Does the IS7 & IS7-G have memory issues??

[computer]

Hi all, I sent an email to OCZ memory asking them about their "Motherboard qualification guide" posted at their site and why the IS7 & G was not listed. Here's his reply:

The IS7 motherboard has some issues when you run CPU frequency
and memory frequency in async mode. Other than that, you can use our
PC3200, PC3500 and PC3700 memory without any problems.

It happens to both IS7 and IS-G. It's board level problem so
it's not just OCZ memory has this problem. Other memory fails to work
in async mode at more than 250 FSB on this board either.

I was about to get an IS7 or G. Can anyone vouch for this...is this really happening to any of you that use these boards? I'm rather shocked to see this since I have yet to see anything but a GLOWING review for these boards.

(BTW, these people from OCZ have absolutely the greatest support I've ever seen of any memory manufacturer, probably any manufacturer period!)
Thanks.

 

[porkbun]

I am running my IS7-E at 300 MHz FSB async. with a 3:2 ratio. I have Geil PC3200 CL2.5. They work fine as long as I keep command-per-clock disabled in the BIOS. If CPC is AUTO, I can't get past 275 MHz. Everything else other than CPC is AUTO. My timings are 2.5-6-3-3. BIOS 15 is the best BIOS IMO.

I had a Winbond BH-5 that worked just fine on this board. CH-5 was a no-go. It did not even run at stock speed for me, and the board did not post at all.

BTW, is PAT off whenever I use the 800 MHz strap? Is there anyway to enable it?

 

[computer]

Since I have yet to get an 865/875 mobo I'm not familiar with all of these settings you mention other than async, and 3:2 sounds async. Are you saying that you ARE running your IS7 at the settings where the tech said there were problems? Does "command-per-clock disabled" hurt performance, is that a disadvantage to have it disabled?

Now PAT I know more about. Technically, no 865 mobo supports PAT. However, they have something better, although I don't remember what it's called. If you read all of the review sites, you'll see that the top 865 versions of the 875 version mobo's are FASTER. They have some sort of "PAT emulation" (for lack of a better term now), that outperforms PAT. Examples: the IS7 is a good bit faster than the IC7; MSI 865 Neo2 FIS2R is a lot faster than the 875 Neo2 FIS2R; Asus P4P800 (865) is faster than the P4C800 (875). Exception is the Giga 8KNXP (875) which is their fastest mobo.

I THINK on the Abits from what I've read, there is something in the BIOS to enable some kind of "acceleration" like "game acceleration" and an "F1" setting I think it was called that emulates PAT, or at least gives it more performance. The PAT "emulation" may be enabled by default, that I don't know. When you say "is PAT off whenever I use the 800 MHz strap....".......in a nutshell, yes since the IS7 doesn't have PAT. If you mean the PAT "emulation", that I can't answer. They'd know in the IS7 forum.

 

[computer]

Here's a paragraph from the Anandtech mobo reviews:

Just like the IS7, the IS7-G is yet another motherboard that has successfully mimicked PAT (Performance Acceleration Technology) code previously exclusive to 875P motherboards. As a result the IS7-G is not only slightly faster than every 875P motherboard we've tested but, ironically, also faster than ABIT's own 875P motherboard, the IC7/IC7-G. The procedure for reaping the benefits of PAT-like performance are the same for the IS7-G as they were for the IS7. That is, first make sure your memory timings are as reliably aggressive as your modules are able to withstand. Then, enable the "PSB533" setting under "N/B strap" if you're using an 800MHz FSB processor. After that enable the 1:1 ratio along with the "fixed" option for your AGP/PCI bus. Finally, enable the CPC (Command Per Clock) in the Advanced Chipset Features section. This only applies to users that will be running their IS7-G at stock speeds, if you're overclocking (especially past 250MHz FSB) make sure you use change N/B strap back to PSB800 so as to not max out your memory too quickly. A 3:2 DRAM:CPU memory ratio is usually your best bet past 250MHz FSB if you don't have expensive memory rated higher than PC3200 (DDR400). Otherwise 5:4 is still possible with high-speed memory validated at DDR433 (PC3500) or DDR466 (PC3700).

I just read at another thread that no one can enable the F1 settings on the IS7! Now I need to look for all the reviews again for more info on "F1" and see how the testers enabled it, if they did.

 

[Tom]

"I just read at another thread that no one can enable the F1 settings on the IS7! "

Don't put too much stock in such statements. It is obviously wrong that no one can enable F1. F1 is very aggressive memory settings, but it works for some people at certain settings with the right memory.

But I wouldn't fret about it anyway, the IS7 is damn fast without using the most aggressive settings, it's just that some people think they should be able to max out every setting all the time even if they're overclokcing to a very high FSB.

The beauty of the IS7 is it's adjustable, but that adustability has to actually be used, you can't just assume that all settings can be maxed all the time when dual channel DDR is already pushing the envelope as far as memory design is concerned even at stock speeds.

And it isn't the motherboard that has issues anyway, it's memory companies that sell overclocked memory as though it really is designed to run at the speeds they claim. There aren't any memory chips rated faster than pc3200 cas 3 by the memory chip manufacturers that I'm aware of.

So people should stop blaming the motherboard when it's more likely the memory, or the users are trying to push too many settings to the max at once.

 

[RaymondY]

With my current configuration, I am set GAT = F1 and have the system run stably. Has been tested running Prime95 for 24+ hours

My system config:

Abit IS7 (Bios 15) with GAT = F1 and Command Per Clock = disabled
Pentium 4 2.6C (running at default 800fsb)
2-512mb Corsair XMS3200LL-PLT (with 2-3-3-7)
Zalman 7000AlCu HSF
Leadtek GF4 Ti4600

Aida32 (v3.75) memory benchmarks:
GAT=F1
Read = 5089
Write = 2323

Hope this helps

FYI: I could not get F1 or Turbo or Street Racer runnning stable at any memory setting other than 2-3-3-7

 

[computer]

There's a lot of PC3200 that's CAS2. Corsair C2 & LL; Kingston HyperX; GeIL Ultra, Ultra Plat, ULD; OCZ Ultra, etc.

Raymond have you tried to OC your CPU?

 

[Tom]

I'm talking about the actual speed rating of the chips, not the overclocked speed rating that module manufacturers put on their products.

Tell me what semi-conductor manufacturer makes memory chips rated at cas2 at pc3200 ?


Corsair, Kingston, and OCZ are not semi-conductor manufacturers, as far as I know.

 

[computer]

Ok, sorry I misread that, I thought you said or meant memory manufacturers (as in the module stick). I don't know how we could know what the CAS specs are for the actual chips (like Winbond, Infineon or Micron, etc) without getting the ID #'s and going to their websites to look for datasheets on the chips. I haven't done that. All I was speaking of is the memory end product module manufacturers list CAS2 settings for most of their PC3200. Corsair PC3200 C2 & LL is, for one example, true PC3200 and not overclocked (they claim) since the test sites were able to OC it quite a bit . However they said that the Corsair PC3700 is mislabeled or overclocked PC3200.

I never gave any thought to the actual chips since I can't find any module manufacturer that lists what chips they use.....could be because they change. They don't even list if they are double-sided or single-sided. GeIL is one that does make their own chips though so you can probably go by what they spec as true.

 

[Tom]

Thats my whole point. As far as I know there aren't any chips that are rated faster than pc3200 cas3 by chip manufacturers. If that is accurate the module makers who claim faster speeds are clocking the chips beyond their rated speed. It's possible to do this of course, this is what overclockers count on. Of course if the module seller has already overclocked the memory there is less chance that the end user will be able to overclock it more.

I think it's unethical for companies to sell overclocked chips without telling buyers that they are overclocked.