How can I chek my ddr2 voltage?

[EBH]

Hi

Is there a program that shows my ddr voltage in windows?

I want to know if my mobo really gives my mem as much as it says in bios. Thats because on my previous asus mobo, my Geil Ultras could run at 920MHz with 2.0V and on my new Gigabyte they won't even run at 750MHz with 2.1V

Thanks!

[aja]

I think the only way to test ACTUAL memory voltage is using a digital multimeter

[Tweak486Dx2]

Where are the spots to probe on these boards??

[aja]

Where are the spots to probe on these boards??

Each board tends to be different

[bing]

If you can take a snapshot of your mobo near the end of those ram slots, I believe I can point you the right spot to measure vdimm. ;)

Take a close up shot at the middle bottom of the mobo (below pic) around that black square box (inductor) at the end of those ram slot.

Is this your mobo, right ? Got it from gigabyte site.
http://www.giga-byte.com/FileList/Image/motherboard_productimage_ga_965p-ds3p_3.3_big.jpg
Courtesy of Gigabyte

[Neuromancer]

Hmm well even XS did not pull up the info.... hit up Gigabyte and when you find out.. post the info here so others may know :)


They should be pretty willign to let you know :)

[bing]

Hmm well even XS did not pull up the info.... hit up Gigabyte and when you find out.. post the info here so others may know :)


They should be pretty willign to let you know :)

So does OcF ! ;)

[EBH]

I'll take a photo of that area later today and post it here. Thanks!

[EBH]

Hope this is the area you were talking about...

[bing]

Yes, unfortunately its too dark, also if I'm not mistaken, there are two inductors (black square box) right ? The one with label "2R0" and the other one clipped "1R something", I would assume that is "1R0" right ?

But I think its enough, no need more photoshoot, now the important question, as you can see those inductors 2R0 and 1R0, they have two legs each, please check if you can "easily" put your DMM probe into one of their leg ?

We only need the positive (red) probe at those area while the negative (black) on the negative (black wire) at one of the molex.

Becarefull, don't want you to toast your mobo by shorting two adjacent pins by your DMM probe.

If you're ready, I will post the next instructions.

[EBH]

Unfortunately, at the moment at least, I cant reach the legs (they are masked in a way by the inductors casing). I'll have to take the mobo out of the case to check and see for sure.

That second one is labled 1R2.

You can post the instructions as they remain written :)

[bing]

This pic are the basic layout "part of" the PWM final/output area, meaning this are is actually the power engine parts that supplies the electrical current to the RAM and also similiar for CPU.

The tech jargon/speak for this topology is called synchronous rectification since its using two mosfets switching off and on at very high speed.

This pic also showing what we called single phase, so for multiple phases PWM like for CPU, they just multiply this whole set except for the inductor at the upper left area.

Just a precautios note, whenever you see 2 inductors, it doesn't always equal to 2 phases, because there is also other technique that is using multiple inductors in parallel, or better designed one using 4 mosfets instead of two like this pic, and all of thats just for single phase.

Hint.. some mobo maker claimed they had 8 or 12 phases of CPU pwm, but they're fake cause those inductors are connected in parralel. :D

60091

In order to measure the output voltage from the PWM, you just put your DMM's positive probe at the yellow area/line above at either at the one of the capacitor's leg or the easier on one of the inductor's leg. Also dont' forget the negative probe at the negative line like from the molex connector (black wire).

Now since inductor is non polarity component, you might question which leg is that yellow one ?
Just measure both legs and pick the one with lower voltage, that is definately the output. Easy isn't it ? ;)


Now, back to you ! :D

Your mobo shot there shows two inductors which are 2R0 and 1R2 right ?

The question is which one is the right or main inductor ? I believe 99% the one with 2R0 is the one which we want to measure, and the 1R2 is the filter inductor (the upper left one at the schematic) which is not the one.

Anyway, just to make sure, why don't you measure all of those 4 legs from those 2 inductors, and take some note and then change in the bios by adding more voltage for the ram, and observe again which inductor is experiencing the voltage increase. I believe you will get that correct one. :D

If you're having a problem finding the right spot at those inductor's leg, since those inductors is not surface mount, just flip your mobo, you can find their legs popping or through the hole at the pcb.

Again becareful when probing at the mobo, don't short two pins that is near together like mosfet's leg (below pic), some or most are carrying a really high current which might give you a small boom and toast your mobo.

60093

Hope this helps.

[aja]

Wow bing, you are a guru at this stuff...

[bing]

Thanks, but naaah.. I'm no guru, cause I'm still learning, and worst is this learning cycle is never ends. ;)

[largon]

Difference between the choke's legs and the mosfet's drain (metal base of the black part) is so small (usually <0.05v) there's hardly a reason to start dismantling the board in order to get access to the coils' legs.

Anyways, here's one easily accessible post-inductor measuring point:
http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/1701/vdimmui6.th.jpg (http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/1701/vdimmui6.jpg)

[largon]

EBH,
Does the spot I pointed work for you?
You can measure vDimm from the drains (the metal bases) on those mosfet just next capacitor (in the pic) but these give a bit higher results. The red dot is more accurate.

[EBH]

Didn't have time to test that, sorry. I will try it either tonight or tomorrow night.

The red dot seems easy enough.

Thanks!

[RenoFred]

Go to CPUID.com, there are 2 downloads there that will display your information. PC Wizard and CPU-Z.

[EBH]

I am using everest for this now. It's pretty acurate.