Tell me about RAM & AGP voltage

[LawyerLynn]

I'd like some info on why and when to up the voltage to my RAM and AGP card. I have an ATI all-in-wonder 8500 video card and 512 Megs of Corsair XMS pc2700 RAM. I understand upping the voltage on my CPU to enable stablity at overclocked rates, does upping the voltage to my RAM and AGP help in this or in situations where the PCI and AGP bus has been overclocked? What is safe for voltage increases to my AGP card and RAM, Etc. I just don't know and I don't want to fry my card and RAM.

Thanks,

Lynn

:confused:

[DaddyB]

For RAM its the same as cpu, if you feel the ram is holding back your OC then you up the voltage to see if it helps stability, I have run mine at 2.7 and even 2.8 for extended periods without harm. I think 2.7 is the highest in the completly safe range (of course as with the cpu raising voltage can fry your RAM but I feel 2.7 is pretty safe, just like 1.85V is safe for CPU w/good cooling). 2.5V is the default.

For the vid card its a little different, the vid card has its own voltage regulating mosfets on it, so if you give it more voltage the mosfets only let 1.5V through (1.5V is default voltage). But if you suspect that you power supply isnt giving the vid card enough juice (ie its set to 1.5V but only 1.45V is getting to the card) then raising the voltage setting to 1.6V might give 1.55V to the card, ensuring it will get enough voltage. It will not help a vid card overclock but it may help if your PSU is underpowered for the system you are running.

[NASsoccer]

same goes with the vdimm. when you raise your FSB you need to raise your vdimm to give the ram some juice and run stable, otherwise you will get either no boot or random reboots.

usually you will ONLY need to set it to +.20 to .40 (default is +.10 for a total of 2.60 (on my epox) so that will give you 2.70 to 2.90), some ram cannot handle voltages above 2.80 (this showed up a lot with mushkin ram) but i know Crucial and Corsair can handle +0.70 Volt (Total 3.20 Volt).

The safest VDIMM is about 2.80 to 2.90 Volt Max for longer period of usage.

I have never had a card that need the voltage to be upped in the slightest bit, and i have had some really nice results and overclocks. if needed though, the cause would be as daddy said, not enough from psu..

NAS