Confused about new RAM

[nadasaki]

Hey everyone,
I'm running this conf atm:
PSU: Chieftec 550W
CPU: core2duo e7200 2.53 (default clock)
mobo: Gigabyte P31-S3G
gpu: Gainward 8800gt


In short:
I bought 2x2GB Mushkin ddr2 1066mhz through personal adds
(here's a photo -
I decided on this type of memory because it's the highest RAM my mobo can support.
I plugged them in and my CPU-Z shows that the modules are NOT working at the above said speed. It clearly shows that it's working on 333(667)mhz while the add said 1066.
My questions are - Why is this? Is there something I don't understand about how dual-channel RAM works? And ultimately - Have I been ripped off?





Ask me if you need any more info.
Thanks for the help in advance.

[kick]

The ram (in cpu-z) is working at 667 as you say.ddr,using the jedec #3 settings on the module.
There is an extended setting ,the AMP.
If your board doesnt recognise it ,you will have to set it manually.
dram voltage or Vdimm 2.1v
speed 1066(533) using the memory multiplier/divider.The main 5-5-5-15 timings shouldnt need to be changed.

Since the memory is working there is no reason to suppose it wont work at its extended memory profile,as long as your motherboard supports it.

[nadasaki]

The ram (in cpu-z) is working at 667 as you say.ddr,using the jedec #3 settings on the module.
There is an extended setting ,the AMP.
If your board doesnt recognise it ,you will have to set it manually.
dram voltage or Vdimm 2.1v
speed 1066(533) using the memory multiplier/divider.The main 5-5-5-15 timings shouldnt need to be changed.

Since the memory is working there is no reason to suppose it wont work at its extended memory profile,as long as your motherboard supports it.

Thank you for your reply kind sir,
I took the liberty of going into my BIOS and taking a screenshot:

What do you recommend I should configure based on what's available?

[kick]

If you havent already changed it.
Since you are keeping the standard host frequency and not
overclocking your cpu:

The board doesnt "see" the 1066mhz profile, at least it doesnt show on the above shot.
So first thing ,
memory frequency take it off auto to manual.
The depends on what comes up..should be more options in the form of multipliers.
these multipliers will multiply 266 (thefsb) to give your memory speed.

At present its running at 2.5,ie 2.5 x 266=667
What you want is the 4.00 multiplier.
If there is only one 4.00 multiplier showing,thats the one you use..If there is more than one 4.00 multiplier showing ,use the one labelled 4.00A

Putting the system memory multiplier speed on manual should also have brought up an option to vary the memory timings
They are/were running at 5-5-5-15 but this may just show as auto,you may have to enter each one manually.
There will also be minor memory timings,hopefully you can leave those on auto for now and the memory will work ok.
Unless you have the actual figures for the minor timings(sisoft sandra will show you those or you can research the memory on the net.)

Next thing ,you will have to take system voltage control from auto to manual,the only thing you should need to change is the ddr2 overvoltage control.
At the moment its supplying about 1.8-1.82V to the memory.
You have to increase that to 2.1v or add +.3v to the standard v.
The method of v change Im not sure how its done on your board,my gigabyte one you just dial in the actual voltage you want.Some boards you have to specify the extra voltage you want over 1.8.

If an option to use an xmp profile comes up at any stage use that, but that might only appear if you ,enable cpu host clock control,or performance enhance.
Either way you want 5-5-5-15 timings,266mhzx4 multiplier for the memory,and 2.1v applied to the memory.

If you dont feel sure about the adjustments have a read thru this in the gigabyte forum.

Memory Timings Explained W/ Suggested Timings & Memset VS. BIOS.

Just remember if you do decide to download that memset utility,if its still available,dont save anything you reset in windows.

[nadasaki]

Thank you sir, I did everything as you said and here's what I got:

I raised the system memory multiplier to 4 and I've raised the voltage by +0.3V as you can see in the screenshot
But to my surprise, CPU-Z showed changes only on the "memory" tab. The SPD slots #1 and #2 have remained identical, even the voltage.


By my understanding, it's the SPD memory frequency that needs to be raised but it remained the same and I have no idea how to change it. The multiplier only works on the digits "on the right" (see the 667 and 1066 next to each other on the BIOS screenshot)
What else could I try?

[kick]

mm
you have to understand how cpu-z reads..
Memory,the screenshot you have above shows your memory as it is actually running.
In other words your memory is now running at 533mhz(1066mhz ddr2)

The SPD just shows ratings that are stamped on your memory ..and its max bandwidth at a particular speed .
Ie the memory could be running at 2000mhz ddr2 and the SPD box would give the same readings.
The SPD box is just a readout of your memorys stamped timings and capabilities.

Having said that , your cpu-z memory reading shows your memory running at 5-8-8-24 at 1066mhz.
It should be capable of 5-5-5-15 according to the stamp on it.
Get at the memory timings.. and try 5-5-5-15 instead of whats on it now.


If you cant get it to run at those timings..you may have to adjust things like mch voltage or other items,but the fact that your not overclocking the cpu might enable you to run 5-5-5-15 without any other adjustments.


I just remembered something.. since I havent used my Gigabyte 73pvms2 bios in along time.!!

To get at advanced memory timings on some gigabyte boards you have to press cntrl+F1 , I think you do it just after the bios screen appears.
Yours may be one of those boards.
There could be more detailed info in the gigabyte forum itself..even on tuning your board and cpu etc.

[nadasaki]

The cntrl+f1 worked!
I've set the timings to 5-5-5-15 but if I try to decrease tRFC from 68 to 44, all settings go back to factory after reboot... I don't know if that particular value is important?

A bit off-topic:
If I wanted to OC my CPU a bit, what would you recommend - changing CPU multipliers/clock ratio (6-9.5) or adjusting FSB (266-400+)? I noticed that when I increase FSB, the memory frequency rises simultaneously! So then should I use smaller memory multiplier?

Ultimately, I would like to run my CPU at 3.0GHz-ish with my RAM on 1066... is that possible?

[kick]

Its possible yeh,
but youll have to work out the mechanics yourself.I mean with testing.
Put up a post in the Gigabyte forum.
Chilke was a member with a 7000 775 cpu ,different gigabyte board of course.You could search for posts under tags like your motherboard number,the memory type and model number and cpu type n so on.
From what I remember , a 400 mhz fsb wasnt a problem with 7 cpu's then you would be using something like a 2.66 multiplier for your memory.
Then you would be using like a 8 multiplier on your cpu.
A lot depends on the boards capabilities ,and your cpu cooler,psu quality etc.

ProfJim might have some usefull info.

As a general rule increase only fsb and cpu speed (n voltages) to see what it will do..and at the same time keeping your memory at low speed(by reducing the multiplier) .Once you find out what the cpu is capable of without overheating and overvoltage then you can bring the memory speed back upand see if it will go alittle higher. the memory isnt far off a max voltage right now,I wouldnt put anything above 2.3 volts thru it if you want it to last.

Get a bandwith measuring tool like MaxxMem2 .. standard 775 chipsets give around 7-8gb/s with overclocking people never seemed to exceed 10-11 gb/s as a max. so dont try and use overclocks that exceed that as it wont stay stable.

These are some settings I used to use on my cpu/mbrd/mem.
775 quads and duals at hi fsb on ep-45 ud3
.but I leave it on 3.8 now or 3.6 sometimes just so the memory will work at 4-4-4 timings and I dont have the extreme cooling fans in it that I did have.
I got a nice new psu for it..but thats another story :0

[profJim]

Sorry to post bad news....
I think that this is the memory that you have: 996756 - 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 PC2-5300 5-5-5-15 Silverline (Dual Kit)
The sticker in the photo says 996599st and the SPD shows the part number as 996559.
996559 - 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 SODIMM PC2-5300 5-5-5-15 Essentials (Dual Kit) is laptop memory.

I have been using a 2 x 2GB Mushkin BlackLine 996599 kit for about 5 years that is PC2-8500 with 5-5-5-15 timings at 1066MHz.
I don't see any way that your memory can run at or near 1066MHz with 5-5-5-15 timings.
I have no idea what the AMP column is in the SPD!

It looks like someone did a bad job of reprogramming your memory's SPD.
It's possible that your memory might be another brand/model with Mushkin heat spreaders.

996599 SPD from the web:


from ImageShack.us

[nadasaki]

This is solved.
Thanks guys!
Continuing with the more OC questions on this thread.