GA-EP45-DS3R & Kingston Hyperx T1- Can't get to 1066

[Weaves]

Hello,

I had quite a bit of help before with my GA-EP45-DS3R and OCZ Platinum (RIP).

So one of those sticks went bad, and so I bought some replacement memory here:

Micro Center - Kingston HyperX blu 4GB DDR2-1066 PC2-8500) CL5 Dual Channel Desktop Memory Kit Two 2GB Memory Modules) KHX8500D2T1K2/4G

So, I figured, all I would have to do was switch the DRAM voltage since it was 2x2Gb stick swap. However, I can't get the Kingston to run @ 1066.

Here are my BIOS settings:

MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster ...............: Auto
CPU Clock Ratio ..........................: 8x
Fine CPU Clock Ratio.....................:.0.0
CPU Frequency ...........................: 3.21 Ghz


Clock Chip Control
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control..................: [Enabled]
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: 400 Mhz
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) .........: 100

C.I.A.2 .................................:[Disabled]


Advanced Clock Control [Press Enter]
CPU Clock Drive...........................: 800
PCI Express Clock Drive.................: 900
CPU Clock Skew (ps)....................: 0ps
MCH Clock Skew (ps)...................: 0ps


DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance...................: [STANDARD]
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.).....: Disabled
(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............: [Auto]
System Memory Multiplier ..............: 2.66D
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............:
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: [Manual]

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time........................5
tRCD .........................................5
tRP'...........................................5
tRAS..........................................15


Advanced Timing Control
tRRD...........................................3
tWTR..........................................3
tWR............................................4
tRFC...........................................52
tRTP...........................................3
Command Rate (CMD) ....................:2

Driving Strength Profiles
Driving Strength ............................

Channel A
Static tRead Value.........................:9
tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................:Auto <<< Leave for all below as well
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................:Auto
tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................:Auto
tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................:Auto
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................:Auto
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................:Auto
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................:Auto
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................:Auto
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto ps
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto ps

Channel B
Static tRead Value.........................:9
tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................:Auto <<< Leave for all below as well
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................:Auto
tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................:Auto
tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................:Auto
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................:Auto
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................:Auto
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................:Auto
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................:Auto
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto ps
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............:Auto ps

Motherboard Voltage Control

CPU
CPU Vcore….……….........................: 1.25

CPU Termination…..... 1.200V*.......: 1.30

CPU PLL…………………....1.500V*.......: << 1.50

CPU Referen.…………....0.76V*.......: <<< [Auto]

CPU Reference2………,,0.760V*.......:<<< [AUTO]

MCH/ICH
MCH Core…………….....1.100V...........: << 1.200
MCH Reference….…….0.760V...........; <<< Leave
MCH/DRAM Ref.…......0.900V...........: <<< Leave
ICH I/O……………….....1.500V............: <<< Leave
ICH Core…………...……1.100V............: <<< Leave

DRAM
DRAM Voltage ……....1.800V............: 2.200-2.3 <<<<<< tested every increment
DRAM Termination .…0.900V............: <<< Leave
Channel A Reference 0.900V............: <<< Leave
Channel B Reference 0.900V............: <<< Leave

Advanced Settings
Limit CPUID Max. to 3.....................: [Disabled]
No-Execute Memory Protect............: [Disabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E)................: [Disabled]
C2/C2E State Support....................: [Disabled]
x C4/C4E State Support..................: [Disabled]
CPU Thermal Monitor 2(TM2) ...........: [Enabled]
CPU EIST Function.........................: [Disabled]
Virtualization Technology................: [Disabled]

Integrated Peripherals
Legacy USB Storage Detect ..............[Enabled]

Any Suggestions?

I was thinking about returning the Kingston and ordering the following Gskill:

Newegg.com - G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK

or

Newegg.com - G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8500CL5D-4GBPI-B

Would gskill be any better?

Finally, I will use this mobo for a 64bit windows upgrade soon. Will I be able to get 8GB RAm @ 1066, or would I be better using just 800 for 8Gb?

Thanks

[profJim]

MCH Core = 1.22 - 1.26 might help.
Most 4GB DDR2 memory kits in EP45 boards needed slightly higer MCH Core settings for cas5 1066 speeds or cas4 800MHz.
G.Skill memory often wanted lower MCH Core settings with 4GB kits.

In my P35 system, I'm running 8GB of HyperX T1 1066 memory at 876MHz with 4-4-4-10 timings at 2.20 volts.
I tested one 4GB kit at 1066 speeds with 5-5-5-15 timings and had no problem.

I prefer running tighter cas4 settings below 900MHz rather than using cas5 settings for 1066MHz or higher speeds.
Other than lower memory benchmark scores, you won't notice any performance differences when running with tighter cas4 timings in the 800MHz range.

[profJim]

CPU Vcore….……….........................: 1.25
CPU Termination….... 1.200V*.......: 1.30

Are these your current settings?
The general recommendation is that CPU Termination (aka VTT) should be at least 0.05 lower than Cpu Vcore.

[Weaves]

ProfJim,

Thanks for all of your help. I think I found the problem:

If I take the sticks out and place in Dimm slots 2 &4- I can boot upto 1066 very easy.

However, if I put in slots 1 & 3- I can't raise the voltage.

Given that my #3 stick went bad- is it possible that there was a surge, or short in dimm slot #3 that over volted the ram stick and cause it to go bad? and now I can't raise voltage?

If that is the case, would I be better off replacing with a new 775 mobo that uses DDR3 ram? The ddr2 stuff seems high in comparison.

Thanks

[profJim]

It sounds like there is a problem with your #3 memory slot.
When you say that you can't raise the memory voltage, I assume that this means that your system won't boot with higher memory voltages.
You didn't say if you ran any stress tests when using memory slots 2 and 4.
Your system might be stable using memory slots 1 & 3 if you use lower 5-5-5-18 memory timings at 1.80 volts at 800MHz.
If this setup is stable, your system might be stable with 8GB of matched memory with these timings.
Look at the first column in the attached SPD for "guaranteed" settings at 800MHz.

Current prices for 2 x 2GB memory kits:

• DDR2 1066MHz at cas5, $65 - $80 per kit
• DDR2 800MHz at cas4, $65 - $80 per kit
• DDR3 1333MHz, $32 - $40 per kit

P45/DDR3 motherboard prices:

• new, about $200 - $300.
• used, slightly lower prices, but not by much.

Some websites sell used motherboards with a 90 warranty for somewhat more reasonable prices.
A new P45 motherboard might have little or no warranty coverage if the warranty coverage starts from the date of manufacture instead of the date that you purchase it.
If you go with a P45/DDR3 motherboard, carefully research which DDR3 1333 memory kits are compatible with your new motherboard by checking with the memory vendor's website and tech support.

I think that your best bet is to buy a Sandy Bridge or Ivy Bridge system to go with your upcoming x64 operating system. A Sandy Bridge system will be somewhat less expensive, but you will probably have an easier time overclocking an Ivy Bridge system. For either setup, you need to buy the right motherboard model and a K-model cpu if you want to overclock.

There will be some excellent holiday sale prices from mid November through new years day.
You can keep your current system as a home server or for backups, or you can sell your hardware to reduce the price of a new system.