ram running slower than it should?

Reaper 392 · 15 Jun 2011 at 15:08

just checked something on CPUz and it showed my ram was running at 669Mhz. i figured it might be because the CPU wasnt doing much, but it seems not, because after 30s or so of prime it was still going at 669Mhz:

screenie:

what would you suggest i do to fix this, because i paid for 1600Mhz RAM, so i damn well want 1600Mhz RAM, even if it wnt make much difference
(rig in sig)

*edit*
oops, meant to put this in the memory section

Admiral Huddy · 15 Jun 2011 at 15:12

This is because the RAM defaults to the SPD as set by JDEC specifications. Some RAM uses XMP profiles to exceed these specification but they are not set by default. Instead, you need to go into the BIOS either ser your RAM to use the XMP profile or manually insert the correct settings for the RAM (frequency, voltage and timings).

If you click on the SPD tab of CPUID, it will show a list of JDEC and XMS profiles waiting for you.. Post 'em up.

Reaper 392 · 15 Jun 2011 at 15:32

thanks for the quick reply huddy. heres the SPD tab. its the same for slot 3 and 4. slot 1 and 2 have no ram in them. the slot the ram is in currently is the slot the motherboard manual recommended for RAM that was over 1333Mhz

*edit*
RAM is OCZ special ops. i believe i still have the packaging to hand if there is any useful info i will find there

Admiral Huddy · 15 Jun 2011 at 15:35

Are you using mixed RAM?

Try manually setting these to 800MHz, 9-9-9-24 with 1.5v

Reaper 392 · 15 Jun 2011 at 15:39

Admiral Huddy said:
Are you using mixed RAM?

nope, both sticks were from the same box. i take it you are talking about the unganged thing?

Admiral Huddy · 15 Jun 2011 at 15:53

I'm not familair with the SO.. Checking their specs i can't see XMP available.

Just manually change the seetings, you'll be fine..

Try 800MHZ with 8-8-8-24 timings VDIM at 1.5v - If that's not stable try 1.65v but that's tops.

paradisiac · 15 Jun 2011 at 15:55

Admiral Huddy said:
I'm not familair with the SO.. Checking their specs i can't see XMP available.

Just manually change the seetings, you'll be fine..

Try 800MHZ with 8-8-8-24 timings VDIM at 1.5v - If that's not stable try 1.65v but that's tops.

is XMP not an intel thing? and his sig says he is running an amd chip. or am i getting confused, sorry.

Admiral Huddy · 15 Jun 2011 at 16:02

paradisiac said:
is XMP not an intel thing? and his sig says he is running an amd chip. or am i getting confused, sorry.

You are correct - I completely missed that. Just manually set the frequency OP, you should be fine. You have to remember that 800MHz is above JDEC specs hence it's not listed.. unless I'm getting confused

Reaper 392 · 15 Jun 2011 at 16:07

Admiral Huddy said:
You are correct - I completely missed that. Just manually set the frequency OP, you should be fine. You have to remember that 800MHz is above JDEC specs hence it's not listed.. unless I'm getting confused

ah, so it runs at double the rate specified there? i thought it was acting like 666Mhz RAM, not 1333Mhz RAM. the motherboard did say that it would need overclocking to go at that speed, so it doesnt surprise me that i need to do stuff in the bios

not quite so fussed about changing it now. probably will do when i go about overclocking my processor in a week or two

Admiral Huddy · 15 Jun 2011 at 16:23

Correct as Dual Data Rate (DDR) doubles the true clockspeed as data is sent on both the rising and falling clock signal. Hence, if you are seeing a frequency of 667MHz then the effective memory clockspeed is 1333MHz.