IMPOSSIBLE to get my Ballistix Tracers 8500 at 1066MHz, help!

[AuDioFreaK39]

Hey you guys, sorry for the demanding thread title, but I'm in need of a bit of help here. A while ago I bought 4GB (4 x 1GB) of Crucial Ballistix Tracer 8500 for the rig below:

ABIT IP35-Pro
Celeron-L 430 1.88GHz @ 2.88GHz (temporary until Penryn)
eVGA 8800Ultra @ 660/2330
Creative X-FI Fatal1ty Pro
PC Power & Cooling Silencer Quad 750w

I currently have a 32CFM Noctua 120mm fan blowing on my ram sticks, which are running at 800MHz 4-4-4-11 2T @ 2.0v. For some reason, anytime I want to run at 1066MHz 5-5-5-18 2T (SDP) @ 2.2v, I always get blue screens that read PAGE_FAULT_IN_NON_PAGE_AREA. Something isn't right here. My CPU FSB is running at 320MHz x 9.0 if that makes any difference. Even at stock CPU frequencies, I will still have blue screens at 1066MHz. I have also tried taking out two sticks and I still get the same result. Finally, I have tried two different BIOSes for my board - the current official release and a recent beta release - still the same result. If anyone has any insight as to what I can do, please let me know. Thanks in advance.

 

[AuDioFreaK39]

Here's a picture of where I'm at if it helps:

http://i57.photobucket.com/alb...mset800mhz4-4-4-11.png

 

[Quiksilver]

Your using software to adjust the timings? That alone could be the problem your having. Use your BIOS to do it.

 

[nefariouscaine]

Originally posted by: QuiksilverX1
Your using software to adjust the timings? That alone could be the problem your having. Use your BIOS to do it.

sir that is your first problem - that board also does not officially support DDR2 at your desired speed. I don't think it'd be an issue handling it but it would require the proper settings of memory ratios to FSB speeds as well as setting the timings

also i don't see a setting for voltage there in that program and there is a very good chance that stuff needs more than the 2.0v to run 1066 - once again bios settings but try lower as lower voltage is a better thing.

good luck and stay away from programs to change system settings like memory or FSB

 

[imported_Scoop]

I don't think he uses that program to change the settings, at least he didn't imply anything in that direction. He just showed what settings he is running.

How do you get your memory to run at 1066Mhz with stock CPU FSB? With an assumed 200Mhz FSB, the memory will only run at 800Mhz with a 1:2 FSBRAM ratio, which is the highest possible. You are currently using 4:5 FSBRAM ratio, which with the 320Mhz FSB gives you 800Mhz memory clocks correct?

Since you are already running on a pretty high OC, I don't suppose you could make your FSB to 350? Maybe lowering your multiplier to 8x? With 2:3 ratio you would get 1060Mhz memory clocks with 350Mhz FSB. Or you could use the 1:2 ratio but this would mean you'd have to lower the FSB to 266Mhz to make 1066Mhz memory clocks. You need to play around with the FSB and the multiplier and the FSBRAM ratio to make it work.

EDIT: Damn these emoticons....

 

[n7]

I assume you understand how ratios work?

Assuming that, keep in mind first off that 4 dimms are hard on any motherboard, which usually means the potential for needing:
-extra vdimm
-extra Northbridge voltage
-loosening of subtimings
-changing strap settings to achieve stability

Lots of things to consider really, & i'm not sure how many of the aforementioned you've tried.

 

[AuDioFreaK39]

Okay you guys here are some pics of my current situation. And no I am not using software to adjust my timings, lol that is absurd. It was a program I found that gives all necessary ram info

I was able to get my CPU up slightly more to 3.06GHz (340 x 9) @ 1.31v and runs perfectly stable with the Ballistix at 816MHz 4-4-4-11 2T @ 2.0v. This brings my FSB:RAM ratio to 5:6. However, I still want to be able to have DDR2 1066MHz or higher speeds. Also, for some reason I am not able to change my multiplier any lower. Whenever I exit the BIOS it resets back to x 9.0 - any way to fix this? Here are the options available for adjusting:

Voltages:
http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/6364/dsc02341tu3.jpg
http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/1069/dsc02342by1.jpg

CPU/FSB/RAM Frequencies:
http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/3946/dsc02344wg0.jpg

Timings:
http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/1256/dsc02343gh3.jpg

I also noticed that every time I restart the computer, either through windows or by hitting ctrl+alt+delete when POSTing, I always get red dots across my screen like so:
http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/6865/dsc02335kd3.jpg

This occurs at DDR2 800, 1066, stock CPU frequencies, overclocked, stock voltages, and everything that I have tried. One user suggested it might be the DVI cable between my 8800Ultra and my monitor, but such is not the case because it is working completely fine. In fact, there were two very rare instances when I restarted and no dots appeared at all. I am wondering if it could be a memory problem. Anyways, please let me know which voltages / settings I should adjust. I want to get my Ballistix working just like everyone elses! Thanks in advance.

 

[imported_Scoop]

With the 340Mhz FSB use the 1:1.5 ratio and you will get 1030Mhz memory clocks, which is reasonably close to the rated 1066Mhz. Also, I have a hard time believing those ballistix are rated for 4-4-4-12 timing with 1066Mhz, so you might want to loosen them to 5-5-5-15. You might also want to up the DDR2 voltage to 2.1V, they are rated 2.2V.

What are your GPU temps? Have you run atitool to determine those clocks on the GPU?

 

[gingerstewart55]

Originally posted by: Scoop
Also, I have a hard time believing those ballistix are rated for 4-4-4-12 timing with 1066Mhz, so you might want to loosen them to 5-5-5-15.

You are correct......those Ballistix are NOT rated for 4-4-4-12 at that speed, but as you figured, 5-5-5-15. I don't know where the heck the OP even thought they were rated for 4-4-4-12.

Heck, even Crucial's own web page for that RAM lists the timing at 5-5-5-15, as does Newegg's page.

From Crucial's page for PC2-8500 (DDR2-1066) RAM:



Ballistix 240-pin DIMM, DDR2 PC2-8500 memory module

* Module Size: 1GB
* Package: Ballistix 240-pin DIMM
* Feature: DDR2 PC2-8500
* Specs: DDR2 PC2-8500 ? 5-5-5-15 ? Unbuffered ? NON-ECC ? DDR2-1066 ? 2.2V ? 128Meg x 64



So, relax your timings and up the voltage to at least 2.1V, as was suggested above. To expect 4-4-4-12 timings at the attempted speed of 1066 is indeed just going to give you repeated crashes or memory errors.


Then again, that Abit board hasn't been the be-all and end-all of being the most compatible of motherboards out there....and of course, there are the horrible Vdroop problems reported with it and naturally, problems with overclocking 4GB of memory...but that's a problem iwth a whole lot of motherboards out there.

 

[AuDioFreaK39]

Sigh..you guys aren't understanding the problem. The pictures are showing my RAM running at 816MHz 4-4-4-11 2T @ 2.0v. YES, I know that the rated speed for 1066MHz is 5-5-5-15, that's when I have been running them at when I attempt that speed @ 2.2v. The problem is, however, that I always get blue screens when trying to run DDR2 1066MHz 5-5-5-15 2T @ 2.2v. I posted pics of my BIOS options to ask what could be changed..

 

[imported_Scoop]

Ok. I guess the last thing what I can figure now that you've made the problem clear is that you could up the northbridge voltage. Running 4 DIMM sticks of RAM causes a stress on the northbridge. So that would be the MCH Voltage (Memory Controller Hub), which you have on the default level.

Try upping it in .05 increments up to 1.5V. Of course when you have the system stable, lower it to the minimum voltage at which the system is stable. If it keeps crashing with 1.5V, back down to default as that would prove it as an ineffective measure.

 

[Sylvanas]

Originally posted by: Scoop
Ok. I guess the last thing what I can figure now that you've made the problem clear is that you could up the northbridge voltage. Running 4 DIMM sticks of RAM causes a stress on the northbridge. So that would be the MCH Voltage (Memory Controller Hub), which you have on the default level.

Try upping it in .05 increments up to 1.5V. Of course when you have the system stable, lower it to the minimum voltage at which the system is stable. If it keeps crashing with 1.5V, back down to default as that would prove it as an ineffective measure.

Beat me to it, yes raise NB voltage- I cannot remember what I ran my IP35-E NB at but it was definitely quite a few notches above stock when running 4x1gb.

 

[Arcanedeath]

As has been stated you need more northbridge Voltage w/ 4 dimms you also may want to relax the Pre charge delay to 15 and the performance level of 5 is too tight you need to releax it to 6 or 7 to get stablity, Performance level is how tight your chipset / strap timings are and it has to be relaxed alot to get stability w/ 4 dimms w/ Asus boards its called transaction booster I'm not sure what its call in the IP35-E's bios