help with ram timings

MichaelZ

Senior member
Oct 12, 2003
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Currently running Kingston HyperX 3500 @ close to 200mhz. FSB : RAM = 247 : 197 (5:4) Unfortunatly the ram does not overclock too well and running @ PC4000 speed was always going to be impossible so saying bye to 1:1 aspirations.

Problem now is getting my timings right. Stock was running @ 2,3,3,8 but i changed that to 2,3,3,6. Running 2,2,2,5 would have been and dream and it remained just that. A dream.

What other possible combinations would improve performance noticably? This is most likely CH5 ram as I purchased it recently.
 

myocardia

Diamond Member
Jun 21, 2003
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I think that 3.7ghz out of an air-cooled 3.0C is about all you're gonna get, man. Running 5:4 doesn't hurt a P4's performance. If you want to see how fast that ram can go, you're going to have to start raising the timings, starting with the CAS (the only one you have at 2 right now). But, it's already been tested an proven that running at 1:1 with looser timings isn't any better than 5:4 with tight timings.
 

Jeff7181

Lifer
Aug 21, 2002
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2-3-3-8 isn't bad... I'd say it's a little better than average... then again, I have some really cheap PC3200 with BH-5's that runs at 2.5-3-3-8 at 200 Mhz and I can only get the RAM to 209 Mhz without errors, even if I change the timings to 3-4-4-15 and set the voltage at 2.9. I bet I paid a lot less for my cheap stuff than you did for your HyperX though... so I guess I'd be a little disappointed too.
 

Deskstar

Golden Member
Mar 26, 2001
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If you Kinston is rated at PC3500, which I calculate to be RAM speed of 219, then why will it not hit that mark? Why not loosen your timings and see if it will not go above 200?
 

jhites

Golden Member
Mar 19, 2000
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Have you tried increasing the vdimm???
My HyperX (2X512) would do 2-2-2-5 PAT enabled but needed 2.85v
to run 262fsb 5:4 = DDR420. Mine was the older BH5 chips, however.
 

MichaelZ

Senior member
Oct 12, 2003
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The ram is actually rated at 217mhz or DDR434. i can run 1:1 up to a certain point. ie: 225FSB : 225DRAM. that's about as high as it will go even after increasing VDIMM from 2.6V default to 3.3V. Of course this is running @ 2,3,3,6 timings. Any higher and the system crashes immediatly after Windows has loaded. Thus I've settled for 5:4 with 2,3,3,6

myocardia mentioned that looser timings running 1:1 is no better than 5:4 with tighter timings. Well, I may as well settle for the current setup rather than go mucking about if there's no real advantages. Not to mention the BIOS reset jumper is behind my floppy drive cable. I gotta get tweezers and unplug the damn cable everytime which gets on my nerves.
 

Shimmishim

Elite Member
Feb 19, 2001
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anything is possible with enough voltage :)

i could run 2 x 256 megs of kingston hyperX pc3200 @ 245 mhz 1:1 @ 2-2-2-6 timings on a p4p800 with 3.3 vdimm volts
 

MichaelZ

Senior member
Oct 12, 2003
871
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yes but perhaps yours was BH5?

mine was purchased very recently so like said, it most likely was CH5. although i did not get them retail as i work @ a comp store and parts i can get at distributor prices.
 

Shimmishim

Elite Member
Feb 19, 2001
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ch-5

try 2-2-3-6 then :)

some of these ch-5's have been doing very well as well! :)

just give it go!