Memory command rate problem with X2 4400+

titaniumx3 · 22 Feb 2007 at 13:37

Hi,

I upgraded my system from an A64 3500+ to and X2 4400+ and while I have it working I can't seem to run my memory at 1T command rate with the 4400+ like I could with the 3500+. Withing seconds of running the Orthos torture test I get an error or if I run 3dmark06 I get a bluescreen error. Switch back to 2T and I get no errors (8hrs+). Below are my specs:

Asus A8N-E
Geil 2GB (2x1gb) PC3200 (3-4-4-8)
x1900xt
x-fi
Hiper 580w (non-modular)

This is annyoing because apart from the CPU I have changed nothing in my system yet I am now forced to use 3-4-4-8 @ 2T where as before with the 3500+ I was happily running at 2.5-3-3-8 @ 1T. I have also installled all the appropriate MS hotfixes and patches (which fixed the freezing problems I had initially).

I tried setting the memory voltage manually to 2.7v but it made no difference.

Any ideas?

Regards,

titaniumx3

titaniumx3 · 22 Feb 2007 at 16:32

I just ran through a pass of memtest at 1T command rate and several errors popped up. This has me thinking its either something to do with the BIOS or possibly a hardware issue. Thing is I never had any problems whatsoever when I was using the A64 3500+ and the command rate was always at 1T using the same BIOS.

titaniumx3 · 22 Feb 2007 at 22:12

Well I updated to a the latest bios and I no longer get errors, but 3dmark06 gets less than half the CPU marks (i.e. worse than single core) when running in 1T. :confused:

Anyone know what the heck is going on?

squiffy · 22 Feb 2007 at 22:17

Done a fresh install? Installed AMD dual core driver?
Don't install the optimizer.

titaniumx3 · 22 Feb 2007 at 23:53

squiffy said:
Done a fresh install? Installed AMD dual core driver?
Don't install the optimizer.

Yeah I've a fresh install and did install the dual core driver but turning on 1T command rate has given me nothing but headache. Its really weird too since it doesn't work at all with certain bios versions (immediate errors with Orthos) but 'partly' works with others.

As for the dual core driver and optimiser, I installed those along with the MS hotfixes but those have no effect apart from fixing a freeze issue I had earlier. Btw, whats the best route to take when installing these optimisers/drivers/hotfixes? So far I've just installed everything I can in an attempt to solve this silly problem.

EDIT: For your 4400+, what 3dmark06 CPU score do you get at stock (2.2ghz)? Does 1700 sound about right?

titaniumx3 · 23 Feb 2007 at 08:30

Sorry for bringing this up again, but I've managed to get the computer stable but no matter what I try setting the command rate to 1t always gives me some sort of problem depending on what BIOS I use.

My question now is, what sort of real world performance decrease should I expect by running at 2T? Apart from lower performance, does it have any other adverse effects like lag in games, stuttering, slow response times etc?

pieman109 · 23 Feb 2007 at 09:57

You wouldn't notice the difference in real world apps like games. To see a difference you need to run fraps in game or run benchies all day. You might see a difference if you went from 2.5 "cas" to 2 "cas" and 2T to 1T at the same time however, but the performance gain is negligible. You could try reseating you ram and see if that helps. The sticks might have been disturbed when installing the new cpu.