XMP profile with AMD

Spongemonkey · 28 Apr 2012 at 12:28

Is there an easy way to use the XMP SPD with AMD?

Or would I have to do it 'manually'?

If I do have to do it manually what are the values that I need to change?

Thanks

Surveyor · 28 Apr 2012 at 12:33

Spongemonkey said:
Is there an easy way to use the XMP SPD with AMD?

No.

I seem to recall mention somewhere of the odd AMD motherboard supporting XMP profiles (maybe I dreamt it) but 99.9% definitely don't.

Spongemonkey said:
Or would I have to do it 'manually'?

Yes.

Spongemonkey said:
If I do have to do it manually what are the values that I need to change?

Speed, timings and voltage.

What you have to change them to depends on the particular RAM.

Spongemonkey · 28 Apr 2012 at 12:41

Thanks for the reply Surveyor.

I have used CPU-Z to look at the XMP profile timings and voltage, will that show all of the values that need changing?

Surveyor · 28 Apr 2012 at 12:45

Yep, plus you'll have to set the speed manually.

Not that it matters so much with AMD but, depending on the RAM, it will quite often run with less voltage than shown in the XMP profile.

Spongemonkey · 28 Apr 2012 at 12:48

Is it possible to do this within the AMD overdrive program?

The XMP profile still uses 1.5v the same as the JEDEC profiles

Surveyor · 28 Apr 2012 at 12:56

Spongemonkey said:
Is it possible to do this within the AMD overdrive program?

Sorry, I've no idea.

I haven't had an AMD processor for a while.

The last one I had was the Athlon 64 X2 4400+.

Spongemonkey said:
The XMP profile still uses 1.5v the same as the JEDEC profiles

It's low voltage anyway so 1.5V is fine.

Some RAM uses 1.65V for the XMP profile but will usually run with less.

Spongemonkey · 28 Apr 2012 at 12:57

Ok, thanks a lot Surveyor

Hopefully someone else will know about AMD overdrive

Surveyor · 28 Apr 2012 at 13:05

No problem.

It should be easy enough to set the RAM up in the BIOS.

Spongemonkey · 28 Apr 2012 at 13:08

Surveyor said:
No problem.

It should be easy enough to set the RAM up in the BIOS.

I have never really used the BIOS to change any settings before :confused:

Surveyor · 28 Apr 2012 at 13:26

It's up to you.

If you state what motherboard and RAM you have I can have a gander at what you need to change.

Spongemonkey · 28 Apr 2012 at 13:30

I have a Gigabyte GA-880GM-USB3 and Ballistix tactical tracers

Surveyor · 28 Apr 2012 at 13:53

I assume it's this RAM?

Before doing anything press F11 from the main menu in the BIOS and save your current settings to a profile.

If it all goes pear shaped you can clear the CMOS and reload the current working settings from the profile.

I'm also assuming you haven't changed the base frequency from 200MHz. If you have, either in the BIOS or using AMD Overdrive, then let me know before attempting the following.

Go to the MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.) section of the BIOS.

Change "Set Memory Clock" to manual and then change "Memory Clock" to x8.00.

Then go into "DRAM Configuration".

Set the following to manual and enter the timings:

CAS# latency: 8
RAS to CAS R/W Delay: 8
Row Precharge Time Auto: 8
Minimum RAS Active Time Auto: 24
1T/2T Command Timing: 2T (2T for stability you can try 1T later if you wish)

The voltage should be OK on Auto as you only need 1.5V which seems to be the default setting.

Good luck.

Assuming all goes well you can check the settings in the Memory tab in CPU-Z.

Spongemonkey · 28 Apr 2012 at 14:07

Surveyor said:
I assume it's this RAM?

Yeah that's the one

Surveyor said:
I'm also assuming you haven't changed the base frequency from 200MHz. If you have, either in the BIOS or using AMD Overdrive, then let me know before attempting the following.

I'm pretty sure I haven't

Surveyor said:
Set the following to manual and enter the timings:

CAS# latency: 8

RAS to CAS R/W Delay: 8

Row Precharge Time Auto: 8

Minimum RAS Active Time Auto: 24

1T/2T Command Timing: 2T (2T for stability you can try 1T later if you wish)

The voltage should be OK on Auto as you only need 1.5V which seems to be the default setting.

Do I not have to change the tRC value?
How much of a difference would changing the command timing make?
Will I need to test if the memory is stable?

Thanks

Surveyor · 28 Apr 2012 at 14:12

Spongemonkey said:
Do I not have to change the tRC value?

I never have.

Leave all the other settings on auto except those I've stated above.

Spongemonkey said:
How much of a difference would changing the command timing make?

Not a lot.

Spongemonkey said:
Will I need to test if the memory is stable?

Just do what you normally do with the PC, fire up a couple of games.

You'll soon find out if something is wrong.