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Posted:7/26/2006 7:24:00 AM |
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I have 800MHz DDR2 RAM and an X2 4600+ processor. The processor runs
at 2.4GHZ. However, I cannot run the RAM at 800MHz without locking the
machine up. I have been told that the proper method to do this is to set the
CPU to RAM divider from the setting of 8 it is at now, to 6. The current setting
of 8 is causing the RAM to run at 600MHz. (2.4GHz/8 * 2). This means a
bit of a slowdown as my work is pretty memory intensive.
Does anyone know how I can hard change the memory divider to 6? I have
looked through the manual and the BIOS and I don't see anything for the memory
except the hard speed setting (...533MHz, 667MHz, 800MHz). I just want to
have the RAM programmed to divide-by-6 of the CPU clock.
Thanks,
GuMan
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Posted:7/27/2006 4:49:00 AM |
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This board doesn't have a CPU to RAM divider, that number is a result, not a cause.
On this board, you have available under the Advanced Menu the following :
- Jumper Free Configuration - which unlocks the door to the controls. Set AI Tuning to Manual.
- CPU Frequency which you can now set in 1 MHz increments between 200 and 400. 200 is default. 400 is improbable. This number times the CPU Multiplier establishes the CPU clock speed. For the 4600 the default multiplier is 12. That gives you the 2.4 GHz default speed of the CPU. This CPU Frequency times the CPU to NB HT Speed is what sets the HyperTransit Clock Speed, typically 1 GHz (the 2 GHz comes from multiplying the one way speed by 2 for both ways). Since the HTT is happiest at or below 1 GHz, and will become unstable above 1 GHz, its not good to get this beyond 1 GHz. Fortunately, because the HT bus is so fast, reducing its speed doesn't have much effect on performance. Even at 2X (200 MHz), its faster than usually needed. For some reason unknown to me, the HT bus doesn't like 3X. So that leaves you 4X to play with. Not a problem as that would allow you to push the CPU Frequency up to 250 without breaking a sweat.
- CPU Multiplier - this can be set between 5X and 25X but you can only set it as high as your CPU is locked to. In your case, 12x
- Memory Clock Frequency (under DRAM Configuration under CPU Configuration under Advanced Tab) - is what sets your memory clock. You can set it to 400, 533, 667 and 800. This is what your memory bases off of. If you divide the CPU Clock Speed by half this number you get your CPU to Memory Divider. Say you are not overclocked so you have a CPU Clock Speed of 2.4 GHz and your memory is 800 you get the divider of 2400/(800/2) = 6. If you overclocked your CPU to 250 you'd have a CPU Clock Speed of 2750 (250 x 12 = 3000)(assuming you set your HT bus multiplier to 4X so your HT bus speed is still 1 GHz and running stable)(also assuming you have given it enough voltage and have provided sufficient cooling) and that would give you a CPU - Memory Divider of 3000/400 = 7.5.
Its true some boards allow you to set the CPU - Memory Divider, which then sets the Memory Clock Frequency. On this board, its not set up like that. You set the Memory Clock Frequency and that sets the Divider.
I hope the above helps and I haven't mucked it up too much. Anybody knows better please correct me.
Edit - Oh yeah, I should mention the CPU doesn't use fractions in the CPU-Memory Divider, it rounds off to the nearest integer. So, with the above example resulting in a CPU/Mem Divider of 7.5, it would actually round to 8 and your memory would then run at 750 (375X2) MHz instead of 800 (400X2). So while your CPU might be cranking your memory might not be doing as well.
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Posted:7/27/2006 12:02:00 PM |
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I thought this was the case. There is so much in this BIOS that I had to ask.
I am running a 4600+ and Corsair XMS PC6400 (not C4 or C3, just the cheap
stuff). It is 5-5-5-12 2T. Default BIOS comes up with 800MHz 5-5-5-18 2T.
I have 4- 1GB sticks.
I have set it to the memory spec, but cannot get more than a few minutes into
a session before the system spontaneously reboots. I have downloaded and
installed Bios 0603.
I have been running with the memory at the bios setting of 667MHz. I have
not yet taken to overclocking. My CPU and GPU are water cooled, so the
chassis is running about 36C with respectable airflow. I need to put a thermocouple
on the RAM heatsink. I tried the Koolance RAM water block, but the RAM
is spaced too tight on this board to squeeze it into position. Koolance confirmed.
CPU-Z is reporting the following:
Core Speed: 2400 MHz
Multiplier: x12
HTT: 200MHz
Memory Frequency: 300MHz (not 333MHz as expected)
FSB:DRAM CPU/8
Interestingly, on the SPD page, the timings tables have two entries (270MHz and 400MHz)
The 400MHz column is advertising 5-5-5-18 with Trc = 22.
This contradicts what I Corsair says. I am not sure where this is being driven from.
This page also shows the RAM to be Corsair PC6400 (400MHz) part number
CM2X1024-6400 (4 - banks of 'em)
The only thing I can think if is that:
1. RAM is getting too hot and falling out of it's rating. This is the cheaper, more on the
margin product they have. Per their request I moved the Vdimm to 2.1V, from 1.8V
2. Some of the eleventy-billion RAM settings may be able to help with this so I can
run up to 800MHz.
I do a lot of photo and video work, and fast RAM is where it is at. I may send this stuff
back and get something faster. I just am trying to determine where the issue may be so
I can proceed intelligently.
Any more feedback you may have about this would be appreciated. However, it sounds
like you are telling me I should be able to just go into the BIOS and set the RAM to 800MHz
and 5-5-5-12 2T and I should be golden. (with Vdimm=2.1V) Unfortunately, it is
unstable there. If this is the case, it sure seems like 400MHz rated RAM out to be good
enough in this environment, and I should be able to return it as defective. memtest looks fine
at 667MHz, never completed with 800MHz.
Regards,
Bill
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Posted:7/27/2006 1:00:00 PM |
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It may well just be the timings. I don't know.
But with the 4600 running at 2400 MHz and the memory set for 667, you would get a divider of just over 7 (2400/333=7.21) so it should default to 8 the next higher integer. That would give you the 300 CPUID is reporting. Which for DDR2 is 600MHz. So that solves that mystery.
As for why it won't fly with the standard Corsair 6400 at 800MHz, well, I guess that's why the C4 and better stuff costs more. Corsair says your standard poop should work but at 5-5-5-15-2T timings. But they don't say it will work at 800MHz.
I doubt its a heat issue. Not unless you have no case fans at all. A lot of folks figure they have water cooling they don't need no stinking case fans. WC is great for the CPU and the GPU but unless its also cooling the NB and SB and RAM and whatever else is heating up, you best have some air moving through there. Still, it wouldn't seem that would shut down your rig that fast.
I go with the plebian RAM theory, As you say, its marginal to begin with. And with what you say about doing high stress photo/video work, you would want the good stuff anyway, Some times it just doesn't pay to be cheap, much as I hate that notion. I work too hard for my money. That everything works just fine and its stable as a rock with the 667 memory clock tends to support this notion. If it was something bunky with the board or the CPU or the RAM it would show up when you ran your memtests.
Despite the damage to your pocket book I hope this is the cause. Spring for the C4, I've been running it on mine with no issues at all.
You might want to look at this: www.hardwaresecrets.com.article/102
or this: www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=1959&page=11
Pretty good information.
Cheers and good luck. Let us know how it turns out.
PS: you don't have a buddy with some 6400C4 that would let you try it out do you?
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Posted:7/28/2006 8:28:00 AM |
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I downloaded and ran memtest86 with expected results.
Attempting RAM rated settings (800MHz 5-5-5-12 2T) caused the floppy that memtest was on to read in error. I moved to 5-5-5-18 2T and things got marginally better. However, all modules were showing many errors. By test #3 I had in the order of 4000 errors.
Moving the BIOS to 667MHz, which we discussed is really 2400/8 * 2 = 600MHz, I had no problems whatsoever and the memtest86 passed without issue.
So, it would seem that I either need to become VERY intimate with all of the timing parameters controllable in this BIOS, or try to get 6400C4.
Unfortunatelty, mwave.com is pointing me to Corsair, and Corsair is pointing me to mwave.com. Attempting to call Corsair led to a dead-end, as their customer service phone line hangs up on you after about 20 seconds.
How very frustrating is this?
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Posted:7/28/2006 9:41:00 AM |
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Yeah, I am pretty sure its got to be C4 or better.
I did a little googling with some of my preferred shops. Seems to have become very popular lately. I did see some good prices here and there but they were all on back order or out of stock. ZipZoomFly has some 2x512 kits in stock. At least that would get you up and going.
Also, have you heard of resellerrating.com? Good place to find out about whom you may be doing business with. You might want to check out the reviews for whomever.
I never buy online without checking with them first.
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Posted:7/29/2006 2:55:00 AM |
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So, Corsair won't accept this back ,despite memtest86 failing at 800MHz. They indicate that they have a report which shows it will work up to 940MHz in this motherboard. What they fail to see, is that the report they are referring to is the 6400C4 and not the 6400 (which is C5 or worse). I thought memtest86 was their acid test for customer in the field eval.
If they know of BIOS settings which need to be set to get this to work, it would be prudent for them to share with me. It seems like they know with some setting it works, so, user, figure it out.
I am not really sure what they expect. I had all 4GB ordered from ZipZoomFly and then cancelled it when I realized that Corsair was not going to play nice. I always thought more of their company than the way they are not helping with this. I would love nothing more than to have this already installed RAM work at 800MHz. In all appearances, this stuff doesn't meet the specifications under which it was sold.
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Posted:7/29/2006 4:51:00 AM |
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You explained the situation to them and they won't take it back nor will they tell you how to make it work?
If that's the case, that sucks big time. Really sucks. As you say, its not like you want to exchange you'd be just as happy using what you have. So they should either put up and tell you how to make it work or exchange it for something that does.
I would suggest keeping on them. If the first person you talk to isn't helpful, ask for their supervisor. Just keep going up the chain til you get someone who is sane and normal and realizes that dumping on a customer isn't a good business practice. I would also write them hard copy letters, they are harder to ignore. And don't limit it to just Tech Support or Customer Service, send copies to every department you can get an address for. Same with phone calls. As the old saying goes, its the squeaky wheel that gets the oil.
I am of the same opinion of Corsair as you were, ie - upstanding company that does the customer right. I am really surprised they are acting so dufuss on this. Hopefully you just got a newbie rep without a clue that needs a good talking to about how to do his job and perhaps a couple of days off to give him/her time to think about it and without pay to make sure the lesson sinks in.
If all else fails, post a review in Resellers, I've found its very effective in getting results. Companies do check Resellers and the reputable ones make sure complaints are addressed. I am pretty sure Corsair qualifies as a reputable company that wants people to think they are.
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Posted:8/4/2006 9:10:00 AM |
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Careful review of the M2N32-SLI Deluxe manual (E2594) reveals the issue on this one.
The Corsair memory I have (5-5-5-12) is only allowed in two banks as one dual channel pair. If I want to go 4 banks, I need to use Corsair C4 or PRO (which is C4) or faster dual sided modules.
So, off to eBay with it and get some new DRAM which will work right! It's too bad the folks at Corsair couldn't get their heads together enough to realize they never rated this product for this motherboard. Their website is in error, which they admit to once I cornered them about it.
And, Asus does not have the manual E2594 available online, so how does one research and order the DRAM along with the MB?
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Posted:8/4/2006 12:20:00 PM |
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Not sure if its the latest edition but I do have the e2594 manual which I donwloaded off this site.
I am interested in your explanation because a couple of other users have reported success with that memory, which surprised me greatly because as you note, neither Asus nor Corsair certify it.
They are all using only two sticks and it may be they hit on the right slots by good luck. It does happen, just like bad luck does.
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