Overclocking RAM

NiGHTSNiGHTS San Diego Icrontian
edited May 2004 in Hardware
Okay, some simple questions for anyone reading. First off, I'm curious as to what tweaking my RAM would do. I've heard RAM timings been thrown around and voltage as well, but I'm not entirely sure what each do. I understand the whole voltage thing, that's just the power aspect of things, but by "tightening" my timings my performance would increase? Currently I have my RAM set as stock in both timings and voltage. Overclocked, my processor needs 1.75v. Would increasing voltage on the RAM stabilize anything and if so, is it dangerous? Increasing the timings as well, dangerous? Should I set it as the recommended 2-2-2-11, or put it at the "Turbo" or "Agressive" settings?

CPU-z is as follows...

FSB : DRAM 1:1
Cas Latency 2.5
3-3-7

Edit: Forgot the system specs...
NF7-S v2
2500+ @ 3200
Radeon9800
XMS 2x256 PC3200

Comments

  • leishi85leishi85 Grand Rapids, MI Icrontian
    edited May 2004
    increasing the ram voltage wouldn't hurt anything, i have been running my ram at 2.9v for over a year now, and no damage what so ever.

    first try changing the ram timing as 2,2,2,11 now. and after that u can try overclocking your fsb, and see how far u can go with that timing.
  • entropyentropy Yah-Der-Hey (Wisconsin)
    edited May 2004
    increasing the timings will give you better performance. xms ram, being high-end, can handle pretty much all the voltage you can throw at it. now, because i'm not an expert and my own ram won't run at anything but spd, you might want to get a second (or third) opinion from around here. i would say first you should try to get cas to 2, and if you can't boot DON'T panic, all you have to do is remove the cmos battery for a bit, or use the clear cmos jumper. of course, you'll have to redo your entire bios settings, so this may or may not be a good idea for you. if doing it at 2 doesn't work, drop the 7 to an 11. you'll also probably want to give it .2v extra right off the bat...will give it better chances of succeeding. you could also go straight for 2-2-2-11 but i would do one number at a time. and leave the memory accelorator turned off, it will just fluctuate things and add another variable.
  • Straight_ManStraight_Man Geeky, in my own way Naples, FL Icrontian
    edited May 2004
    Try the recommended and a voltage step to 2.7 or a max of 2.85 Volts to RAM voltage. nominal is about 2.65 for those sticks. The middle two RAM parameters close to ideally should be about 2.5, 2.5, I do not think your BIOS would let you do that. You are stretching things a tib with recommended, not much, but the ratios do not compute to even decimals for the middle two parmeters. IF they are UNusually GOOD, it might work, if not you will get to back off a bit on RAM settings and try 2,3,3,12 at 2.7-2.8 Volts.

    If you are talking about using BIOS turbo, try it and go back and see if BIOS will show you what it set, and if real close to CPU-z go with that instead. I'd favor BIOS over software for RAM. Then watch temps real close adn look for flakes in O\S for a day or so before changing again. OCing is largely art plus monitoring.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited May 2004
    Set the memory voltage to 2.7v and the timings to 2/2/2/11. That memory can take 3.2v safely, but you don't need it.

    Anything worse than 2/2/2/11 is doing unjustice to those sticks. I predict you'll top out at around 215/220MHz at 2.9v at 2/2/2/11.

    As with all overclocking, if you do it in gradual increments, your computer will be flaky long before you ever get to the point where hardware is actually damaged.
  • NiGHTSNiGHTS San Diego Icrontian
    edited May 2004
    Sounds great, I'll try it out and let you know how it goes. As far as the RAM voltage goes, does upping it offset the CPU's voltage?
  • entropyentropy Yah-Der-Hey (Wisconsin)
    edited May 2004
    if your cpu needs X volts to run, the ram won't change that. the only thing it will change is maybe being able to run at 1:1 verses 5:4 and getting slightly tighter timings
  • leishi85leishi85 Grand Rapids, MI Icrontian
    edited May 2004
    short answer,
    no

    a long answer,
    noooooooo.............

    hehe
  • NiGHTSNiGHTS San Diego Icrontian
    edited May 2004
    How clever you are :) Thanks for the advice and answer guys, always delivering, time after time. I'm still amazed, and I'd give you all hugs if I could :)
  • leishi85leishi85 Grand Rapids, MI Icrontian
    edited May 2004
    u could if u come to the LAN next year, btw this year's lan was a lot of FUN. and u will experience the same fun next year if u decide to come
  • NiGHTSNiGHTS San Diego Icrontian
    edited May 2004
    I hope you get paid for your PR work hehe
  • NiGHTSNiGHTS San Diego Icrontian
    edited May 2004
    Okay, 2-2-2-11 at 2.7 and 2.8 doesn't work, I've had to take the CMOS battery out...should I try 2.9? Any other settings I should use instead? On a better note, my system is now stable at 1.725V :)
  • MJOMJO Denmark New
    edited May 2004
    Thrax wrote:
    Set the memory voltage to 2.7v and the timings to 2/2/2/11. That memory can take 3.2v safely, but you don't need it.

    Anything worse than 2/2/2/11 is doing unjustice to those sticks. I predict you'll top out at around 215/220MHz at 2.9v at 2/2/2/11.

    As with all overclocking, if you do it in gradual increments, your computer will be flaky long before you ever get to the point where hardware is actually damaged.

    Actually I believe I read somewhere that BH-5 can take 3.5V without a hitch. :woot:
    I think it was on XS.org, dunno how long the modules can endure 3.5V.
    But I dunno whether NiGHTS XMS modules are BH-5?

    My sticks v.1.1 XMS 3200 are running at 225 MHz @ 2.9V timings 2.0-2-2-11.
    I have the FSB upped to 230, but my processor wasn't too happy at that FSB.

    CH-5 and BH-6 chips needs higher voltage to reach high FSB's.
    Maybe an increase in voltage would help NiGHTS?

    BTW: I also read that the NF7 overvolts the memory with .2V.
    That means that when you are at 2.7V Vdimm it is actually 2.9V.
    A very nice feature indeed.
  • edcentricedcentric near Milwaukee, Wisconsin Icrontian
    edited May 2004
    What speed are you running? fsb=200?
    I have my memory running 2-3-3-11. I couldn't tell the dif in benchmarks from 2-2-2.
    I would try 2-3-3-11 at 2.8 and 200MHz fsb. See how it runs. Then either up the speed or lower the timings.
    You can run Sandra mem UNBUFFERED to see how it changes your memory performance.
  • NiGHTSNiGHTS San Diego Icrontian
    edited May 2004
    Okay, this is becoming frustrating now. 2.9v won't run 2-2-2-11. I'm just going to have everyone take a look at my advanced chipset settings, figure it can't hurt anyway.

    Memory Timings - Optimal
    ROW-Active - 8
    RAS to CAS - 3
    ROW Percentage - 3
    CAS Latency Time - 3
    System BIOS Cacheable - Enabled
    Video RAM Cacheable - Enabled
    AGP Aperature Size - 64M
    FSB Speed Spectrum - .50%
    AGP Speed Spectrum - .50%
    CPU Thermal Throttling - 50%
    Enhance PCI Performance - Disabled
    CPU Disconnect Function - Enabled
    AGP Data Transfer - Auto
    AGP Fastwrite Capabilities - Enabled

    So, what is up with all of this? Theoretically I should be able to run 2-2-2-11 shouldn't I?

    Edcentric: Yes, my FSB is currently 200, I'll try your 2-3-3-11 and see if it works. What other timings could I use to increase performance? Thanks for all your help guys.

    Edit: John D's recommended 2-3-3-12 doesn't work either. :banghead:
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited May 2004
    Use these:

    Memory Timings - Expert
    ROW-Active - 11
    RAS to CAS - 2
    ROW Percentage - 2
    CAS Latency Time - 2
    System BIOS Cacheable - Disabled
    Video RAM Cacheable - Disabled
    AGP Aperature Size - 256M
    FSB Speed Spectrum - Disabled
    AGP Speed Spectrum - Disabled
    CPU Thermal Throttling - Disabled
    Enhance PCI Performance - Enabled
    CPU Disconnect Function - Disabled
    AGP Data Transfer - Auto
    AGP Fastwrite Capabilities - Disabled

    Make sure CPU interface is disabled in Soft Menu III.
  • leishi85leishi85 Grand Rapids, MI Icrontian
    edited May 2004
    what are some effects by disabling CPU interface, so far i always have had mine enabled.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited May 2004
    Higher FSB.
  • leishi85leishi85 Grand Rapids, MI Icrontian
    edited May 2004
    hmm, i should try it in a sec, currently i'm only running 205 fsb with cpu interface enabled, and i will try now see if it makes any difference.
  • NiGHTSNiGHTS San Diego Icrontian
    edited May 2004
    Okay, I've been talking to Thrax on AIM and he's helped me out a little, but I'm still having problems with the 2-2-2-11 timing. I've taken his settings and put them to use, including my divider, which is set at 4/4. I'm running out of ideas, and I began this whole fiasco not really caring, but now I'm determined to get those timings. Does anyone have any ideas?
  • MJOMJO Denmark New
    edited May 2004
    I am running 225 FSB with CPU interface enabled, no problems at all.
    Also I am using the elusive 10 x multiplier, without any problems.

    Maybe I have a stray, perfect NF7-S ;D
    Or I am plain lucky. :)
  • Straight_ManStraight_Man Geeky, in my own way Naples, FL Icrontian
    edited May 2004
    ---> MJO: A VERY good PSU plus power conditioning or a decent one plus a full-scale UPS to feed it VERY stable power in makes for better system stability at more extreme but balanced settings.

    Lack of very stable power and some power supplying overcapacity(both) will make a box with same other things not OC well. In and of itself.
  • MJOMJO Denmark New
    edited May 2004
    John_D wrote:
    ---> MJO: A VERY good PSU plus power conditioning or a decent one plus a full-scale UPS to feed it VERY stable power in makes for better system stability at more extreme but balanced settings.

    Lack of very stable power and some power supplying overcapacity(both) will make a box with same other things not OC well. In and of itself.

    I do have an Antec TruePower 430W, one of my best purchases ever even though it was quite expensive.

    I have no power conditioning or UPS, but power is generally very stable here in Denmark. We do not have many outages etc.

    And you are correct that a stable supply of adequate power, is very important for system stability and the ability to OC.
    I have seen and heard of many unstable systems, quite a lot of it could be traced back to a bad or weak PSU.
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