Help me determine my memory timings...

mitchafi

Golden Member
Mar 25, 2004
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CPU-Z tells me my memory is running at:

CAS: 2.5
RAS to CAS Delay: 2
RAS Precharge: 2
Tras: 5
Trc: 7
DRAM Idle Timer: 16

Decided to check my timings on mushkin's site since I had never really paid attention previously. It says that the sticks I have are 2-3-3 so it would appear I have the timings set wrong. I don't know how since i've never messed with them, but anyhow, I assume I should correct them. However, how do I know what the other settings should be at besides just the first 3 (2-3-3)? Also, I have my RAM ratio set manually at 1:1 in the bios and CPU-Z is telling me my FSB:DRAM ratio is CPU/20. Is this correct? When I had the ram ratio set to auto CPU-Z always showed CPU/10. And finally, a completely unrelated question: What is v-link voltage? It is listed in my bios but I'm not so sure as to it's function. Yes, I could google it, but I figured I'm posting anyways on something more complex so why not tack it on!
 

Shooters

Diamond Member
Sep 29, 2000
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The memory timings are determined by BIOS settings. Some BIOSes have an "aggressive" setting which basically sets everything to fast timings; you may have enabled this without knowing it. Most BIOSes have a "manual" setting which allows you to specify each timing individually. Or you can look for the "SPD" option which just tells the computer to grab the timings from the SPD chip (which should be the same as the manufacturer's specs). You don't have to run the timings at the manufacturer's specs; that's just what they guarantee. You can try running them faster, but just remember that his may cause errors, so test your RAM thoroughly.

I've never used CPU-Z, so I don't know why it would sat that the FSB:RAM ratio is CPU/20 or CPU/10. It should say something like 1:1 or 4:5 or whatever. It could just be a bug in the program. I would trust the BIOS instead of a third party program.

Yes, I could google it, but I figured I'm posting anyways on something more complex so why not tack it on!
Or even easier, why don't you just look in the manual? All BIOSes are a little different, and I've actually never encountered that setting before, so I can't tell you what it does.

Edit:
I just noticed that you're running an A64. I'm guessing that the on-die memory controller is what's confusing CPU-Z.
 

mitchafi

Golden Member
Mar 25, 2004
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I did notice that when I set the ratio in bios to 1:1 it says next to it DDR 200. 5:3 says DDR 333 and 2:1 says DDR 400. Is this just something technical? Otherwise it would seem that 2:1 would be the correct setting. I looked and there are actually no settings besides manual and auto. (no SPD or anything similar). Also, for the v-link voltage, the manual says absolutely nothing about what the feature does. It just says that the setting "V-Link Voltage" adjusts the V-link voltage setting. Like I didn't know that already...

Edit: Noticed that AIDA32 shows this under my memory bus properties:

Real Clock 110 MHz (DDR)
Effective Clock 220 MHz

To be running at 1:1 wouldn't I want it to say:

Real Clock 220 MHz (DDR)
Effective Clock 440 MHz

Please let me know on this.
 

Viper96720

Diamond Member
Jul 15, 2002
4,390
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Set memory settings back to auto. CPU/10 is right. CPU/20 means your memory is only running at 100MHZ. Just set your Tras to 10 leave the rest on auto. Maybe see if it'll run with the cas latency at 2. Right now your memory can run at 2.5-2-2-5 because it's only running at 1/2 speed. If it can still run 2.5-2-2-10 when running at 200Mhz it'll be faster.
Mines set at 2-3-3-10
My sciencemark memory scores
set 2-3-3-6 I got 2930.11 MB/s
2-3-3-10 score was 2934.81MB/s went up a little just with the higher Tras. If you can get it 2-2-2-10 your memory will be running faster.