Ga-ep45-ds3l + gsk f28500-cl5d-4gbpk

[roph]

Edit for Easy Viewing:
GA-EP45-DS3L - F9 Bios
GSK F28500-CL5D-4gbpk - 2x 2GB G-Skill 1066
E8400 Processor
8800GT Graphic Card
2x 10k (150mb) Raptor HDD




Hello! I am not an experienced OC person. I don't really ever do it. This stuff is all new to me, and I'm not really planning to do a lot of OC on this board. I was just wanting to get my memory to run at 1066 as it was rated.


Three questions:

1. Is it possible to force 1066 (Gskill ram) with this board? GA-EP45-DS3L ? I have the F8 BIOS.

2. Is the difference between 800 and 1066 speed significant when it comes to RAM? Will it hurt to leave ram at 800 or is that stupid?

3. Would adding 2 more sticks for a total of 8 GB be a mistake? I like to run a couple memory hog games in Vista 64 at the same time - well two instances of a MMO. I figure more ram is always good.. or no?

Thanks for any help to this noob!

[mxcrowe]

Re: Ga-ep45-ds3l + gsk f28500-cl5d-4gbpk

You should be able to run that RAM at rated speed with no problem. Look around on the forum here - there are lots of folks with configurations similar to yours. And recommendations have been made for memory timings that will work. Lsdmeasap has provided a template of BIOS settings that you should fill out and post here so you can get specific advice.
Sure, more memory is great...if you need it. Unless you are working with some massive database or gigantic photoshop images, etc., I doubt you will see any differences with 8GB vs. 4GB of RAM. I am running 2x2GB, but ran into problems successfully resuming from standby, so I took 1 stick out (which fixes the problem). With both benchmarks and any applications I run, I have noticed essentially no difference falling back to 2GB. Of course, if I have to run something with a ton of data, yeah, I'll put the other stick in there. I think 8GB, for the vast majority of people, is just overkill.

[roph]

Re: Ga-ep45-ds3l + gsk f28500-cl5d-4gbpk

Thank you for your encouraging words, mxcrowe! I'll read through the forums - I've been trying to, but it seems like Greek to me so far!

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: Ga-ep45-ds3l + gsk f28500-cl5d-4gbpk

Yes, your board will run 1066 and no need to "Force" anything. You will likley have to adjust your FSB though so you can get at 1066 with a Better Ram multi. And you will have to get things out of Auto to do this.


No, the real world differences between 800 and 1066 are not noticable at all. Only in a benchmark would you see the difference. And no, it will not hurt your ram at all to leave it at 800 should you decide to do so

8GB of ram will require some tweaking for sure, and will take you some time to get stable. I would only advise that if you are ready and have time to learn. And as said above 8GB over 4gb Will not be noticeable unless you are doing heavy video editing or something along those lines

If you still need help after reading around a bit, feel free to post me back your settings in the below template and I will give you some suggested starting settings to get you closer to 1066 ram speed

This is Just a template I use to ask people their settings, pay no attention to the numbers in it, replace with yours

MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster ...............:
CPU Clock Ratio ..........................:
Fine CPU Clock Ratio.....................:.0
CPU Frequency ...........................:


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


Advanced Clock Control [Press Enter]
CPU Clock Drive...........................: <<< Leave
PCI Express Clock Drive.................: <<< Leave
CPU Clock Skew (ps)....................: <<< Leave
MCH Clock Skew (ps)...................: <<< Leave


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

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

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

Channel A
Static tRead Value.........................:7-10
tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................:<<< 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.........................:7-10
tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................:<<< 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
Voltage Type.………... Manual
CPU
CPU Vcore….……….........................:
CPU Termination…..... 1.200V*.......: <<< Leave
CPU PLL…………………....1.500V*.......: <<< Leave
CPU Referen.…………....0.755V*.......: <<< Leave
CPU Reference2………,,0.800V*.......:<<< Leave

MCH/ICH
MCH Core…………….....1.100V...........: <<
MCH Reference….…….0.800V...........; <<< Leave
MCH/DRAM Ref.…......0.900V...........: <<< Leave
ICH I/O……………….....1.550V............: <<< Leave
ICH Core…………...……1.100V............: <<< Leave

DRAM
DRAM Voltage ……....1.800V............:
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............: [Enabled]
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]

[roph]

Re: Ga-ep45-ds3l + gsk f28500-cl5d-4gbpk

8GB of ram will require some tweaking for sure, and will take you some time to get stable. I would only advise that if you are ready and have time to learn.

Lsdmeasap - thank you for the detailed response. Just so I can make sure I fully understand you, do mean it would require some tweaking if I want to run 8gb at 1066 or even to just put 8gb into the mboard and let it run at default setting of 800?

I know 8gb would probably be overkill, but ram is so cheap and I love the idea of it. Hah.. yeah maybe a bit ridiculous, but what can I say?

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: Ga-ep45-ds3l + gsk f28500-cl5d-4gbpk

Anytime, that is why I am here!

Yes for either way you will have to do some tweaking, more so for 1066 speed. But yeah any speed 8GB will need some adjustments.

And Auto is Never the way to go for any amount, Auto is put there so that Most any hardware will work enough for the user to get into the BIOS and set their own settings. And so that is will also hopefully work for almost any 2x1 config so that even users who do not have very much BIOS knowledge will likely be able to use their system fine.

Auto is generally set higher then need be, or less in some cases, and Never gives the best performance

[roph]

Re: Ga-ep45-ds3l + gsk f28500-cl5d-4gbpk

Okay this sounds like it could be fun! I have the time and a brain to learn!
I'll post your template when the rest of my 8GB arrive! Haha.. I need to be able to show my son that my pc has more ram than his.

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: Ga-ep45-ds3l + gsk f28500-cl5d-4gbpk

Already ordered eh! Aight, lets show your son up!

What is he running by the way?

[roph]

Re: Ga-ep45-ds3l + gsk f28500-cl5d-4gbpk

LSD - really sorry to take so long to get back to this issue! I have been waiting for RAM from Newegg, but they shipped via DHL and it never arrived. I finally told them to cancel the order. 4 GB seems to be plenty!! (just like you said it would be )

Maybe you can help me tweak my system to run its best?? With the settings I will list below (mostly auto) I run very stable at about 36c idle - max temp I've seen is 52c under heavy load. (using real temp 2.70)

BTW - I updated to BIOS F9 and I have never had a bluescreen with several hours of use after several S3 sleeps :)

Thanks for any help in advance!!

MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster ...............: auto
CPU Clock Ratio ..........................: 9x
Fine CPU Clock Ratio.....................:.+0.0
CPU Frequency ...........................: 3.00ghz


Clock Chip Control
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control..................: Disabled
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: 333mhz
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) .........:AUTO


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


DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance...................: Turbo
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.).....: ? – Couldn’t find this setting!
(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............: Auto
System Memory Multiplier ..............:Auto
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 800
DRAM Timing Selectable ................: Auto

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

Advanced Timing Control
tRRD...........................................3 auto
tWTR..........................................3 auto
tWR............................................6 auto
tRFC...........................................52 auto
tRTP...........................................3 auto
Command Rate (CMD) ....................:0 auto

Channel A
Static tRead Value.........................:7 auto
tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................:0 auto
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................:0 auto
tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................:0 auto
tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................:0 auto
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................:6 auto
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................:6 auto
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................:5 auto
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................:8 auto
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............:+200ps auto
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............:-700ps auto

Channel B
Static tRead Value.........................:7 14
tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................:0 auto
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................: 0 auto
tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................:0 auto
tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................:0 0-normal
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................:6 15
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................:6 5
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................:5 10
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................:8 13
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............:-700ps
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............:-700ps

Motherboard Voltage Control
Voltage Type.………... ?– couldn’t find this setting!
CPU
CPU Vcore….……….........................:1.25000v auto
CPU Termination…..... 1.200V*.......:1.200v auto
CPU PLL…………………....1.500V*.......:1.500v auto
CPU Referen.…………....0.755V*.......: 0.805 auto
CPU Reference2………,,0.800V*.......:? – Couldn’t find this setting!

MCH/ICH
MCH Core…………….....1.100V...........: 1.100v auto
MCH Reference….…….0.800V...........:0.760v auto
MCH/DRAM Ref.…......0.900V...........: ? – couldn’t find this setting!
ICH I/O……………….....1.550V............: 1.550v auto
ICH Core…………...……1.100V............: ? – couldn’t find this setting!

DRAM
DRAM Voltage ……....1.800V............: 1.800v
DRAM Termination .…0.900V............: ? – couldn’t find this setting
Channel A Reference 0.900V............: ? – couldn’t find this setting
Channel B Reference 0.900V............: ? – couldn’t find this setting

Advanced Settings
Limit CPUID Max. to 3.....................:disabled
No-Execute Memory Protect............: enabled
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................: enabled

[roph]

Re: Ga-ep45-ds3l + gsk f28500-cl5d-4gbpk

I know my settings are way off from optimal, but everything is at least stable - but clearly not as fast as it could be. I've just never played with clock or voltage settings in a bios before - I'm a bit nervous to try anything. If anyone could give me at least a 'safe' starting point, I'd appreciate it.

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: Ga-ep45-ds3l + gsk f28500-cl5d-4gbpk

Only 4GB? Your son is winning then?

Yeap Final BIOS Versions for S3 fix have been released and fixes for sure the S3 Sleep issues for all P43/45 boards

So what Ram combination do you have now, and what brand/speed/timings/voltages to be sure? Not sure since you ordered ram, canceled ram and all that, just want to be sure of what you are using

Sorry for my late reply, do not worry I am back now! So when you post me this info you will have a quick reply back this time.

[roph]

Re: Ga-ep45-ds3l + gsk f28500-cl5d-4gbpk

Only 4GB? Your son is winning then?

Yeap Final BIOS Versions for S3 fix have been released and fixes for sure the S3 Sleep issues for all P43/45 boards

So what Ram combination do you have now, and what brand/speed/timings/voltages to be sure? Not sure since you ordered ram, canceled ram and all that, just want to be sure of what you are using

Sorry for my late reply, do not worry I am back now! So when you post me this info you will have a quick reply back this time.

Not to worry, Lsdmeasap - I will sure beat him somehow - maybe I will upgrade my video card before he does!

My Ram is 2x 2 GB sticks of Gskill 1066(pc2 8500), 5 5 5 15, 2.0v -2.1v.

Is that the info you needed?

Thanks!

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: Ga-ep45-ds3l + gsk f28500-cl5d-4gbpk

HAHA!!! Ya get a better card, that will make him mad for sure, then setup a larger RAID and by the time he has a new card to catch up you can buy your other 4GB!

Yep that is what I wanted

MB Intelligent Tweaker(M.I.T.)
Robust Graphics Booster ...............: auto
CPU Clock Ratio ..........................: 9x
Fine CPU Clock Ratio.....................:.+0.0
CPU Frequency ...........................: 3.00ghz


Clock Chip Control
Standard Clock Control
CPU Host Clock Control..................: Disabled
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz) ............: 333mhz
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz) .........:100


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


DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance...................: Enhanced
Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.).....: ? – Couldn’t find this setting! << Memory specific
(G)MCH Frequency Latch...............:333
System Memory Multiplier ..............:3.20
Memory Frequency (Mhz) ..............: 1066
DRAM Timing Selectable ................:Manual

Standard Timing Control
CAS Latency Time........................5
tRCD ......................................... 5
tRP'...........................................5
tRAS..........................................12/15

Advanced Timing Control
tRRD...........................................3-5
tWTR..........................................3-6 (May need 8-12)
tWR............................................6-8 (May need 8-14)
tRFC...........................................52-62
tRTP...........................................3-6
Command Rate (CMD) ....................:2

Channel A
Static tRead Value.........................:7-12
tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................:0 auto
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................:0 auto
tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................:0 auto
tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................:0 auto
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................:6 auto
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................:6 auto
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................:5 auto
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................:8 auto
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............:+200ps auto
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............:-700ps auto

Channel B
Static tRead Value.........................:7-12
tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................:0 auto
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................: 0 auto
tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................:0 auto
tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................:0 0-normal
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................:6 15
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................:6 5
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................:5 10
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................:8 13
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............:-700ps
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............:-700ps

Motherboard Voltage Control
Voltage Type.………... ?– couldn’t find this setting!
CPU
CPU Vcore….……….........................:1.25000v auto
CPU Termination…..... 1.200V*.......:1.200v auto
CPU PLL…………………....1.500V*.......:1.500v auto
CPU Referen.…………....0.755V*.......: 0.805 auto
CPU Reference2………,,0.800V*.......:? – Couldn’t find this setting!

MCH/ICH
MCH Core…………….....1.100V...........: 1.15-1.2V
MCH Reference….…….0.800V...........:0.760v auto
MCH/DRAM Ref.…......0.900V...........: ? – couldn’t find this setting!
ICH I/O……………….....1.550V............: 1.550v auto
ICH Core…………...……1.100V............: ? – couldn’t find this setting!

DRAM
DRAM Voltage ……....1.800V............: 2.0-2.1
DRAM Termination .…0.900V............: ? – couldn’t find this setting
Channel A Reference 0.900V............: ? – couldn’t find this setting
Channel B Reference 0.900V............: ? – couldn’t find this setting

Advanced Settings
Limit CPUID Max. to 3.....................:disabled
No-Execute Memory Protect............: enabled
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................: enabled

[roph]

Re: Ga-ep45-ds3l + gsk f28500-cl5d-4gbpk

Well I didn't have much luck! I tried the settings you recommend - from low end to high end on the ones where you give a range, and I couldn't get the thing to boot (it would try to boot 3 times then load the old defaults, I'm assuming).

One thing that might cause a problem, is you said to set 'Performance Enhance' to 'enhanced', but the only options I had were 'standard' 'extreme' and 'turbo' - I put it on 'standard'.

Is there another setting that might be a problem? Or can you suggest which settings I should play with one by one? If I look at the variable settings you gave me, I could try thousands of combinations of moving one up by a point, or two others down, etc. etc. I tried the high end of them all and the low end of them all, but I didn't try adjusting any 1 by 1.

Thanks for your patience :)

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: Ga-ep45-ds3l + gsk f28500-cl5d-4gbpk

Ahh sorry about that, I copied that off a template and I must have been thinking crazy, but yeah standard would be what you wanted

Try these and if you get somewhere we can work from that later>>>

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

Advanced Timing Control
tRRD...........................................4
tWTR..........................................8
tWR...........................................10
tRFC...........................................60
tRTP...........................................5
Command Rate (CMD) ....................:2

Channel A
Static tRead Value.........................:9
tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................:0 auto
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................:0 auto
tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................:0 auto
tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................:0 auto
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................:[Auto]
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................:[Auto]
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................:[Auto]
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................:[Auto]
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............:[Auto]
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............:[Auto]

Channel B
Static tRead Value.........................:9
tRD Phase0 Adjustment...................:0 auto
tRD Phase1 Adjustment...................: 0 auto
tRD Phase2 Adjustment .................:0 auto
tRD Phase3 Adjustment..................:0 [Auto]
Trd2rd(Different Rank)....................:[Auto]
Twr2wr(Different Rank)...................:[Auto]
Twr2rd(Different Rank)...................:[Auto]
Trd2wr(Same/Diff Rank)..................:[Auto]
Dimm1 Clock Skew Control...............:[Auto]
Dimm2 Clock Skew Control...............:[Auto]


MCH/ICH
MCH Core…………….....1.100V...........: 1.15-1.2V

DRAM
DRAM Voltage ……....1.800V............: 2.1