Memory frequency question

footwo · 30 Oct 2009 at 12:09

Hi

I recently got this ram:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-037-GS&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=1387

for use in this board:

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-203-GI

with this CPU:

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-301-IN

I built the machine last night and had a tinker with the BIOS. I found my memory timings section and set them accordingly but the BIOS reports that the RAM is running at 1333MHZ.

What do I need to do to get it up to the advertised 2000MHz?

Thanks.

RJC · 30 Oct 2009 at 12:22

You will need to manually adjust the memory multiplier in the BIOS.

kidscruff · 30 Oct 2009 at 13:09

Depends if you're overclocking the CPU or not.

The Core i5 runs at a base clock (BCLK) frequency of 133MHz (multiplier x20 = 2.66GHz)

The memory controller is built into the CPU, and with the Core i5, the maximum memory multiplier is x10. Therefore the maximum "stock" memory speed possible is 1333MHz (133 x 10).

Core i7 has memory multiplier x12, so max "stock" is BCLKx12 = 1600MHz

In order to reach 2000MHz on the Core i5, you must 'up' the CPU base clock to 200MHz. Set multiplier to x13 for 2.6GHz, or whatever you can manage? Not sure what these chips can do.

[edit:] That ram should have an XMP profile which will set everything automatically. Enable it under the BIOS M.I.T -> Advanced Memory Menu, or something similar [/edit]

mmj_uk · 30 Oct 2009 at 13:30

Yeah the trouble is that even though memory manufacturers are happy to sell us 2000Mhz memory todays CPU's only officially support up to 1333Mhz, so you have to overclock as kidscruff described.

footwo · 30 Oct 2009 at 13:32

kidscruff said:
Depends if you're overclocking the CPU or not.

The Core i5 runs at a base clock (BCLK) frequency of 133MHz (multiplier x20 = 2.66GHz)

The memory controller is built into the CPU, and with the Core i5, the maximum memory multiplier is x10. Therefore the maximum "stock" memory speed possible is 1333MHz (133 x 10).

Core i7 has memory multiplier x12, so max "stock" is BCLKx12 = 1600MHz

In order to reach 2000MHz on the Core i5, you must 'up' the CPU base clock to 200MHz. Set multiplier to x13 for 2.6GHz, or whatever you can manage? Not sure what these chips can do.

[edit:] That ram should have an XMP profile which will set everything automatically. Enable it under the BIOS M.I.T -> Advanced Memory Menu, or something similar [/edit]

Thats great, thanks for the detailed info

I'll attempt this when I get home.