RAM Frequency / Timing Help

I

Iced_Bullet

New Member
Got another 2xsticks of 1gb 4-4-4-12 DDR2 Ram yesterday. (4x1gb in total)

I've been meaning to correct the frequency and timing for a while.

In the BIOS uGuru Setup I get these options:

- External Clock 272Mhz

- DRAM Speed (CPU:DRAM)
- 1:1.50 (DDR2 - 816)
- 1:1.66 (DDR2 - 907)
- 1:2.00 (DDR2 - 1088)​

- PCI Express Clock 100Mhz (Min 100 / Max 200)


My question is, what do I need to do to get the RAM to 1024Mhz and how do I test to see if it's 4-4-4-12 timing ... or am I being incredibly dumd :rolleyes:
 
You have the PC6400 in your signature correct? It looks like you've either overclocked or underclocked a bit. The closest to stock speed would be 1:1.5 DDR2 816.

You can check what your RAM is running with CPUz or look around in the BIOS. It will be in there somewhere.
 
Cromewell said:
You have the PC6400 in your signature correct? It looks like you've either overclocked or underclocked a bit. The closest to stock speed would be 1:1.5 DDR2 816.
Click to expand...
That is what it's at default. I just wondered how I'd be able to check if it's the advertised speed.

Cromewell said:
You can check what your RAM is running with CPUz or look around in the BIOS. It will be in there somewhere.
Click to expand...
OK Thanks, I'll look into it tonight :D

E: This is what CPUz gives:

wilixu.png


Slots #1 -> #4 all give the same.
15g4so.png
 
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Your RAM is running at 400MHz (800 DDR) so that's fine. The timings are 5-5-5-18, your motherboard manual will tell you how to change the timings to 4-4-4-12 if you want to run the RAM at that. It wont make a big difference performance wise though and you'll need to up the voltage to 2.1v (assuming you want to match the EPP).
 
Cromewell said:
Your RAM is running at 400MHz (800 DDR) so that's fine. The timings are 5-5-5-18, your motherboard manual will tell you how to change the timings to 4-4-4-12 if you want to run the RAM at that. It wont make a big difference performance wise though and you'll need to up the voltage to 2.1v (assuming you want to match the EPP).
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Thanks :) Although Ive already set the voltage to 2.1V :confused:

Ah well, thanks I'll post results again later.
 
I change them to 4-4-4-12, and the Command Rate to 2T as stated, however, can't find the tRC.

Then it gives a 'file corrupt' warning .... hmm any ideas? I've asked on abit official forums now too, see if they know too.
 
Before it started Vista, it just had it typed at the top of the screen.

I tried again with just changing the 4-4-4-12, and leaving the Command Rate ... but I don't think I saved properly ... because I tried CPUz again and it still said 5-5-5-18 ...
 
Well with 4 sticks your command rate is 2 automatically so that's fine. If you are only getting the error when you run the tighter timings either something isn't set right or the RAM doesn't work at those settings (even though it's supposed to). That being the case you can either exchange it for new RAM or just run the slower settings, it will only work out to a small single digit % difference anyway.
 
actually, ram timings effect performance a LOT more than people think. i gained 500-600 3dmarks just by lowering my timings from 5-5-5-15 to 5-4-4-10.

the timings you'll probably want to run is 4-4-4-12 at 1t. 2t is much slower.

you add 10-30 mbps when you lower a single timing.
tCL:
Large influence on stability / Medium influence on bandwidth
From CAS 5 to 4 results change ~5-10mb/s. The same change will most likely be seen when going to CAS 3. This timing is widely seen as most important (Command rate disregarded).
Recommendation: 4 for normal usage, 5 when oc"ing. Tweaked: 3.


tRCD:
Medium influence on stability / Large influence on bandwidth
tRCD going from 4 to 3 gives ~15mb/s. From 5 to 4 also yields 10-15mb/s. This timing is considered second important after CAS, but actually it"s more important on 680i/DDR2.
Recommendation: 4 for oc/normal usage. 5 if you want to push mhz. Tweaked: 3


tRP:
Medium/small influence on stability / Small influence on bandwidth
Results vary close to nothing when changing from 3 to 4 to 5. Still this timing needs to finish its cycle before a new one starts, so dont set it higher than 5.
Recommendation: 4 for oc/normal usage. 5 if you want to push mhz. Tweaked: 3


tRAS:
Small influence on stability / Small influence on bandwidth
tRAS seems to act differently on integer/float results. Integer, going from 15 to 10 changes by ~5mb/s. Float doesnt change.
tRAS is an "end-timing", so dont go to high. And not lower than what tCL+tRCD equals.
Recommendation: 12 for oc/normal usage. 15 if you want to push mhz. Tweaked: 8


tRRD:
Small influence on stability / Small influence on bandwidth
tRRD of 2 didnt change the results. Nor did a tRRD of 4. This is a delay-timing so a too low value may result in recalculation.
Recommendation: Auto for oc/normal usage. 4 if you want to push mhz. Tweaked: 2


tRC:
Medium influence on stability / Large influence on bandwidth
This timing is quite surprising. Going from 30 to 21 gave ~90mb/s. From 23 to 21 gave ~15-20mb/s.
tRC is last timing before ram burst (data transfer).
Dont set too high. And tRC should be greater than tRAS + tRP or you might get corruption.
Recommendation: 21 for normal usage. 30 if you want to push mhz. Tweaked: 15


tWR:
Small influence on stability / Small influence on bandwidth
Small change from 6 to 3. Setting timing too low will cause ram to fail switching to "read mode".
Recommendation: Auto for oc/normal usage. 6 if you want to push mhz. Tweaked: 3


tWTR:
Large influence on stability / Small influence on bandwidth
From 10 to 8 didnt change results. 6 would lock up the system. This timing gives no bonus but affects stability a lot. Use with care.
Recommendation: Auto for oc/normal usage. 10 if you want to push mhz. Tweaked: 8(7)

tREF:
Small influence on stability / Small influence on bandwidth
Changing to 3,9us didnt show improvements in benchmark. It also didnt seem to affect stability. tREF was important with DDR1.
Recommendation: Auto for oc/normal usage. 7,8us if you want to push mhz. Tweaked: 3,9us


Command Rate:
Settings are 2T/1T. You probably already know a lot about this timing.
The 680i struggles running 1T above 800mhz. So do the ram - atleast 2,2v are needed. This timing gives a great boost to bandwidth, but is fairly hard to attain. I wont recommend any setting regarding this timing. You need to find what mhz you get with 1T, then find mhz with 2T, then compare benchmarks.
Click to expand...

unfortunately, i cannot post my source, that's against site policy. its from another forum.
 
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actually, ram timings effect performance a LOT more than people think. i gained 500-600 3dmarks just by lowering my timings from 5-5-5-15 to 5-4-4-10.
Click to expand...
First, what version of 3D mark and second, something else changed I gurantee it.
 
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