settings for 2x2Gigs of RAM on EP35-DS3L

[rocka4him]

Hey I just started reading some posts here on getting the EP35-DS3L to work well with 2x2gig RAM sticks. My RAM is supposed to run at 2.2v with 4-4-4-12 timings. I hope you guys can help me out (I certainly hope so) bc I've been battling this issue for over a year now... I've either had to use only 1 RAM sticks, or live with the BSOD's. Since now I want to run my own web server on a VM (for Linux purposes), I need to have my full 4 gigs to handle it. So can you please help me... I'm tired of this problem. Last night I changed some things (after changing the setting back to default): I disabled CIA2, Put performance at standard, raised my system multiplier to 4.00+ (I'm not sure if it should be 4.0~ or 4.0+ they both give me 800MHZ), changed my DDR2 overvoltage control +.4v. I ran Prime95 and it detected an error within a couple of minutes ("Rounding was 0.5, expected less than 0.4"), I thought it might be the timings so I set them manually to what the RAM manufacturer rated them (4-4-4-12) and ran Prime95 over night. I came in this morning to a log in screen, and soon after logging in BSOD. I read the prime 95 log and it said it passed all the tests that it ran, however it stopped running the tests at 2:18 this morning which means it probably crashed. This morning I discovered your sticky on manualy setting the advanced memory timings and I changed them according to what you said. Do you think this will work? I'm running Orthos atm.

[Psycho101]

Re: settings for 2x2Gigs of RAM on EP35-DS3L

Welcome to the forum. So that we can help you better could you please fill in your signature in the User Controll Panel when you get chance. Include all the things I have in mine (monitor and GPU coolers are optional). No need for fancy colours unless you want to, just the basics would be a great help.

Until we know your System specs and exact components (preferably model numbers etc) I can only give you some approximate advice.

Try adding some MCH voltage (Northbridge). Often anything over 2x1G will need more than the 1.1V stock. You can safely go up to 1.3-1.38. Try 1.2V first then re-test.

Also have a look over your RAM timings. There will be a page of advanced timings as well as the main 4-4-4-12 ones. They should be fine on auto, but sometmes not. tRFC can be a problem in rare cases if on auto. Try setting it to tRFC=68 for stability and then test again. Also check your "Static tRead"/"Performance Level". This is a crucial setting for both performance and stability. You don't mention what CPU you're running so I can't advise 100% on the likely best values for tRead. In my experience the higher the FSB the higher the tRead in some cases although RAM model, VDIMM and MCH Core as well as references and CPU Termination can effec it too. Try setting it to 10 for now as that's a nice loose value that won't cause any problems with any standard clocked FSB, be it 200MHz, 266MHz, 333MHz or 400MHz (400MHz is standard for some QX CPU's).

[rocka4him]

Re: settings for 2x2Gigs of RAM on EP35-DS3L

I just added my signature. I'm still running Orthos with the changes I made in the earlier post (5.8 hours and all tests have passed). I will keep running Orthos for another 3 hours...Is 8 hours on Orthos is stable?

[Chike]

Re: settings for 2x2Gigs of RAM on EP35-DS3L

Stable is when it never crash and work flowlessly. 8+ hours of Orthos blrnd may indicate good stability.

Please post full settings using the template in this post when you done, and a screen capture of MemSet main(click >>) and SPD windows, and we may be able to advise on possible tweaks for better performance.
Basically Static tRead Value can be lowerd to 3 or at least 4 with those timings/FSB.

Save a BIOS profile, F11 in main BIOS screen, that can be later restored with F12.

Consider FSB overclock. Even without oveclocking the CPU memory bandwidth win increasse ~1GB/s and letencies will be ~10ns less with 266FSB and 9.5 CPU Ratio, which both the processoer and the M/B are capable of, probably with no or very minor changes in BIOS.

[rocka4him]

Re: settings for 2x2Gigs of RAM on EP35-DS3L

Robust Graphics Booster___________ [Auto]
CPU Clock Ratio ____________ [12], there was something else that added .5 to this
CPU Host Clock Control_ [Enabled]
CPU Host Frequency (MHz)__________ [200]
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz)_______ [Auto]
C.I.A. 2__________________________ [Disabled]
System Memory Multiplier (SPD)____ [4.00+]
DRAM Timing Selectable_______ SPD __ [Manual]

Performance Enhance = [Standard]

CAS Latency Time________________ 4
Dram RAS# to CAS# Delay_________ 4
Dram RAS# Precharge Delay_______ 4
Precharge Delay (tRAS)__________ 12
ACT to ACT Delay (tRRD)_________ 3
Rank Write to READ Delay________ 10
Write to Precharge Delay_________ Auto
Refresh to ACT Delay______________ 52
Read to Precharge Delay__________ 5
Static tRead Value_______________ 7
Static tRead Phase Adjust________ Auto

System Voltage Control____ [Manual]
DDR2 OverVoltage Control__ [+0.400V]
PCI-E OverVoltage Control_ [Normal]
FSB OverVoltage Control___ [Normal]
(G)MCH OverVoltage Control [+.100V]
CPU Voltage Control_______ [Normal]


Ok I ran Orthos for 8 hours and it passed all the tests...son after stopping Orthos however I got a BSOD with "ntfs.sys" error. I'm not sure what the problem is now.

[Chike]

Re: settings for 2x2Gigs of RAM on EP35-DS3L

Probably lefovers from the Orthos run.
What BIOS version fo you have?
What are the 4.00 miltiplier options do you have?
Can you post MemSet SPD(click spd) window too? (Alt+PrintScreen capture the front active window only.)

[rocka4him]

Re: settings for 2x2Gigs of RAM on EP35-DS3L

I already added the Memtest and SPD windows, its in the photo links at the bottom of my message.

I'll check on my BIOS version

[Chike]

Re: settings for 2x2Gigs of RAM on EP35-DS3L

This is the main window, for the SPD window click the spd button.

[rocka4him]

Re: settings for 2x2Gigs of RAM on EP35-DS3L

I'm not following... what did you want me to post? I opened Memset and SPD, and took a screen shot of both which I posted as pictures. Did I post the wrong screen shot?

[Chike]

Re: settings for 2x2Gigs of RAM on EP35-DS3L

One picture is MemSet main window, the other of SpeedFan.
Open MemSet and click the spd button (top center of Timings pane) and the SPD windows will open.

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: settings for 2x2Gigs of RAM on EP35-DS3L

You may need +0.2 MCH, then you can likely use +0.3 instead for your memory voltage

[rocka4him]

Re: settings for 2x2Gigs of RAM on EP35-DS3L

Ok now it's crashing pretty often... I have no idea why it did not crash like this when I was testing with Orthos for 8 hours :( I'll try what you suggested ^ ... How will I know if this will fix it, run Orthos for another 8 hours?

Anyways here is the Memset SPD

[Chike]

Re: settings for 2x2Gigs of RAM on EP35-DS3L

Is the 4.00+ is the only 4 multiplier you have?
What is the BIOS version?

[rocka4him]

Re: settings for 2x2Gigs of RAM on EP35-DS3L

The other available multipliers (and what they will run my RAM at) are:

3.33 - 667
2.00 - 400
2.40 - 480
3.20 - 640
2.50 - 500
3.00 - 600
4.0~ - 800


Right now I am using 4.0+, should I be using 4.0~ , they both will run my RAM at 800

My Bios version, according to Windows System Information, is 2.4

LSD My pc crashed a few minutes ago after making the change you suggested...bummer

[Chike]

Re: settings for 2x2Gigs of RAM on EP35-DS3L

Right now I am using 4.0+, should I be using 4.0~ , they both will run my RAM at 800

I realy have no idea wait for Lsdmeasap word on that.

My Bios version, according to Windows System Information, is 2.4

I have no clue what Windows System Information shows.
Use CPU-Z, BIOS version is in Mainboard tab, BIOS pane.