[EP45-UD3R]A fairly unusual memory performance question

[Scuddie]

Greetings.

I have a GA-EP45-UD3R, q6600 @ 3.0GHz (333x9), and 8GB (4x2) of Crucial Ballistix DDR2-800 memory. Said memory is advertised at 4-4-4-12 @ 2.0v. They work very well, at least for the few minutes before the ridiculously close DIMM slots cause them to overheat. They run stable-ish at 5-5-5-15 @ 1.75v, but are rock solid at 1.8v - so long as it's a cool day, if you catch my drift.

Anyway, after many failed attempts at reaching a happy medium between 1.75v and 1.8v, I finally said "screw it" and dropped my 2.40B multiplier to 2.00B, giving them an effective speed of 667. This allowed me to get a synchronous clock and allowed 4-4-4-12 timings at 1.75v, running stable and VERY cool. I would imagine I can go back up to 1.8v (or maybe even ~1.85v) and give it better performance via advanced timings.

My current settings are:

FSB: 333MHz
CPU Multi: 9x
Strap: 2.00B
VCore: 1.4v (up yours, 1.325vid)
MCH: 1.26v
vDIMM: 1.75v
Timings: 4-4-4-12

All other relevant settings, including advanced timings, are on auto.

So, are there likely to be any settings that will give my memory a little extra push without making the MCH cranky, as it usually does with 4 sticks?

TIA :).

[yuu]

Re: [EP45-UD3R]A fairly unusual memory performance question

In my case 350 FSB was running perfectly with Mch 0.95V, Dram 2.40B 1.65V 5-5-5 4x2GB, exactly the same with E2140, E6500 and E8400, no quad. 4-4-4 never worked even with 2.1V or it demands too much MCH voltage. I keep 0.7V difference between MCh and Dram what seems to work best in my case. Adding +0.1V to Dram adds 1W power, if the same is done with Mch is 2-3Watts, it overheats more, sitting next to the memory. Perhaps you could try 4-5-4 as it usually allows for overclock?

[Chike]

Re: [EP45-UD3R]A fairly unusual memory performance question

Maybe your problem is case cooling?
What kind of CPU heatsink and case fans are you using, and what is the ambiant temperature?

[Scuddie]

Re: [EP45-UD3R]A fairly unusual memory performance question

My case is a Cooler Master RC 690 with a complete set of 120mm fans (4 in, 3 out), so I don't think that's the issue. If I knew how to jury rig a fan to blow air around the memory modules, that might work out... that is, if it could reach the areas where the heat spreaders are not well exposed to air...

But this is not about air flow or heat output, I've gone past that point. It's about finding the best settings possible while my 800MHz memory is running at 667MHz.

[Chike]

[kick]

Re: [EP45-UD3R]A fairly unusual memory performance question

all ddr2 memory including "value ram " is supposed to run at 1.8v
If you get a mbrd with no ram voltage adjustment,such as one I use on my backup pc it seems to apply 1.82v.
If your ddr2 memory overheats at 1.8v you need a fan blowing on it,
If you have any interest in overclocking you have to be able to apply something in excess of 1.8v to your memory,
800mhz ddr2 at 1.8v is supposed to be the maximum performance for ddr2 , anything under that on voltage is underclocking.

performance memory ,or sticks sold as suchmearly allways require 1.9v+ to reach their rated speed.
most ddr2 1066mhz memory seem to need 2.1v.
I dont follow the 1.75v logic for ddr2.
obviously if its ddr3 memory its down to 1.6v,but your board doesnt support ddr3.
On my gigabyte board,a dram voltage entered in bios seems to work out lower in practice ,but what getting your drift do you mean.
There is no i got to run my mem at the lowest voltage possible thing or mch will overheat.
I use a mch direct temp sensor and the memory voltage + heat doesnt affect the mch temp much,its mainly the applied mch voltage.

The memory works at the speed /voltage applied or it doesnt,.
Unless you have a direct memory temp sensor ,what makes u think the memory is overheating?

[Scuddie]

Re: [EP45-UD3R]A fairly unusual memory performance question

Here you go.

[profJim]

Re: [EP45-UD3R]A fairly unusual memory performance question

With 8gb of memory, MCH Core might need to be slightly higher (1.28 - 1.30) and memory voltage might need 2.02 - 2.04 volts to run at or near 800MHz.

The following settings:
OPTIMIZED bios settings already loaded
375 x 8 = 3.0 GHz
375 x 2.00B = 750 MHz, tRD = 6 or 7, 4-4-4-12 primary memory timings
Performance Enhance = Standard
will provide better system and memory performance.

You can improve memory cooling by reversing the top case fan so that it blows air down toward the memory modules.
I have a fabric softener dryer sheet acting as a fan filter on top of the metal case, under the top plastic bezel.

What is the revision number of your mobo? 1.0? 1.1?
Which bios version are you using?
Please post your bios settings using this P45 bios template.

[Chike]

Re: [EP45-UD3R]A fairly unusual memory performance question

with same FSB, same primary timings, tRD 7 (Performance Level in MemSet), tRFC 36, and CPU Ratio performance are a bit better.

DRAM Voltage was 1.8v so such low tRFC and/or tRD may not be possible with your setup.