How do I test how high my RAM will go?

[tigersty1e]

I want to see the maximum MHZ my ram will go with my current timings.

How would I go about testing the max MHZ?


I know of one way, but I don't want to do it this way. That would be just putting the divider at 1:1 and raise the CPU FSB as high as it will go. The problem is I won't know if the motherboard, processor, or memory is my limiting factor without doing extensive stress testing.

 

[Billb2]

Originally posted by: tigersty1e
I want to see the maximum MHZ my ram will go with my current timings.

How would I go about testing the max MHZ?


I know of one way, but I don't want to do it this way. That would be just putting the divider at 1:1 and raise the CPU FSB as high as it will go. The problem is I won't know if the motherboard, processor, or memory is my limiting factor without doing extensive stress testing.

A faster way?...aint none..........

"just putting the divider at 1:1 and raise the CPU FSB as high as it will go"...This will buy you a reformat and a reinstall! Ya gotta go slow.

 

[ryderOCZ]

Hello,

Are we talking about the OCZ in your sig? I will assume from the timings that you have the PC2-6400 CAS 3 Flex XLC sticks. They will not run CAS 3 much over 800 if at all. Now at CAS 4 they have a chance to run as high as DDR2-1000, but I only achieved that on 680i chipset.
With P35 it becomes a bit harder to achieve that, make sure the Trfc timing is set to at least 42 or higher to clock the sticks well.

 

[tigersty1e]

Originally posted by: ryderOCZ
Hello,

Are we talking about the OCZ in your sig? I will assume from the timings that you have the PC2-6400 CAS 3 Flex XLC sticks. They will not run CAS 3 much over 800 if at all. Now at CAS 4 they have a chance to run as high as DDR2-1000, but I only achieved that on 680i chipset.
With P35 it becomes a bit harder to achieve that, make sure the Trfc timing is set to at least 42 or higher to clock the sticks well.

No...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?Item=N82E16820227189


This is the ram I have. Because I have it at 266 FSB, the timing default to the timing in my sig.

Keeping this at CL5, how high is an average overclock.

 

[ryderOCZ]

Ok...why clock it at 266? If your FSB is still 266 and you set 1:1 instead of 2:3 to give you DDR2-800, you are giving away performance.

Do you want to overclock the CPU or the ram?

 

[tigersty1e]

Originally posted by: Billb2
A faster way?...aint none..........

"just putting the divider at 1:1 and raise the CPU FSB as high as it will go"...This will buy you a reformat and a reinstall! Ya gotta go slow.

I don't necessarily mean a faster way. I mean a more efficient way. If I set the FSB to 400+ with 1:1 and the computer doesn't post or if I fail a stress test, I won't know if the CPU, motherboard, or ram is the limiting factor. I could try all day to tweak the cpu voltage, but that won't mean jack if my ram is the limiting factor... you know what I mean?


The other possibility I was thinking of was setting the multiplier to 2:3... this way if the CPU FSB is at 300, then the ram is at 450. I already know my cpu and motherboard can go to 300fsb, so if I don't post, then I know the ram can't do 450. The thing is, if I do get a post, I won't know for sure that the ram is at 450.

 

[tigersty1e]

Originally posted by: ryderOCZ
Ok...why clock it at 266? If your FSB is still 266 and you set 1:1 instead of 2:3 to give you DDR2-800, you are giving away performance.

Do you want to overclock the CPU or the ram?

I haven't had time to overclock. I'm doing some important work at the moment, so I have everything set at default. I'll be done in a week and then it's on!!!


How am I giving away performance?

I thought setting the RAM MHZ higher than my cpu fsb doesn't add anything.

fsb at 266 and ram at 266 with lower timings is better than fsb at 266 and ram at 800 with higher timing.

 

[ryderOCZ]

If you set 2:3 mode, then up the FSB slowly, you will find the limit of the ram the fastest that way. Just use 5-5-5-15 timings with Trfc at 42 - 50 and you will clock as high as possible with the sticks.

FSB at 266 with ram at 266 is not going to be better than FSB at 266 with ram at 400 (800) Your timings are not tight enough to give that benefit. If you were running 3-3-3 at 266 (533) then maybe.