If my memory runs at 2300mhz then how would running at 2000mhz or below affect the memory controllers stability? Is it because the CPU is running at a higher speed? I don't understand? Again I'm not using this for 24/7 use, just want the best HWBot scores I can salvage. I'll try running the memory at 1600mhz and 1333mhz and see if that will help. Thanks for all the help and I'll see what I can get. I just don't really want to compromise my components, I want everything running as fast as it can go.
The memory is not affecting the memory controller. The controller is just to weak to run it at those speeds. Intel only designed it to run at 1066/1333. Its the same as the same Intel chip from person A will not clock as high as the same Intel Chip from person B. Just luck of the draw. Because there are more than one thing that affect stability, sometimes people just stop when it becomes unstable instead of trying out different variables OTHER than the CPU.
I have seen a lot of threads where the computer was running unstable or didn't even recognize the RAM when run at higher speeds. Gskill is littered with these reports on their forum and they all come from the S1156 and S1366 Platforms.
My instability presented itself actually while at idle and very randomly about once to twice a day. My computer would just "blink" off, no errors, no blue screens, no anything. It just went off and restarted. I went through about 10 RMAs of everything but my processor. I replaced RAM twice, I replaced the Motherboard 3 times, I replaced two video cards two times each. I bought a bigger PSU, I changed every cable in my case. I spoke on the phone with Nvidia, Asus (My first Mobo), Gskill, BFG, EVGA and Corsair. Finally I was prepared to RMA my processor, so I called Intel. (I posted the log in the other thread). Where I was specifically told i7s are only designed to run the RAM at 1066/1366 and thats it. And sure enough after slowing my RAM down and loosening the timings the problem resolved itself. I still run my RAM now at 2000MHz, but I also run the Processor a little slower as well.
Its a fine balance and if you want good bench scores, you have to consider every tweak. Sometimes it means running something else slower, so you can push your CPU higher if even just for a CPUz screenshot.
You know.... I had to learn the hard way. Maybe its not your RAM, but it can't hurt to try. Or maybe like me you will want to learn the hard way too. I learned much much more than if someone had just told me to turn my RAM speed down, but I did have the support of all my fellow benchers (Thanks Brolloks, nzanzeb, iBob, Miahallen).
