Help for a newbie on oc RAM/CPU
Hi all,
Quick background: I'm new to this forum, so please take it easy on me. I use my machine for mid-level graphic games (mostly sports Madden 2005, etc.), but mostly for video capture (with my Plextor USB device) and other related multi-media purposes (converting .avi files to .mpg, then to .vob). I want to maximize the performance of my RAM/CPU to improve capture quality and conversion speed.
I've tried to find answers to all my questions without having to post, and the information I've found has been extremely helpful, but I've come to a dead end on this one. I want to overclock my RAM/CPU more than I already have, but I seem to have hit a wall on both. My current RAM timings are 2-3-2-6. I have read in numerous locations from Thrax and others that 2-2-2-11 are the ideal settings for my mobo, but I can't get there. I've determined the hangup is RAS to CAS delay. I CANNOT get that below 3, even with the settings recommended by Thrax in this post. I've boosted voltage to 2.8V, with no luck.
Does anyone have any suggestions, or have I reached the limit of my RAM? I've used Sandra to benchmark and found that the 2-3-2-6 is the fastest setting I've been able to reach so far. If I can't step up the performance anymore, I will buy another stick...should I reach for a similar Kingston 512MB, or would another brand (Corsair) work better?
Separately, I've tried to boost CPU performance by stepping up my settings from 11 X 200 to 11 X 206 in increments of two with mixed results on stability even after boosting voltage to 1.775 and (eek!) 1.8V. I've tried to go up to 12 X 204, with horrible results (I had to grapple for my CCMOS on that one). Any tips on the best CPU timing? Would a 10 X XXX setting be quicker/more stable?
Any helpful tips would be greatly appreciated. Sorry for the length of the post and the number of questions. In retrospect, I probably could have split this one up. Thanks
Quick background: I'm new to this forum, so please take it easy on me. I use my machine for mid-level graphic games (mostly sports Madden 2005, etc.), but mostly for video capture (with my Plextor USB device) and other related multi-media purposes (converting .avi files to .mpg, then to .vob). I want to maximize the performance of my RAM/CPU to improve capture quality and conversion speed.
I've tried to find answers to all my questions without having to post, and the information I've found has been extremely helpful, but I've come to a dead end on this one. I want to overclock my RAM/CPU more than I already have, but I seem to have hit a wall on both. My current RAM timings are 2-3-2-6. I have read in numerous locations from Thrax and others that 2-2-2-11 are the ideal settings for my mobo, but I can't get there. I've determined the hangup is RAS to CAS delay. I CANNOT get that below 3, even with the settings recommended by Thrax in this post. I've boosted voltage to 2.8V, with no luck.
Does anyone have any suggestions, or have I reached the limit of my RAM? I've used Sandra to benchmark and found that the 2-3-2-6 is the fastest setting I've been able to reach so far. If I can't step up the performance anymore, I will buy another stick...should I reach for a similar Kingston 512MB, or would another brand (Corsair) work better?
Separately, I've tried to boost CPU performance by stepping up my settings from 11 X 200 to 11 X 206 in increments of two with mixed results on stability even after boosting voltage to 1.775 and (eek!) 1.8V. I've tried to go up to 12 X 204, with horrible results (I had to grapple for my CCMOS on that one). Any tips on the best CPU timing? Would a 10 X XXX setting be quicker/more stable?
Any helpful tips would be greatly appreciated. Sorry for the length of the post and the number of questions. In retrospect, I probably could have split this one up. Thanks
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Comments
Go OCZ PC3200 Platinum and don't look back. It'll blow your current memory out of the water. Personally, I'd just avoid Kingston entirely.. Too little too late all the time.
As Thrax is saying, the 3200 Platinum rev 2 can handle both 2,2,2,5 timings at 200-210 and 2.5,3,3,7 up to about 270 making it one of the most versatile memory out there.
My memory isn't too hot, I am running 2.5/3/3 at 200x11.5
At 166 it will run 2/2/2, but that is no fun.