My New Ocz Pc-3700 Rev.2 Sucks!!!

[bill gates]

I just ordered a 512mb x 2 dual channel enhanced latency gold edition kit for almost $300 off of newegg and the memory is not very good at all. It will boot up at 233fsb but it wont remain stable and that's the rated speed. I even upped the voltage to the max my mobo allows 2.85v and put the least aggresive timings on it and still no luck. The Corsair pc3500 that I am trying to replace with this stuff did better than that! I am definitely dissapointed with it. I was kind of hoping to be able to run it 1:1 with a 250fsb or higher but it can't even run at it's rated speed. I am really surprised after hearing so many good reviews of this exact same memory. I will have to RMA it and get something else. What would be the best choice for running 1:1 with my processor at a 300mhz fsb??? Currently I have had the corasir run 5:4 at a 275mhz fsb but I definitely want to have a 1:1 fsb if there is any memory capable of doing it.

[wannaoc]

Well some good PC4000+ Hynix chip sticks can't hurt. The timings will be high but you will get some really high speeds out of them. Just about all companies have some out, off the top of my head Buffalo is $65.00US per 256 stick for 4200 at newegg. I'm pretty sure there are 512 sticks listed also.

[bill gates]

So as long as I get something with the newer Hynix chips I should probably be able to do 1:1 at 275mhz fsb or higher? I have never heard of Buffalo, that price seems kind of cheap. I need 2 512mb sticks that are qualified for dual channel.

[Grandpa Dan]

Go talk to Bigtoe over at XS or abx about the OCZ.

[hepp]

with the newer Hynix chips I should probably be able to do 1:1 at 275mhz fsb or higher?

No I don't think you can count on that.
It would require a degree of luck.

Corsair 4400 and OCZ 4400 are supposed to run that speed and
others might, but from what I've read in posts and reviews most PC4000 give up at about 260.

Since OCZ have been speed binning their Hynix for the 4400 I doubt if even recent 4200EL is likely to reach much above 270
without overvolting them.

Hitting 300(stable) with 2.85V would require getting some very lucky sticks, I can't remember seeing anyone reporting this kind of performance. 300 Usually requires 3V or over.

If you were aiming for 275 1:1, OCZ 3700 Gold would seem a somewhat strange choice. Though I have seen posts about it running 300 5:4 I don't think they will do much above 260 1:1.
I guess you are lucky they do not perform to spec so that you can RMA them without restocking fee:)

Good luck!
hepp

[KrisMCool]

I'm in the same boat. Just got my 2x512 OCZ PC3700 Gold Rev 2 the other day. It won't run Prime95 or fold stable at it's rated speed and timings. Memtest86+ passes a couple of test loops w/o errors, but I guess I really need to run that longer. So far the highest stable FSB I've found using this memory is 225 - that sucks. My CPU is stable to FSB 239, so PC3700 seemed like the right choice for 1:1 operation. These sticks were to replace my 2x512 Mushkin PC3200 LvII, which were able to run 1:1 at the same FSB (225) at 2-3-2-6 and 2.85v. So I'm very unhappy with the new sticks. Others have great results with this memory, but yours and mine must have come from the bottom of the barrel.

If you find any answers about this memory, keep us posted.

[flapperhead]

Originally posted by bill gates
I just ordered a 512mb x 2 dual channel enhanced latency gold edition kit for almost $300 off of newegg and the memory is not very good at all. It will boot up at 233fsb but it wont remain stable and that's the rated speed. I even upped the voltage to the max my mobo allows 2.85v and put the least aggresive timings on it and still no luck. The Corsair pc3500 that I am trying to replace with this stuff did better than that! I am definitely dissapointed with it. I was kind of hoping to be able to run it 1:1 with a 250fsb or higher but it can't even run at it's rated speed. I am really surprised after hearing so many good reviews of this exact same memory. I will have to RMA it and get something else. What would be the best choice for running 1:1 with my processor at a 300mhz fsb??? Currently I have had the corasir run 5:4 at a 275mhz fsb but I definitely want to have a 1:1 fsb if there is any memory capable of doing it.

If u want to run 300 you need to find some good pc3200bt- d43 chips and find a board that'll give u 3+ volts. another inexpensive way would be to get u some adata pc4000 which is inexpensive and crank up the voltage and cross your fingers. all the other stuff is so speed binned that unless u bought the ocz el pc4000 or equivalent when it first came out , u aint gonna have much of a chance of getting to 300 unless u pay thru the nose for some hand picked 4400.
for instance when the pc4000 first came out and it was the fastet ram, i bought some ram from komusa that had adata chips.
since they just checked for a minimum speed of 250mhz i had a good chance of having the chips go alot higher(which they in fact did 290+) now they offer pc4200 so their pc 4000 is unlikey to go real high cause those chips are saved for their 4200.

[Propilot]

Great! :(
Mine will be here tomorrow. I am hoping it will run 245fsb.
Wonder why you two have the problems when I have read about 10 posts on different boards where they have gotten to at least that.

Try turning the Turbo off and trying it again.
One guy was able to reach 260fsb, just by doing this.

[bill gates]

I don't want to have to turn off turbo but I will give it a try. I will be sending these back for sure but now I don't know what to get. The pc-4200 from ocz that is not the lowlatency is only like another $20 so maybe I will give it a shot. How can I get more voltage to the memory is it hard to do? I need a guide on how to volt mod the vdimm on an Asus P4P800 deluxe. If I could push 3.0v+ I would probably have much better luck. It just sucks to have a P4 that is stable at 285-300mhz fsb with no ram to go with it. And it sucks that the ram costs almost as much as the processor and motherboard combined! There has to be something out there that will work somewhere?????? As soon as DDR II comes out then were going to be screwed because they are going to stop advancing the limits of DDR and its going to be hard to get. What is the Hynix product code for the highest perfroming chips they make?

[Propilot]

KrisMCool,
Your vcore seems a little low. Did you try to up it?

The WORST review I could find was this one:
http://www.overclockercafe.com/Reviews/memory/OCZ_PC3700_Gold-Rev2/pg_2.html

And it says:
"Kicking things up to the extreme last point of stability, we found a ceiling of 492MHz. I want to remind you that we hit 492 without changing any setting or adjusting the voltage. You can see that the bandwidth results at this level exceed the PC4000 reference results you saw in the previous screen shot. Impressive."

This was at 2.7v

[bill gates]

After some searching in these forums I found a guide to mod the voltage to the ram and it doesn't seem to hard. Now I must go mod this thing and then I will post what my memory can do with 3.2v going to it! It better do more than 250mhz fsb or it's going back! $300 for memory that can't even run at these speeds is just a waste of money.

[Speed_Mechanic2]

If memory passes Memtest86+ and fails at Prime95, it may not be the memory that is causing the instability.

Set timings to CAS Latency of 3, tRCD of 3, tRP of 3, and tRAS of 8. Have any PAT-settings off. Increase vDIMM to highest allowed by bios. Turn off any unused motherboard options, like Firewire and SATA (if not using). Start at ~DDR433 speeds (217MHz), and test memory stability by using Memtest86+ (1 run through - ~23 minutes; then loop Test #5 for a few runs - ~10 minutes). Use Prime95 to test general stability. Increase FSB in increments of 5MHz until you find out what it can do.

Then post back saying what it can, and can't do.

[Propilot]

Thats why I said to try cranking the vcore.

[eva2000]

what motherboards are you using ? for Asus remember to disable usb legacy or you will get errors in memtest

also with ocz pc3700 rev2 max will be around 250mhz 3-3-3-8 at 2.85v

[KrisMCool]

Thanks Propilot and Speed_Mechanic for your replies and suggestions. I hope you can make something of my findings. First note that my previous memory (2x512 Mush PC3200 LvII) never showed these kinds of problems, even up to FSB 224 / DDR448 (1:1) @ 2-3-2-6, 2.85v, PAT enabled - not in Memtest, Prime nor folding. And I could run up to FSB 239 at 5:4, 2-2-2-5 w/o errors. Regardless of PAT, Turbo and voltage settings, with the OCZ @ 1:1, 2.5-3-3-7, Prime (blend torture test only, other tests pass) and folding (only w/ 2 instances running) produce errors above FSB 225 / DDR 450. I know I've got a crappy CPU, as it can't run stable at FSB 250 / 3.5 like so many others I've read about. I tried all voltage settings up to 1.625 while testing the CPU for max stable FSB to no avail - it crapped out when it crapped out, and increasing voltage seemed to produce errors faster. I know heat is not an issue - the highest temp I've ever recorded was 112°F by thermal probe attached to HSF where it meets IHS read by DigitalDoc5+, about 5° higher than AsusProbe and MBM report, and that was with 2 instances of Prime running. Normally it doesn't even hit 105°F. I've tried increasing AGP voltage to 1.6 w/ no change in results. I've heard others say that this also controls chipset voltage. Is this true, and if so I wonder why it isn't listed as such?

[KrisMCool]

Setting the OCZ to 3-4-4-8 only got me to FSB 230 / DDR 460 stable. Because I can't get my system stable with the memory at it's rated speed and timings, I'm considering RMA. I just don't want to jump to conclusions yet. I'm also considering buying a MO stepping 2.8 to help rule out the CPU and most likely get better results anyway. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

[eva2000]

KrisMCool, you may need more vcore like 1.675v-1.725v on P4C800-E or you might have one crappy 2.8C - i'd try the memory with a 2.4C or 2.6C if you can still get them

1. make sure usb legacy is disabled
2. run memtest86+ v1.0 for a std test #1-7 loops and see where it errors if it's errors at test #5 it's probably memory speed, timings or vdimm, if it errors at test #1,2,3,4 it's probably cpu fsb, vcore issues

[KrisMCool]

You can see my recent test results here: http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=267030
I've had USB Legacy disabled since I read about it somewhere in these forums. I haven't tried a vcore setting above 1.625 yet - didn't want to make a crappy CPU even crappier by overvolting, but this point may be moot. Might give it a try - tried everything else I can think of so far. I also stop all unneccesary services for testing. Only thing running in the background is MBM, but not always.

I'm already shopping for a new CPU, so I'm open to suggestions.

[KrisMCool]

What did you end up doing with your set? Did you find a way to get better results? Or did you already RMA it?

[bill gates]

I have decided to send them back to newegg. I played around with a lot of settings in the bios after talking with OCZ tech support and we just could not get them to run at their rated speed no matter what we did. The main thing you need to do is turn off turbo and memory accelration mode (P.A.T.). But that didn't work either so it is a bad batch of memory. And we tried to run the sticks 1 at a time and neither one of them would go to its rated speed. One thing I will say though is that OCZ Tecnology has the absolute best technical support I have ever had to deal with. Just for this fact alone I will re-order from their company again. They even offered to send me a hand-picked set of sticks but I decided that what I really want is some memory with the new Hynix chips so I can go to a 275mhz fsb 1:1 with my cpu, and I know these pc-3700 sticks can't go that high. I think the fact that they were offering to send me a hand-picked set says a lot for their great company. After seeing so many good reviews for this memory I would have to say these were just a bad set but its probably rare.

[flapperhead]

okay students repeat after me: bt-d43=250 mhz bt-d43+3.2v=250+mhz handpicked bt-d43+2.8v=280+mhz handpicked bt-d43 +3.2v= 300+ There will be a pop quiz after this thread is finished, so no excuses...

[KrisMCool]

I'm hanging on to my set for the time being. I can't blame the memory if I don't have a CPU that can run stable at speed. I thought I did, but my stable FSB OC is decreasing it seems. I got much higher with the Mushkin's, but that was at 5:4. FAH is proving to be as good at pointing out instability as Prime95 - they produce errors at the same settings when other programs run error-free.

Anyway, good luck with your new memory. Glad to hear OCZ support is so good, as I've already found that Mushkin's is also. I'll push my OCZ when I get a CPU that can keep up.

[bill gates]

How can you be sure of that? They will only guarantee them to run at their spec'd speeds. They can send a new set that run at 466mhz and no higher and they have fulfilled their commitment. There is now way to be sure they will send you some awesome overclockers. If that was true I would send them back to ocz instead of newegg. But instead I will send them to newegg and order some pc-4200 sticks and if they don't work then I will send them back to OCZ for some good pc-4200 sticks.

[flapperhead]

well first of all it was an attempt to put some light heartedness into this thread. but the fact remains thats the the high cost of the el 4200 is 1. this memory is hand tested- binned pc4200. 2 you get lifetime support and guarentee. what i was getting at is that almost without exception the new bt-d43 runs like a bat out of h#ll. now u can go with the expensive sure thing or keep an eye out at best buy for some valueram 2x512 modules. do a vmem mod, and with a little luck u have some real fast pc4000 for alot cheaper. Its all what u feel comfortable with.. I like gettin cheap ram (if i can )and make it go fast cause its fun.

[bill gates]

Originally posted by KrisMCool
I'm hanging on to my set for the time being. I can't blame the memory if I don't have a CPU that can run stable at speed. I thought I did, but my stable FSB OC is decreasing it seems. I got much higher with the Mushkin's, but that was at 5:4. FAH is proving to be as good at pointing out instability as Prime95 - they produce errors at the same settings when other programs run error-free.

Anyway, good luck with your new memory. Glad to hear OCZ support is so good, as I've already found that Mushkin's is also. I'll push my OCZ when I get a CPU that can keep up.

Yeah the tech support is great! You definitely have to rule out your cpu before blaming the memory thats for sure. I always set the memory to run really slow with a divider then I crank up the fsb until it is stable. So far the max fsb that is stable is around 290mhz but I haven't tried adding more voltage yet. I really don't want to add voltage to the cpu. If it will only go to 290mhz fsb with stock voltage that is fine with me. It is still one hell of an overclock!

[bill gates]

Originally posted by flapperhead
well first of all it was an attempt to put some light heartedness into this thread. but the fact remains thats the the high cost of the el 4200 is 1. this memory is hand tested- binned pc4200. 2 you get lifetime support and guarentee. what i was getting at is that almost without exception the new bt-d43 runs like a bat out of h#ll. now u can go with the expensive sure thing or keep an eye out at best buy for some valueram 2x512 modules. do a vmem mod, and with a little luck u have some real fast pc4000 for alot cheaper. Its all what u feel comfortable with.. I like gettin cheap ram (if i can )and make it go fast cause its fun.

What brand do you suggest for cheap memory that will "probably" reach high fsb speeds??? I have heard some good things about buffalo but I don't know. Any suggestions would be great.

[flapperhead]

check out best buy, compusa etc. take a look at their pc3200 valueram.if the chips say hynix bt-d43 at the end, presto u have a good chance of running pc4000 +for cheap.. for instance i picked up a 256 stick of pc2700 value ram at circuit city. the stick had bh6 chips! the same chips mushkin is now using on their pc3200 level 2. the only difference is muskin hand picks them. i just tested this stick to 232 mhz at 2-2-2-5, which would make this a great 5/4 tight timing overclocker. The point is getting the correct chips.

[seven-eleven]

how do i know they are bh-6 ?

[flapperhead]

look on the chips. in the case of the valueram there's a little box u can look thru and read the chips. for example the bh6 i got was labeled windbond and toward the end is the bh6. same for hynix..

[Grandpa Dan]

Seeing this:

DOH! I tried to do it even though I can't solder for **** and I got solder everywhere and now my motherboard is dead! Good thing it's still under warranty. I got all of the solder removed so it doesn't look like I messed with the motherboard but it wont get any voltage to the ram now. I think some wires got shorted out. Bummer. I wish I would have waited and ordered some smd grabbers.



I don't see how you can waste money trying out different ram and live with yourself. People RMAing stuff they broke raises the prices to people just like the ones on this forum who are giving you ocing advice for free.http://www.fancysplace.com/smileys/dontgetit.gif

[flapperhead]

i do in fact buy extra parts now and then for personal testing.if it breaks, thats my responsibility . the real good stuff like this bh6 will go to one of the younger members, for what i paid for it. the other stuff that is useful, i usually give away.

[bill gates]

Man chill out. I did not do anything to this ram it is still like new. So it will be RMA'd. The motherboard is regretable but I dont have another $200 to replace it right now so sorry. Don't get all self righteous on me now. It doesn't really matter much to me what you think. Sorry man thats all I have to say about it.

[Propilot]

Originally posted by bill gates
Man chill out. I did not do anything to this ram it is still like new. So it will be RMA'd. The motherboard is regretable but I dont have another $200 to replace it right now so sorry. Don't get all self righteous on me now. It doesn't really matter much to me what you think. Sorry man thats all I have to say about it.

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

[KrisMCool]

Just an update. Been trying to figure out whether my CPU or my OCZ memory was causing errors / instability. I was just about to conclude that it was the CPU, but decided to run Memtest86+ (all tests) while I was at work. Set memory to rated speed and timings (DDR466, 2.5-3-3-7, PAT disabled). Came home to pages of errors. I had not been running Memtest for much more than an hour before now - wasn't long enough. So I'll call OCZ support for more answers on that. Put my Mushkins back in, FSB 240, 5:4, PAT / Turbo enabled - Prime95 and FAH together (100% load) for 24+ hrs and no errors. Now I'm back to seeing how far I can push the Mushkins at 1:1 for now. I wanted to avoid RMAing the OCZ if possible, but I'll see what their support says.

Thanks to all who have been helping me with this. Still open to suggestions.

[StealtheR]

at first i thought ocz was sux0r too cuz i wasn't able to push to 3.5ghz but i play around with it and realized it was my fault :) i tweak up a few times and it works!

[bill gates]

Originally posted by KrisMCool
Just an update. Been trying to figure out whether my CPU or my OCZ memory was causing errors / instability. I was just about to conclude that it was the CPU, but decided to run Memtest86+ (all tests) while I was at work. Set memory to rated speed and timings (DDR466, 2.5-3-3-7, PAT disabled). Came home to pages of errors. I had not been running Memtest for much more than an hour before now - wasn't long enough. So I'll call OCZ support for more answers on that. Put my Mushkins back in, FSB 240, 5:4, PAT / Turbo enabled - Prime95 and FAH together (100% load) for 24+ hrs and no errors. Now I'm back to seeing how far I can push the Mushkins at 1:1 for now. I wanted to avoid RMAing the OCZ if possible, but I'll see what their support says.

Thanks to all who have been helping me with this. Still open to suggestions.

I would suggest that you rma it to OCZ and have them get you a set of hand-picked sticks. They will be good. Or you can do what I did and send them back to the retailer if it's not too late and order some pc-4200 or pc-4400 sticks. It all depends on what 1:1 fsb you are going to be happy with. Me personally I would like a nice high 275mhz+ fsb 1:1 , now that would be fast! I just saw some kingston hyperX ddr500 sticks at circuit city for $129 each. I might give them a try since it is a lot faster to find out if they will work or not.

[KrisMCool]

I was planning to do it through OCZ if I RMA. It should still be the right speed for my CPU / FSB max - around 240. I've still got a couple days through NewEgg. Thanks for the advice.

[bill gates]

Originally posted by KrisMCool
I was planning to do it through OCZ if I RMA. It should still be the right speed for my CPU / FSB max - around 240. I've still got a couple days through NewEgg. Thanks for the advice.

Your max fsb is only 240mhz??? What chip are you using?

[KrisMCool]

2.8C. Stable max. I know, kinda crappy. Already looking at a new one, though.

[bill gates]

Originally posted by KrisMCool
2.8C. Stable max. I know, kinda crappy. Already looking at a new one, though.

I had a 2.8c and it wouldn't overclock well either. I built a computer for a friend who did not want to overclock he was going for cheap and I ended up swapping him my 2.8c for his 2.4c and it gets way higher. Now I can run 3.4ghz+ with a 275mhz+ fsb and get way more performance. Kind of weird but I think all of the new p4 chips really max out around 3.4-3.7ghz on stock voltage and cooling so you are much better off starting with a 2.4 and getting a way higher fsb. Of course then you have to go memory hunting like I am.

[StealtheR]

2 c chip that good for oc is 2.4c and 2.6c :)

[KrisMCool]

Update. Turns out that my mobo was the problem. The OCZ memory isn't giving me any problems on the new board. Sure glad I didn't RMA.

[flapperhead]

cant say enuff about ocz their quality and support is outsanding...

[bill gates]

Ended up with some Kingston HyperX pc-4000. It runs 260fsb 1:1 with 3.0v. Not as good as I wanted but it will have to do. And it was cheap enough. I got my replacement board from Asus but it is a piece of junk (I guess that's what I get for trying to get a new motherboard for free). It is missing a dimm slot! And when I raise the fsb it also raises the agp and pci speeds even if I set the bios to lock them at 33/66mhz they still go up! I can run the processor at 275fsb but if I go any higher my radeon 9800pro gives a bad bios checksum error indicating to me that the agp speed is being raised. Especially since my 1st P4P800 deluxe motherboard would boot up with a 300fsb with the exact same setup. I guess I will have to junk this motherboard and go buy a new one. Maybe this time I will get a P4C800 deluxe instead. I had someone do the volt mod for me this time around and the most I could get is 3.0v which is kind of dissapointing since my old motherboard did 3.2v with the voltmod.

[daos]

dang! my OCZ PC3700 Gold revision 1 does DDR510 at 3.2v 2-3-3-7. ive heard the revision 2 sets are not what they should have been though. hope youg et things worked out buddy. sounds like you might have some bad sticks on your hands.

[flapperhead]

yep the samsung chips on the rev1. are real nice overclockers...

[bill gates]

Yeah I have heard great things about REV. 1, even REV. 2 gets great ratings. But the problem with revision 1 is that they only come in 256mb sizes right?

[flapperhead]

i really dont know...

[coughman]

Originally posted by bill gates


I had a 2.8c and it wouldn't overclock well either. I built a computer for a friend who did not want to overclock he was going for cheap and I ended up swapping him my 2.8c for his 2.4c and it gets way higher. Now I can run 3.4ghz+ with a 275mhz+ fsb and get way more performance. Kind of weird but I think all of the new p4 chips really max out around 3.4-3.7ghz on stock voltage and cooling so you are much better off starting with a 2.4 and getting a way higher fsb. Of course then you have to go memory hunting like I am.

Ditto for my 2.8C. Maxed out at 234 FSB at 1.7V. :( Even Prime95 fails sometimes......

[mrspec3]

Originally posted by bill gates
Yeah I have heard great things about REV. 1, even REV. 2 gets great ratings. But the problem with revision 1 is that they only come in 256mb sizes right?

Yep. They sold 4x256 tested sets but I doubt they would OC as well due to the huge strain they put on the mem controller.

Steve

[Propilot]

Yea, my 2.8c maxes out at 240fsb Prime stable. (ran torture for 48 hours)
But I am plenty happy with it.

I wanted 1:1 memory timings, I got it.
I wanted reasonable tight timings, and I got it.
I wanted something that I could use for fast and accurate video editing and I got that also.

So I say again.... I'm happy. :D

[KrisMCool]

Ditto, Propilot. My OCZ set proved to be fine and runs at the same speed and timings as yours. Well, higher actually. Haven't really tried to find the memory's limit yet. Still dealing with my hot power hog (Prescott - I'm not knocking it. Runs perfectly stable, just hot and power hungry. Seems to work fine on my P4C800-E.) Anyway, ctiaw shows 7242 at DDR 496, 2.5-3-3-7, 2.75v, so I'm happy with mine also.

[hepp]

But the problem with revision 1 is that they only come in 256mb sizes right? ´

Depends how you look at it.
I would say the great thing about rev 1 was that it came in double sided/banked 256MB modules. Great if you only needed 512MB but wanted best performance. But I agree if you wanted a gig it was probably not your best bet.

Br
hepp