V?

The issue I have is that I appear to be able to either have a CPU clocked to 3GHz OR my RAM running at 1066MHz. I don't appears to be able to have both.

Any ideas?
 
Is there a menu in the BIOS that tells you what the current voltages are?

I really see no reason why the board shouldn't be capable of 3ghz and 1066mhz. have you updated the BIOS?

We really need Buff here for his Abit knowledge.
 
>Is there a menu in the BIOS that tells you what the current voltages are?
Yes there is. Sorry I never reaslised this. If I set the VDIMM to Auto then it is automatically set to 2.3V which is a little higher than recommended by Corsair. For this reason should I manually set it to 2.15V (the recommended for 1066MHz)?

>I really see no reason why the board shouldn't be capable of 3ghz and 1066mhz. have you updated the BIOS?
I have the latest BIOS for the Mobo. There was an earlier version which had issues above 400FSB or something but this Mobo came already with the latest BIOS.

>We really need Buff here for his Abit knowledge.
It would be great if we could get some extra help. How can we get hold of this chap?
 
I would try to keep it at 2.1v or 2.15v. 2.3v is a bit high.

And Buff will likely be around sometime. If he's any sense he'll be down the pub this snowy Friday night.
 
I'll keep it at 2.15V then :)

I'm down on the South coast of England. Unfortunately we rarely get snow. We like to see it now and again.

I am pretty sure I have been to Portrush. About 18 years ago mind!
I was over doing some work on the Ulster Citybus buses (the company for which I worked designed and manufactured the ticket machines used on them) :D

It's a lovely part of the World is that Northern coast.

So back to the boring bit.....
What would you expect me to be able to do in order to get 3GHz or more for my CPU and 1066MHz for my RAM?

It seems that the RAM doesn't like some of the multipliers doesn't it?
 
We usually don't get snow on the coast, but it was pretty mad here last night.

Does the 1:1.66 divider work at 3ghz by any chance?
 
FSB = 333
Multiplier = X9
CPU 3Ghz
VDIMM 2.15V

Divider 1:1.66 (DDR2-1110 MHz)
Won't boot at all.

Divider 1:1.5 (DDR2-999MHz)
BSOD.

Divider 1:1.25 (DDR2-833MHz)
BSOD.

Divider 1:1.20 (DDR2-799MHz)
All OK.
------------------------------------------
FSB = 266
Multiplier = X9
CPU 2.4Ghz
VDIMM 2.15V

Divider 1:2 (DDR2-1064 MHz)
All OK.
 
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