Memory compatibility issue with Mobo? Needs clarifying

E

EEthanShire

New Member
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L Socket 775 Intel P35


The above specs for computer build are plans for new build not existing specifications. My query is in regards to the "memory support list" that pertains to the Ga-P35-DS3L (rev2.0). It states at gigabyte's website http://www.gigabyte.us/Products/Motherboard/Products_Spec.aspx?ClassValue=Motherboard&ProductID=2583&ProductName=GA-P35-DS3Lthat I should resort to memory support list to find qualified memory sticks for motherboard at point. Does this list suggest to ONLY use the stated memory or am I free to use which ever 1066/800/667 memory of my liking? I am interested in using:

OCZ (OCZ2P8002GK) DDR2 PC2-6400 800MHz Platinum XTC 2GB (2x1024MB)
or
Crucial Ballistix (BL2KIT12864AA804) DDR2 800Mhz PC2 6400 2GB Kit (1GB x 2) 240-pin
 
You will probably get a prompt when opening up the pdf file at the link for the recommended list seen on the link at Gigabyte for that model board. http://www.gigabyte.us/FileList/MemorySupport/motherboard_memory_ga-p35-ds3l_2.0.pdf

The recommended list simply refers to the manufacturer's "recommended" brands and memory they have tested that model board with. OCZ itself is one of the best brands along Corsair, Kingston, Crucial, etc. for desktop memory. The specifications for what memory that model supports is the thing to go by not limiting your choices to the list seen there. Asus endorses Corsair and I run Kingston here. :P
 
In most cases you can go for any brand with most boards. However there are some times when a certain memory may not work so well simply due to timings or a board being fussy about the memory used. One old Socket A board here simply showed all kinds of memory faults when memtest was run on that old Asus model.

The next build having a 939 board saw none with the exact same two sets of memory by two entirely different brands. One set was Corsair xms series popular with gamers and the other Kingston ValueRam there. 578 errors seen on the 2gb of Kingston was seen on the Socket A board and 0% on the 939 model. There were none seen with the 1gb(matched pair of 512s) of Corsair when later tested either.
 
I've gone with crucial ballistix 800, so I don't think there will be need to go through bios unless I want to overclock.
 
If you do end having to manually set the dram timings in order for the board to see 800 the timings on the Crucial memory are 4-4-4-12. That is seen at http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/partspecs.aspx?imodule=BL2KIT12864AA804

I'm using an AMD Asus model here where that had to be done with the Kingston Hyper X performance memory ordered. At first the 2gb of 800mhz memory was displayed as 667 until the trip into the bios>advanced>cpu timings>dram timings saw that done. You should see the same thing in the bios there except substituting the 12 for the number 14.

TLC [4]
TRCD [4]
TRP [4]
TRAS [14]
Memory Timings [1T-2T-AUTO] Set that to 2T or leave it at auto there. 1T will force you to clear the cmos!
 
I will have to come back to this thread once all my parts have been shipped and the assembly is completed. Thanks for that info though pc-eye.
 
The manual settings in the bios goes quick if needed there. You should still have the Phoenix-Award bios seen on that model.

The funniest thing happened here on the new build was seen with the first M2N-E board where the auto setting showed 800 once the timings were set. On the replacement board when the first quit after three days it has to be set to manual? Failed bios or different version? I shipped it back fast without taking notes! :P
 
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