Gots me a question

[Gobbles]

can you overclock the memory independant of the processor??

Ive got this nice corsair pc3200c2pt which is currently running at 2 3 3 6, at 166 which I assume is in sync with the processor.

Would I gain anything by running the memory faster? I cant OC the proc due to cooling reasons at this time, but if I can get some gain through the ram that would be cool.

TIA

Gobbles

[Enverex]

You could increase the FSB, and lower the multiplier at the same time. Which would basically give the same effect. Though you end up increasing the PCI bus as well if the motherboard doesn't lock it (or have alterable multipliers), though this doesn't always present a problem.

[muddocktor]

If it's an nforce2 board, you shouldn't have any problem with the pci bus running out of spec at a higher fsb speed but if it's a via chipset board you might have a problem. Like Enervex said, upping the fsb speed and lowering the multi to keep the cpu speed constant will give better performance. Also, you can try tightening the timings on that memory and see if it can run tighter ram timings. My XMS3200C2 will run 2-2-2-11 timings at 218 fsb on my Abit board.

[edcentric]

On most platforms you can.
But I suggest that you run unbuffered sandra scores and compare them.
On most modern mobo running hte memory async doesnt gain you any thing.
Have you tried tigher timings? Does running 2227 help you?

[Gobbles]

its a NF7-s..

Ill try some tighter timings and see what happens...

Gobbles

[Gobbles]

ok I made an error...
Im running at 2 2 2 7 already. Im set to turbo.
I ran sandra memory bench and here are my results..

Int Buffer 2356
Float buffer 2189

is that right on or kinda low??

System::::
Barton 2500+
Abit NF7-S
1x512 Corsair XMS 3200C2PT

[muddocktor]

That sounds a little low to me, but then I'm running my nf7-s on a 218 fsb speed with 2-2-2-11 set on memory timings. If you can't overclock your proc due to cooling problems for now, then bump your multi back to 9 and up the fsb speed up to 203 fsb so that your proc is running at the stock MHz but you will be having the better bandwidth provided by the faster fsb speed.

[TheLostSwede]

ok I made an error...
Im running at 2 2 2 7 already. Im set to turbo.
I ran sandra memory bench and here are my results..

Int Buffer 2356
Float buffer 2189

is that right on or kinda low??

System::::
Barton 2500+
Abit NF7-S
1x512 Corsair XMS 3200C2PT

That's horribly low. What was the fsb now? Have you set the divider to 3/3. 4/4 or 6/6? (it's not really a divider but i call it that)

[Gobbles]

its at 333 or so the post screen says..

as for the divider as you call it... let me reboot real quick and check...

Gobbles

[Gobbles]

OK I checked it was set to auto. I set it to 3/3 and ran sandra

int 2359
float 2203

dram freq. is 333

im gonna try 4/4 and 6/6 ill post the scores of each..

Gobbles

[Gobbles]

Ok here are screen shots of all 3 tests...
in order

Freq. 333 3/3 4/4 6/6

Gobbles

[TheBaron]

remember since its an nforce board, 2-3-3-11 would be faster than 2-3-3-7 for you. you should try 2-2-2-11

[Gobbles]

ill try that.. and rerun the test.

here is my cpuz info...

Gobbles

[Gobbles]

ok

i just ran a new batch...

Int Float divider freq mem
2351 2182 3/3 333 2-2-2-11
2351 2181 4/4 333 2-2-2-11
2350 2181 6/6 333 2-2-2-11


Does it matter what slot the stick is in.. Right now its closest to the processor, slot 1

Gobbles.

[Gobbles]

bump... anyone...

those scores seem way low even for default no cpu OC.


G

[muddocktor]

Are you running just 1 stick of ram? If you are, then I can run a bench on my A7N8X for you and see how it performs in single channel mode. I'll get on it and boot it up with 166 X 11 with 2-2-2-11 set on the ram and post my benches.

[muddocktor]

Here's a bench at 11X166, which is your 2500's normal speed, running single channel and at 2-2-2-11 timings for you to compare to, Gobbles.

[Gobbles]

well I dont feel so bad now... I think im going back to 2 2 2 6 3/3 as thats were I saw the best numbers...

Thanks Muddocktor

[muddocktor]

Whenever you can afford it, get a matching stick of ddr and then you can run dual channel mode and your mem bandwidth will go up considerabely. The Asus rig I have is just a dedicated folder, so I'm not worried about running dual channel on it.