Can name brand (Mushkin, Corsair, etc) DDR2-800 @1.8v could also run 1066 @ higher voltage?

[GundamF91]

I have Mushkin DDR2-800, and it runs just fine at 1.8v as per DDR2 spec. I noticed that all DDR2-1066 memory require 2.0v or 2.1v. Does that mean it's really the same DDR2-800 memory, just overclocked at higher voltage?

My DDR2-800 says it can take 1.8v-2.1v. So does that mean it should also do 1066 at 2.1v? Or is there really a difference between DDR2-800 and 1066 memory? I'm talking about the name brand ones, and not just offbrand chips.

 

[GarfieldtheCat]

In general, yes, DDR2-1000/1066 are the same chips as DDR2-800, just tested at the higher speeds/voltages, and those that pass are then packaged and sold.

As to your RAM, most likely, yes it will OC to DDR2-1000 or close to it. But as always, no OC is guaranteed. Try not to go over 2.0V if possible, and maybe consider a small fan to make sure you have some air going over them to keep them cool.

 

[GundamF91]

Then do DDR2-1066 chips that are said to run at 2.0v better able to handle voltage? I thought the overvoltage is a bad thing over the long run no matter what chips you have.

 

[n7]

In response to your first quesiton, basically yes.

The only RAM IC i know of off hand actually designed for DDR2-1066 1.8v is a newer Micron one which is rated for DDR2-1066 CAS 7 1.8v

Otherwise, pretty much everything over DDR2-800 1.8v is basically factory overclocked/tested/binned, & that's how you end up with your DDR2-1066 2.1v, etc.
That's a gross simplication of things of course.

Obviously, there are different ICs used, so while some DDR2-800 1.8v might clock to DDR2-1100 2.1v, others might not overclock much at all.

There are many factors.

I would assume that most of us serious RAM enthusiasts do not buy our RAM based on the rated speed by the manufacturer...we are more interested in the IC used, as that will basically tell how far it can overclock, etc.

It's the same concept as buying lower end CPU & clocking it to the same or better speeds as a higher end CPU in many cases.

One thing that does affect your luck of OCing that lower end kit is binning though.
Generally the very best clocking stuff gets put into the highest priced kits from what i've seen.
With really good luck, you might be able to clock as high with the lower end kits...just not too likely is all.

As for whether or not those higher end kits take the voltage better, i'd say the manufacturer can determine that well.
IMO, if vdimm used is within reason, any RAM will last a long long time, from value RAM to the highest end stuff.

 

[GundamF91]

thanks for answer.

n7, I noticed you have Mushkin memory. I have the 2x2GB Mushkin 996587, runs 5-4-4-12 at 800mhz @ 1.8v. Do you think I can safely push the voltage to 1.9 or 2.0? I tried to make it run at 900mhz @1.8v but it won't work. It worked fine at 850mhz at 1.8v.

 

[n7]

Yeah, mine's the DDR2-800 4-4-4-12 2.0-2.1v kit.

It's really pretty much the same stuff as yours.

In fact, if you set vdimm to 2.0-2.1v, you'll very likely be able to run DDR2-800 4-4-4 also.

Powerchips are strong on speed, not timings though.

So your best bet is to loosen timings up to 5-5-5-15 (make sure tRFC i set loose - 55+ initially) & watch it fly.

If your stuff has the same sticker as these do: http://www.ninjalane.com/displ...cname=mushkin-hp2-6400
Then you are warrantied to 2.1v i believe, which means you more than likely will be able to do well over DDR2-1000 speeds.

If you want a basic breakdown of how mine clock (as they're very similar to yours):

2.0-2.1v for testing initially.
Quick testing with HCI, generally if not fully rock stable, it'll be very close to.
This is with 2x2 GB...it's much harder with 4x2 GB.

DDR2-825 4-4-3
DDR2-915 5-4-3
DDR2-1080 5-5-5

PSC tends to do very well with CAS 5...you won't get far with CAS 4 at all.

Generally you can do 5-5-4 or even 5-5-3 to quite high speeds, but my Mushkin didn't like a tight tRP (other PSC kits do, it varies).

GundamF91, if you want to try for max with only 1.8v, then loosen to 5-5-4 (or just 5-5-5), & you should get a little (or a lot) further than 5-4-4.

If you have the warranty for 2.1v (seems like you do), then you should have no trouble doing well over DDR2-1000 5-5-5 as long as tRFC is loose.

 

[GundamF91]

yep, mine is exactly the one you had linked. It appears that the inability to run 450FSB was due to my CPU hitting the 450mhz FSB wall, and not memory. I changed the speed to 2:3, and CPU @ 300FSB, while memory running at 450mhz. As the result, I successfully managed to run this Mushkin 2x2GB @ DDR2-900, 5-5-5-15 @ 1.85v. I figure I'll give it a bit more juice to ensure stability. I don't need FSB to get very high, DDR2-900 is more than enough for me, so I like to keep the chips run cooler if possible.

I ran memtest86+ at the above spec for 2 passes, everything's worked great. It definitely looks like Mushkin memory is as good as I've heard.

 

[GundamF91]

So I see that Mushkin probably used Powerchips IC. What about Micron? They used to have the famous D9 IC. Are those still around? I heard they were fast, but also died fast, like the Crucial Ballistix that had bunch of durability issues.

 

[n7]

Many "D9xxx" ICs exist, the majority of which suck bigtime for overclocking.

The most "famous" D9 everyone thinks of is D9GMH, a 512 Mb IC.

That means it's not physically possible to have D9GMH on a 2 GB DIMM.
(you need 1 Gb - double sided DIMM; or 2 Gb - single sided DIMM)

Back way before really anyone was buying 2x2 GB in DDR2, Mushkin used D9GSV/D9HBD on their old kits, which are the only good clocking D9s i've ever seen in 2 GB DIMM form.
Those two ICs are long extinct now though.

Micron D9GMH can still be found in various 2x1 GB kits, but in the DDR2 2x2 GB world, Powerchips is what all the decent or better kits use.

 

[bigblockchevy]

overclocking ram is not an exact science.

i have had outstanding luck with some corsair 6400c4 and adata cl4 with the pro-mos chips of all things. i have also had good luck with the d9micron--even the budget stuff has clocked 1066@2.1v-dimm cl5.

i have only used the 1gig sticks. have been told that the 2x1g sticks top out at around 950mhz but that is something i haven't tried.