Overclocking Ram

[Mandrake4565]

I'm trying my best to learn how to correctly overclock my ram. Here are the steps I have taken. For instance, I have Geil's DDR 3 1600 on one of my rigs. JEDEC Timings are 9-9-9-28-36 @ 1.5 Dram V on an M5A99X Evo board. What i have done so far is raise the FSB with timings left as is and run Memtest for 4 passes. Then bump FSB until it fails Memtest, I then raised the Dram V until it passes. I continue to do this until It's fails at 1.65 Dram V core. When it fails at that V core I start messing with the timings, from what I have seen and from looking at the timings on say the 1866 rated Geil sticks is that the TRCD timing is the one I should bump first, correct? What really confuses me is all the other timings that do not show up in the CPU-Z memory tab that are in the BIOS. DO I mess with those or just leave them on AUTO?

 

[PolRoger]

Knowing what kind of ic is being used on a kit is helpful in determining how to set timings as well as for getting an idea for potential overclock headroom.
For example you can look at the serial number on your GSkill kit and check this link to see what kind of ic is beeing used. http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?283666-Figuring-out-G.Skill-s-SNs

There are also links available that tell you what kind of ic Corsair use on their kits. I'm not really sure what ic Geil is using on your particular kit? I would focus on adjusting your Primary timings first and leave secondary/tertiary timings on auto. I would suggest for 1866 speed trying 9-10-9-28-1T and the rest on auto...


Here is a good link by Woomak for overclocking ram on IB even though you are running AMD the basic fundamentals apply to all platforms/setups.

http://www.overclockers.com/memory-overclocking-guide-ivy-bridge

 

[Mandrake4565]

Thanks Pol I appreciate it.

 

[Woomack]

Geil the same as Patriot is using Hynix IC in most of their kits ( I can't tell what is in your kit ).
I would try:
1600-1700 7-8-8-24 2N 1.60-1.65V
1600-1700 8-8-8-24 2N 1.60-1.65V
1600-1700 8-9-8-24 2N 1.60-1.65V
1700-1866 9-10-9-27 2N 1.60-1.65V
1700-1866 9-11-9-27 2N 1.60-1.65V
1700-1866 9-11-10-27 2N 1.60-1.65V
1700-1866 10-11-10-27 2N 1.60-1.65V
2000-2133 9-11-10-27 2N 1.60-1.70V
2000-2133 10-11-11-30 2N 1.60-1.70V
2000-2133 11-12-11-30 2N 1.60-1.70V

Note that most settings will give similar performance unless you bump CPU-NB clock. CPU-NB = memory controller speed which is generally slow. Setting it 200MHz higher you can achieve better results than setting memory clock from 1600 to 2133.

tRFC has to be higher on AMD to keep stability and depends from board, memory and IMC. Start from 300 and when you make it stable then drop to 120-160 and check stability again.

 

[Mandrake4565]

Thanks Woomack, I believe they are Hynix IC's I was searching last night. Right now I have them at 1800 9-10-9-28 1.625 Dram V, they are on a Phenom II so I'm not sure if the IMC will be able to handle much more then 1866. I'll keep testing to see, thanks for the help.