Ballistix and A8N-SLI Deluxe

[npapanik]

I have upgraded to BIOS 1006 but I still cannot run at 1T.

Just one word of caution: I would appreciate if everyone tested their systems THOROUGHLY before reporting results. Prime95 for 10 min is NOT considered a valid stability test.

I personally test my settings overnight and then I post my success or failure results.

I can run at 2.5-4-4-8 2T 250MHz succesfuly with any test (prime95, memtest 1.51 etc) for at least 7 hours continously.

I still have some hopes on the forthcoming 1007 BIOS...

 

[ryoanji]

npapanik,

YHMP but I will post my question to you here as well. Me and DerKaiser have a discussion on Ballistix DDR 500 and A8N-SLI and I was wondering whether you would be so kind as to settle our issue. In both of our cases Ballistix DDR 500 does not work well on A8N-SLI: its overclockability is inferier even to Ballistix DDR 400.

We could not run our memory at spead higher then 220 at 1T. Also, DDR333, 5/6 divider, does not work property. Cannot boot with HTT higher then 240. I.e. CPU multi is 9, HTT 240 and mem at 198 will not boot, or CPU multi is 8, HTT 240 and mem 187.

So it can be either:

1) Ballistix DDR 500 and A8N-SLI (bios) issue
2) Defective boards
3) Our 3200+ from Monarch on-board mem controllers crap out.

You seem to be the only other person who has Ballistix DDR500 and A8N-SLI. So could test the following and report back the results:

A) Test your mem at 1T (any timings) between 220-240 Mhz
B) Test your DDR333 divider with HTT above 240, any CPU multi

Many thanks in advance

 

[npapanik]

ryoanji
Tests:

A) A have tested RAM at 239 & 240MHz with 2.5-4-4-8 1T both SUCCESS. At 241MHz 2.5-4-4-8 1T RAM FAILED.
@240 1T
@241 1T

B)I have set to DDR333 divider with my current settings (9x250) and the machine hanged at the bootup BIOS screen (with strange graphics...!)

Comments:
A)It seems that you should be able to run @240 1T without any problems. I don't think that its the CPU's mem controller.
- Are you running at 2.8V?
- Check the manufactiring date of your Crucial... (I have bought mine on October 2004 and they have failed two (!!) times since... this is the third pair...
cpuz-1
cpuz-2

B)This is a BIOS issue...

 

[ryoanji]

Sorry it took me a while to check my modules. With bios flashed to latest 1007 beta I CAN overclock Ballistix to 240 at 1T. You were also right about the manufacturing date. One stick would not do more then 233. Divider does not work.

There is one questions that I would like to ask you. I can test my good stick from bootable CD with memtest at 240 for hours, but when I log into windows with the same settings Windows memtest fails right away. Max that is stable in Windows is 235 do you have any idea why?

Finally, just a small observation. Upping the voltage from 2.6 to 3.0 had 0 effect on overclocking the memory. All went into heat with temp raising from 44 C to 62 C (measured with temp probe) I also have Lian-Li V 1000 and with the CPU position on A8N mem gets virtually no air movement even with CPU fan blowing. So I am running mine at 2.6 at the moment.

Many thanks for you advice

 

[npapanik]

ryoanji
If this is the case it seems that DOS memtest is not sensitive enough. In Windows I use Prime95... what kind of Windows memtest are you using? Also are you using memtest 1.51?

I would suggest to set the voltage to 2.8V since this is the recommended setting. 62C seems very high though... I do not have a thermal probe but tell me, is your memory hot to the touch? Before the third RMA my modules were very hot but since then they are slightly warm (@2.8V).

 

[rockstar]

Hi ryoanji,
Sorry this is such a late post. I have had limited and inconsistent success running Ballistix PC4000 (2x512MB) at IT timings. I am currently using the latest non-beta 1007 bios. I have had the board since bios 1003 with the same RAM. In the past, I've thought I was stable at 1T up to 240FSB, but eventually I would get blue screens or a squeal of death when gaming (high pitched painful sound locked up). I've now completely abandoned 1T using a memory divider. I am running now at 250x9=2250 at 2T. I got frustrated with the instability playing with 1T timings. Have you noticed that AUTO settings in the bios result in 2T timings? Actually I think the AUTO settings don't detect the proper SPD timings, but it always seems to choose 2T. If there is anything you would like me to try, I would be willing.