Setting timings

[Kemik]

Hello all,

I've recently been having problems playing Steam games and their support suggested I make sure the RAM timings were set correctly in my BIOS. As I never done this when installing the RAM (I just reset the BIOS to optimised settings as instructed on the Gigabyte website).

I went in to my BIOS and had a play but a memtest showed I had obviously set something wrong with over 1k errors within the first minute or two of tests.

With default settings memtest doesn't show any errors (I only ran it for 10 minutes though).

Here's my BIOS options. Please state what I should set for this RAM.

Option: Default (Available settings)

CAS Latency Time: 5 (Auto 3-6)
DRAM RAS# to CAS# Delay: 3 (Auto 1-15)
DRAM Precharge: 3 (Auto 1-15)
Precharge delay (tRAS): 15 (Auto 1-31)
ACT to ACT Delay (tRRD): 3 (Auto 1-15)
Rank Write to READ Delay: 3 (Auto 1-31)
Write to Precharge Delay: 5 (Auto 1-31)
Refresh to ACT Delay: 35 (Min 0 Max 511)
Read to Precharge Delay: 3 (Auto 1-15)
Memory Performance Enhance: Normal (Normal, Fast, Turbo)

Here's what Memtest says...
2400 Mhz
L1 Cache: 64k 39345 MB/s
L2 Cache: Unknown
Memory: 2047 M 15686MB/s

CPU-z...
Type: DDR2
Size: 2048 MBytes
Channels #: Dual
Frequency: 333.3MHz
FSB: DRAM: 4:5
tCL: 5
tRCD: 3
tRP: 3
tRAS: 15
Command Rate: 2T

I'm slightly worried there as the RAM is meant to be 667. Is the frequency 333.3MHz because there are two sticks?

Thanks for any help.

BTW: By leaving the BIOS as optimised I obviously haven't changed any Voltage settings for the RAM or settings for other components. If I need to do this, please let me know.

 

[Cob]

333mhz x 2 = 667mhz, so it's as it should be.

Firstly set the Memory Overvoltage to +0.4v. That will give the memory its recommended 2.2v.

Then change CAS Latency Time to 3, and Precharge delay (tRAS) to 12. You can leave the rest as they are.

Save and reboot and run Memtest again.

 

[chaosophy]

pretty much as already said but crucial' s web site says 2.2V, 3-3-3-12 for those sticks.

I also found memset to be use full in determining sub timings for my memory sticks. Most mem specs only list the first four timings where as my mobo has a load of extra ones. I'd set my speed and then set the mem timings to use SPD. I'd then rum memset to see what default timings it gave a various mem speeds and then used those to base my manual settings on.

 

[Kemik]

I've changed the CAS Latency Time to 3 and the tRAS to 12.

I set the Memory Overvoltage to +0.4v but when I was moving the setting up it went: +0.0, +0.1 (red), +0.3 (purple).

I'm guessing red is a warning and purple is "are you crazy". Is there any way to tell what the current voltage going through the RAM is?

The memtest went ok with no errors. Just hope I won't be smelling smoke from my RAM later

 

[Cob]

The changing colours are just there to scare ppl that don't know what they're doing. The Ballistix will be fine at 2.2v.

 

[gash2024]

yeh dont worry about that, i have to set my geil to 2.3v like recommended but then the bios says DDR Fail.See how things go as you might have to up MCH by 0.1v but see how it goes first.