BUFFALO RAM question for overclocking....?

[DarkFudge2000]

Guys I jsut purchased the Buffalo Technology 512MB 6 Layer PC3700 DDR Memory Module 32X8 from New Egg.

First off I bought 2 sticks to total 1 Gig and secondly I purchased them for the ASUS P4P800 Deluxe so I can overclock my new P4C 2.6 to over 3 ghz.

My question is, I want to make sure this ram is compatible with this board and also if it will overclock well.

Any feedback?

 

[Slaben]

Asus boards are fussy about memory. The last one I had would run Crudial but not Micron. Go figure. Check their web site.

FWIW Buffalo memory PC4300 fail to reach it's stock speed in MaximumPC's high end memory test in last months issue.

 

[DarkFudge2000]

Actually I spoke to a live Buffalo Ram tech that also partakes in overclocking and he recommeded that perhaps a better fit for the SPringdale boards ( 875 and 865 chipsets) would be the DDR433-512 -MC and/or DDR433-512-SD but these modules I think are PC3200 modules so Im all confused now....I actually thought that the PC3700 would actually be BETTER because of the higher PCrating......

Can someone help out with this confusion?

thanks

 

[Henny]

Buffalo PC3700 uses Winbond BH-5's which are listed on the Asus QVL and are also one of the most compatable memory chips for Canterwood/Springdale chip sets.

Winbond BH-5's will do tight timings up to about 220 at 1:1. (ie 2,2,2,5)

I'm OC'ing my 2.8C to 3.4 and decided to drop down to 5:4 at 2,2,2,5. I could have gone to about 3.1 at 1:1 but thought the additional CPU OC benefits outweighed what I lost going async. (I could have probably gone higher than 220 at 1:1 by compromising timings but chose not to do that).

At $200 per 1G, this memory is very affordable. They don't offer heat spreaders or dual channel matching but mine do dual channel just fine and heat spreaders are just "fluff".

I would not recommend CH-5's. Lots of users are having problems with Canterwood.

P.S. The BH-5's love voltage. Crank it up to 2.7-2.8v and they'll be happier.

 

[DarkFudge2000]

Just out of curiosity, should I stick with this RAM AND get the ASUS P4P800 board which uses the 865 chipset or should I go up to the ASUS P4P C800 which uses the 875 Chipset??.....SOme people said the older 865 was actually faster


OR should I go with the ABIT IG-7 Max 2??


thanks

 

[Shimmishim]

now the question is how high of an overclock do you plan on getting and do you want to run 1:1 or 5:4?

if you run 1:1, you will be limited by your ram.

if you run 5:4, you shouldn't be limited by your ram especially with pc3700.

13 x 233 = 3029
13 x 250 = 3250 (but i doubt your ram will be able to hit 250 mhz 1:1)
13 x 260 = 3380 (260 x 4/5 = 208 mhz on your ram)
13 x 270 = 3510 (270 x 4/5 = 216 mhz on your ram)


you can prolly run 270 mhz 1:1 if you get some OCZ pc4000EL or OCZ pc4200EL

if you check anandtech's mem review, you'll see what these beasts can do.


if i were to get a 2.6C and my target was around 3.5 ghz, i'd actually get some pc3500 ram and use the 5:4 so i could run tighter timings.

two excellent pc3500 sticks are:

Mushkin lvl 2 black pc3500 and
OCZ pc3500 platinum

edit:

IC7-G MAX 2 vs. IC7 --> only difference is the Gmax2 has onboard lan and few extra SATA ports.

 

[DarkFudge2000]

thanks you've been a big help.....my last question to you is would you prefer the ASUS P4P800 which uses the 865 chipset, the ASUS P4C800 which uses the 875 chipset or would you go with the Abit IG-7 Max?

I would really love to get the 2.6 to as high and as stable as I can over 3.1ghz.....that pretty much my goal. I want to build a stable speed demon

 

[DarkFudge2000]

ALso if you dont mind explaining real quick to me this.....which is better running your RAM 5/4 or running 1/1?...are there Pros and Cons of each? It seems like running 5/4 allows for higher cpu clock speeds....am I missing something here?

 

[Henny]

All things being equal, running 1:1 is better than 5:4 becasue the memory is in sync with the CPU. (ie reduces overhead). But having said that, it's usually better to drop down to 5:4 if the Ram is holding back the CPU.

Start by running the Ram at conservative timings/FSB ratio and crank up the CPU to find what it's limit is. Now dial in tight timings on the Ram and see how far you can get at 1:1. If you can't get to the limit of the CPU than reduce FSB ratio and see how much further you can go.

It's also OK to up the BH-5 Ram voltage to about 2.8 and CPU to about 1.65 if it helps.

The most stable Canterwood board is the Asus P4C800E Deluxe.

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Your ram is good, the 875 has more options than the 865 and is faster in general. Some people get better Overclocks with the 865 but in all reality the biggest difference is just what comes built into the Northbridge. Stability has also come into view as the 875's being more stable.

 

[oldfart]

Originally posted by: Henny
All things being equal, running 1:1 is better than 5:4 becasue the memory is in sync with the CPU. (ie reduces overhead). But having said that, it's usually better to drop down to 5:4 if the Ram is holding back the CPU..

1:1 is not better if you have to run slow timings to get the high DDR speed (which you usually do).

1:1 slow timings is ~= 5:4 fast timings.

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Originally posted by: oldfart

Originally posted by: Henny
All things being equal, running 1:1 is better than 5:4 becasue the memory is in sync with the CPU. (ie reduces overhead). But having said that, it's usually better to drop down to 5:4 if the Ram is holding back the CPU..

1:1 is not better if you have to run slow timings to get the high DDR speed (which you usually do).

1:1 slow timings is ~= 5:4 fast timings.

he said all things being equal which means timings too.

 

[oldfart]

Originally posted by: DerwenArtos12

Originally posted by: oldfart

Originally posted by: Henny
All things being equal, running 1:1 is better than 5:4 becasue the memory is in sync with the CPU. (ie reduces overhead). But having said that, it's usually better to drop down to 5:4 if the Ram is holding back the CPU..

1:1 is not better if you have to run slow timings to get the high DDR speed (which you usually do).

1:1 slow timings is ~= 5:4 fast timings.

he said all things being equal which means timings too.

I guess I didn't read that into it. It is pretty much impossible to run 1:1 with tight timings in an overcloced situation (of any decent FSB speed). Having equal timings in an overclocked 1:1 and 5:4 setup is not how it goes.

 

[DarkFudge2000]

Thanks guys.....youve been a tremendous help and I will tell you all how I make out once my peices arrive tommorow or Saturday

ANy last feedback?

 

[Henny]

I can maintain 2,2,2,5 timings out of BH-5's even with them OC'd to about 220 (1:1). They also do 2,2,2,5 at 5:4 which is about 200 mhz FSB. (the later config. get's my 2.8C to 3.4 Ghz)

I could have probably gone with a 2.6C to save a few bucks and still achieved the same end result with these BH-5's.

I don't know of any memory that would go 1:1 with a 2.8C OC'd to 3.4 while maintaining timings of 2,2,2,5. Maybe the expensive OCZ PC4000 Gold's but I'm not sure they can even do timings of 2,2,2,5.

Originally posted by: oldfart

Originally posted by: DerwenArtos12

Originally posted by: oldfart

Originally posted by: Henny
All things being equal, running 1:1 is better than 5:4 becasue the memory is in sync with the CPU. (ie reduces overhead). But having said that, it's usually better to drop down to 5:4 if the Ram is holding back the CPU..

1:1 is not better if you have to run slow timings to get the high DDR speed (which you usually do).

1:1 slow timings is ~= 5:4 fast timings.

he said all things being equal which means timings too.

I guess I didn't read that into it. It is pretty much impossible to run 1:1 with tight timings in an overcloced situation (of any decent FSB speed). Having equal timings in an overclocked 1:1 and 5:4 setup is not how it goes.

 

[Henny]

I think your planned config. is the "sweet spot" given current prices. Your 2.6C w/BH-5's should get you to about 3Ghz at 1:1 or about 3.4Ghz at 5:4. (all while maintaining tight timings).

Good luck!!

Originally posted by: DarkFudge2000
Thanks guys.....youve been a tremendous help and I will tell you all how I make out once my peices arrive tommorow or Saturday

ANy last feedback?

 

[Henny]

I think your planned config. is the "sweet spot" given current prices. Your 2.6C w/BH-5's should get you to about 3Ghz at 1:1 or about 3.4Ghz at 5:4. (all while maintaining tight timings).

Good luck!!

Originally posted by: DarkFudge2000
Thanks guys.....youve been a tremendous help and I will tell you all how I make out once my peices arrive tommorow or Saturday

ANy last feedback?

 

[DerwenArtos12]

I have an AMD system with corsair 3200 in it and I can maintain 2,3,2,6 timings at 220 FSB.

 

[joe2004]

I think your planned config. is the "sweet spot" given current prices. Your 2.6C w/BH-5's should get you to about 3Ghz at 1:1 or about 3.4Ghz at 5:4. (all while maintaining tight timings).

That is a bit optimistic. I am sure it is possible but "should" is not the word I would use.
One SHOULD expect more like 215-220 with 2-3-2-6 or with a relaxed settings 2-2-2-6. Anything over 220 depends very much on the particular sticks. 512 stick do not overclock as high as 256 though Buffalo just might be the exception.
Anyway, Buffalo will be OK for P4C800.

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Originally posted by: joe2004

I think your planned config. is the "sweet spot" given current prices. Your 2.6C w/BH-5's should get you to about 3Ghz at 1:1 or about 3.4Ghz at 5:4. (all while maintaining tight timings).

That is a bit optimistic. I am sure it is possible but "should" is not the word I would use.
One SHOULD expect more like 215-220 with 2-3-2-6 or with a relaxed settings 2-2-2-6. Anything over 220 depends very much on the particular sticks. 512 stick do not overclock as high as 256 though Buffalo just might be the exception.
Anyway, Buffalo will be OK for P4C800.

I swear people never read the entire thread anymore. It is PC3700 with BH-5 chips.

 

[oldfart]

Originally posted by: DerwenArtos12

Originally posted by: joe2004

I think your planned config. is the "sweet spot" given current prices. Your 2.6C w/BH-5's should get you to about 3Ghz at 1:1 or about 3.4Ghz at 5:4. (all while maintaining tight timings).

That is a bit optimistic. I am sure it is possible but "should" is not the word I would use.
One SHOULD expect more like 215-220 with 2-3-2-6 or with a relaxed settings 2-2-2-6. Anything over 220 depends very much on the particular sticks. 512 stick do not overclock as high as 256 though Buffalo just might be the exception.
Anyway, Buffalo will be OK for P4C800.

I swear people never read the entire thread anymore. It is PC3700 with BH-5 chips.

The replies look accurate in regard to the type of ram being used. Buffalo and BH5 were mentioned. I'm curious to see how this BH5 performs compared to other BH5 based. 215 - 220 with good timings is in the ballpark.

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Originally posted by: oldfart

Originally posted by: DerwenArtos12

Originally posted by: joe2004

I think your planned config. is the "sweet spot" given current prices. Your 2.6C w/BH-5's should get you to about 3Ghz at 1:1 or about 3.4Ghz at 5:4. (all while maintaining tight timings).

That is a bit optimistic. I am sure it is possible but "should" is not the word I would use.
One SHOULD expect more like 215-220 with 2-3-2-6 or with a relaxed settings 2-2-2-6. Anything over 220 depends very much on the particular sticks. 512 stick do not overclock as high as 256 though Buffalo just might be the exception.
Anyway, Buffalo will be OK for P4C800.

I swear people never read the entire thread anymore. It is PC3700 with BH-5 chips.

The replies look accurate in regard to the type of ram being used. Buffalo and BH5 were mentioned. I'm curious to see how this BH5 performs compared to other BH5 based. 215 - 220 with good timings is in the ballpark.

I am sorry but PC 3700 runs at DDR433 which is 216 right there. So for you to continue saying that 215-220 is the most you can get out of BH-5 is just rediculous. It should be easy to get 235-240 out of these chips with a balpark of 2,3,3,7 timings and 2.8v.

 

[Sunny129]

hey darkfudge, don't let those memory numbers confuse you. DDRxxx is just notation for memory speed, while PCxxxx is notation for its theoretical bandwidth. so DDR433 runs at 433mhz, and you can multiply by 8 to get its theoretical bandwidth: 433 * 8 = 3464. even though the numbers don't match up perfectly, DDR433 is essentially PC3700. DDR500 is a better example b/c 500 * 8 = 4000 --> so DDR500 is PC4000. and like Henny said, that Buffalo uses BH5 chips, which are excellent OCers. its the CH5 chips you have to worry about if you go w/ a Springdale (865) board.

 

[Shimmishim]

Originally posted by: DerwenArtos12

Originally posted by: oldfart

Originally posted by: DerwenArtos12

Originally posted by: joe2004

I think your planned config. is the "sweet spot" given current prices. Your 2.6C w/BH-5's should get you to about 3Ghz at 1:1 or about 3.4Ghz at 5:4. (all while maintaining tight timings).

That is a bit optimistic. I am sure it is possible but "should" is not the word I would use.
One SHOULD expect more like 215-220 with 2-3-2-6 or with a relaxed settings 2-2-2-6. Anything over 220 depends very much on the particular sticks. 512 stick do not overclock as high as 256 though Buffalo just might be the exception.
Anyway, Buffalo will be OK for P4C800.

I swear people never read the entire thread anymore. It is PC3700 with BH-5 chips.

The replies look accurate in regard to the type of ram being used. Buffalo and BH5 were mentioned. I'm curious to see how this BH5 performs compared to other BH5 based. 215 - 220 with good timings is in the ballpark.

I am sorry but PC 3700 runs at DDR433 which is 216 right there. So for you to continue saying that 215-220 is the most you can get out of BH-5 is just rediculous. It should be easy to get 235-240 out of these chips with a balpark of 2,3,3,7 timings and 2.8v.

actually, pc3700 is ddr466

pc3200 = ddr400
pc3500 = ddr433
pc3700 = ddr466
pc4000 = ddr500

k thanks!

 

[oldfart]

The DDR speed rating, and what timings you can get pout of a given DDR speed vary between ram mfgrs even when using the same sticks. Mobo brand, bios version, VDimm settings, luck of the draw, and a host of other things vary the actual results. People have had different luck with the Buffalo. 215 - 200 WITH 2-2-2-6 is about right. I never said it cant go higher at looser timings.