Memory speed/timings question

[Relentless81]

Hi,

I recently noticed my memory was running at 1333 and realised my memory was capable of 1600 so I set about sorting it out, forgive me for being vague but I'm not too good at this I've just started to mess with it

It was running at 1333, 1.5V and 8T/8T/8T/24

It wont boot at 1600, 1.6V and 8T/8T/8T/24

It will boot at 1600, 1.6V and 9T/9T/9T/24

Is it better to leave it as it is or revert back to the 1333 settings IE CAS 8 is better or is CAS 9 ok?

Is the voltage too high or should I try dropping it?

CPU if it matters is a Phenom 965 at 3.6

Thanks

 

[Relentless81]

Here's a screen shot of CPU-Z

 

[nikki5974]

9/9/9/24 sounds more like its correct timing's for 1600 speed and try the voltage @ 1.5

 

[Relentless81]

Thanks, just tried it and get blue screen in windows at 1.5

Just set the voltage to auto but not sure what its applying as its not clear but the PC doesn't blue screen and CPU-Z states 1600 at 9T

 

[Relentless81]

Any other comments on the voltages, ok to leave it on Auto or force a setting? I'm not sure if its a good idea or not to trust the auto setting?

 

[nikki5974]

1.6 volts will be fine anyway auto will also be fine

 

[Relentless81]

Ok thanks, in the BIOS I change it to 1.6 but AMD Overdrive states its still 1.5 and Prime95 fails straight away, if I revert the memory back to old settings 1333 at 1.5 Prime95 runs ok

What I don't get is if its 1600 memory how come it wont run at 1600

 

[teppic]

Your system can't handle running memory at that speed, that's all.

 

[Relentless81]

I got it to run now, it didn't apply 1.6 the first for some reason, applied it again and double checked and its fine it now runs prime at 1600 cas9 and 1.6

Moved onto overclocking my cpu now trying to get to run at 3.8 but getting issues after half an hour

 

[teppic]

You need to run memory tests, as if you're bumping up voltage to get the memory to work it may not be fully stable yet, even if it seems so.

 

[Relentless81]

I thought prime tested memory as well as cpu?

 

[teppic]

To some extent, but dedicated memory tests are far better.

I think the Phenom is only rated to run at 1333MHz memory, so 1600MHz is an overclock.

 

[Relentless81]

I see, is it something that people typically do with the phenom or will it go bang in a few days?

 

[teppic]

You won't do any harm, you just need to make sure it's stable.

Here's a good one:

http://www.memtest.org/

As an example, I increased the speed of my RAM and it was passing stress tests, but when I ran memtest86+, half way through it gave a memory error. An increase in voltage and it passed fine.

 

[Relentless81]

Thanks ill give it a try

Do you know if the cpu is ok at 1.5?

 

[teppic]

I don't understand the question

 

[nikki5974]

Thanks ill give it a try

Do you know if the cpu is ok at 1.5?

you mean 1.5volts for the cpu ?

if so im not sure never had that cpu