Weird Memory/OC Issue...

[Red_Hot_Poker]

Hey all, I had this problem a while back and a few members here tried to help me solve my problem. I finally found my DIGI cam so I could take some pictures of the bios and boot screen to show you all what I was trying to say a little while back.

Basically the problem is this...

The rig specs are in my sig, and in order to get the CPU OCed from 2.0 to 2.7 I have to go into the bios and manually setup the "Memory Frequency (Mhz)" to [DDR200 (100Mhz)] as shown in this picture.
http://xs122.xs.to/xs122/07526/CpuFrequ.jpg.xs.jpg (http://xs.to/xs.php?h=xs122&d=07526&f=CpuFrequ.jpg)

When I leave the ram freq at auto I can only bump the CPU up to 2.25. Anything higher and the PC does not boot and resets the bios to default.

Basically the lower I make the Memory Frequency the higher OC I can get. I have bumped up the CPU voltage a little. I was wondering if anyone has any idea why the lower I go the higher CPU clock I can achieve. The ram sticks are 2 x 1GIG Centon Crap-o-la sticks. I figure that the low quality sticks has a thing to do with the overclock.

I have had these settings like so for a few months now and have noticed little stutters here and there in games and performace. I just picked up a BFG 8800GT 512, so I am just hoping that the freq. on the ram is not holding back some power or anything.

Any Ideas would be appreciated...here are a few more pics of the boot screen and the HT screen. Its set to auto but sets itself to 1T.

http://xs122.xs.to/xs122/07526/HT.jpg.xs.jpg (http://xs.to/xs.php?h=xs122&d=07526&f=HT.jpg)
http://xs122.xs.to/xs122/07526/Boot.jpg.xs.jpg (http://xs.to/xs.php?h=xs122&d=07526&f=Boot.jpg)

[deadlysyn]

Have you tried setting up a divider, sometimes called CPU:DRAM ratio? I would try going 5:4 if your board will allow it. That way, for every 5 MHz bus speed for the CPU, the RAM will get 4. So at 250 FSB on the CPU, the RAM will get 200. That seems to be the method to use with most el cheapo RAM, as most of it does not OC well.

[Red_Hot_Poker]

Hmm how abouts would I go doing that...? Not to familiar with ram when it comes to OCing lol...


This is my board if it helps http://www.epox.com.tw/eng/products_content.php?ps=370

[Red_Hot_Poker]

Maybe this will help out, this is the original thread where people were trying to figure out the problem that I had...

http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=513011

Its about halfway down the first page where the RAM issue starts to come in...

[DocClock aka MadClocker]

Try setting the timing to 2t rather than 1t.
Most ddr2 won't do 1t in any application (according to my understanding)...also you might try uping the ddr voltage, and maybe the northbridge a tad, but be conservative when trying to up the board volts.
Also pay attention to the temps on the ram..give them a feel to see how hot they are after you bump the volts. Most DDR2 modules will handle 2v or more... just remember that after you cross the 2v barier, to pay attention to the temps.
My freinds G-skill gets really hot at 2v+.
One more thing....download CPU-Z and when you run it, look at the mem and SPD data sheet. The SPD will tell you what the modules were rated at as well as the timings that go with that freq.
The SPD data should be a good starting place for your O'C' "sweet spot"
Good luck, and I hope this helps,
Doc

[Red_Hot_Poker]

Ok Doc, I will give this a go in the morning and post back with the results. Thanks

[deadlysyn]

Try setting the timing to 2t rather than 1t.
Most ddr2 won't do 1t in any application (according to my understanding)...also you might try uping the ddr voltage, and maybe the northbridge a tad, but be conservative when trying to up the board volts.
Also pay attention to the temps on the ram..give them a feel to see how hot they are after you bump the volts. Most DDR2 modules will handle 2v or more... just remember that after you cross the 2v barier, to pay attention to the temps.
My freinds G-skill gets really hot at 2v+.
One more thing....download CPU-Z and when you run it, look at the mem and SPD data sheet. The SPD will tell you what the modules were rated at as well as the timings that go with that freq.
The SPD data should be a good starting place for your O'C' "sweet spot"
Good luck, and I hope this helps,
Doc

I guess I should have been paying more attention the first time I read this one. I didn't notice that it was running at 1t. Also, if you are having troubles with the RAM heating up with a little over volting, you can have a look here (http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showpost.php?p=2216221&postcount=71). I have used the "homemade fan clip" method and it works very well, although I don't know how it will work with DDR2, I have only used it with DDR1.

[DocClock aka MadClocker]

Everything's ok then?

[Red_Hot_Poker]

Sorry meant to post back. I tried setting my ram to 2T and it does not seem to do anything. I still have the same problem with having to lower the ram freq. in order to overclock.

Am I really going to see a loss in performance in leaving my ram at 137 instead of 200? I guess that would depend on the application?

I ran the problem by one of my more computer savy friends than me and he was stumped as well. He said it was probably my crappy mobo.

[Red_Hot_Poker]

Hmm just noticed something else. I grabbed these two sticks at the same time, same package. Both say "Centon" on them but take a look at these screenshots.

http://xs123.xs.to/xs123/08010/memory1.JPG (http://xs.to) http://xs123.xs.to/xs123/08010/memory2.JPG (http://xs.to)

Notice that the manf. are not the same at all. The timing tables are also not the same, could that have something to do with my problem. If the manf. thing is a problem is there a way I can send that stick back to centon?

[DocClock aka MadClocker]

That is defenately not a matched pair (from your screenies) if you bought them as a set, then take them back, and get another pair, or better yet, get a diff brand...that is IF they advertised it as a matched pair.
Stability is the main reason why companies sell matched pairs, so that when you add the sticks and boot up, chances are good that it will be stable.
According to the screenies, they are close, which would probably be good enough for non dual channel mode, but for dual chnl they need to be perfect, which is why I would normaly go with a name brand, like Crucial, Kingston, Micron, OCZ, etc....but I don't stop there, I also investigate which modules are rated for what, and then I look at reviews.

One more thing I do, I get the absolute fastest (matched pair) I can find, that way, I am almost garanteed great timings with a mild overclock.
I hope this helps, even if just a little.
Doc :cool:

[Red_Hot_Poker]

Yes doc thanks it helps alot. I got that ram about a year ago when I got my board so the only way would be to contact centon and see if they could do something for me. I plan on going Quad soon so I might not even worry about it now.

Once I go quad I will be going over to DDR2 anyways :)