Leaving well enough alone?

[SanDiegoPC]

The *-ONLY-* issue with my system right now, is that the Corsair RAM does not work at 4-4-4-12 as it says on them. yes, I 'm running them at the proper voltage of 2.1

This system is rock-solid, runs reasonably cool, and performs very well. But the Abit board insists on running 5-5-5-18 and when I set the timings properly, it will not boot.

Been in contact with the manufacturer and they told me to send it back to them. All fine & well but I'm wondering if it's worth the effort. Not that it's so damn hard to pull two sticks of memory out, but I have to pay for another pair for them to cross-ship of course. When they get my RMA'd memory back they will credit my CC for the charges.

It's so hard to pull something apart that runs **this**good** just for a tiny bit of tuning/tweaking that I'll never notice in the real world!

 

[sutahz]

I wouldnt worry about it. Who's to say that ram wouldnt run at 4-4-4-12 2.1V on another board... ya know? Maybe your mobo just doesnt play nice. As discussed before, 4-4-4-12 will net you no real world gains vs 5-5-5-15.

I did consider this is a sign that worse things are to come (random crashes, reboots n stuff) but thats why it has a lifetime warranty. But more importantly, it could just be his mobo not loving his ram.

 

[SanDiegoPC]

I couldn't agree with you more ... and thanks for confirming my thoughts. It bugzzz me that the RAM says right on it, 4-4-4-12 and won't do it. But this machine ROCKS so far and has been very stable under XP Pro.

 

[nefariouscaine]

i say just keep it - my Crucial sticks don't play well with one of the EPP profiles. They just don't want to run at DDR2-1000 at 2.2v at loose timings. I don't get it but I don't care either as they underclock even better (make me wish there was CAS - 2.5)

 

[cozumel]

But then there is achance (a small one mind you) that this current timing fault is sign of worse things to come as the chips aren't operating to spec. I would probably RMA just for the peace of mind...

 

[Yellowbeard]

Personally, I would want to know why you can't get the rated timings. I'd suggest you test each module individually with www.memtest.org for about 3-5 passes each just to see if you have a weak or failing module. Try it with 2.1v and the rated timings.

 

[chizow]

I'd also use monitoring software to make sure the board and your PSU are supplying the voltage stated in the BIOS. Many boards tend to over/undervolt and PSUs can also do the same, or droop under load. If voltages are lower than 2.1V after booting into Windows or under load, you may need to adjust accordingly in order to run 4-4-4-12 timings. Another thing to try is the other pair of dimm slots if you're only running 2 dimms, although you might have similar issues or worst later if you try to run 4 dimms. Personally I wouldn't worry too much if your system is stable. Those Crucial 2.1-2.2V kits run extremely hot and increasing voltage to tighten timings slightly isn't worth it imo.

 

[Yellowbeard]

Checking the voltages is not a bad idea but, I'd do it with a meter if you think your problem is serious. Software monitoring is often inaccurate.

 

[JustaGeek]

Originally posted by: Yellowbeard
Checking the voltages is not a bad idea but, I'd do it with a meter if you think your problem is serious. Software monitoring is often inaccurate.

On the subject, but very important question from another thread:

Your professional opinion - how safe is it to run the DDR2 memory at voltages higher than 2.2V, even if manufacturer rates their modules at 2.4V...?

Is it even possible with any IC's...?

TIA.

EDIT: I understand that it might be "unethical" to take part in this dispute...

 

[tenax]

can't speak to corsair, but i know mushkin has a voltage limit that they won't warranty past..i believe it's 2.3 volts if i recall correctly. other companies might have the same type of thing. i run my mushkin and corsair at 2.2 volts 24/7 with no issues.

 

[SanDiegoPC]

I'm only running 2.125V on a rated chip voltage of 2.1

 

[Yellowbeard]

I answered your PM. If you listed it I missed it; what bios are you using? I had good luck with the 1.4 final.

 

[SanDiegoPC]

Originally posted by: Yellowbeard
I answered your PM. If you listed it I missed it; what bios are you using? I had good luck with the 1.4 final.

Can I pull that up with uGuru? Don't see it on the menu...I'll look next time I reboot. I restarted the machine yesterday and I thought it said '14' at the end of the ID string ... is that the 1.4 final? Board is less than a month old (I know, that doesn't tell you the date it was made)

I also have the box here...is the bios revision number on the box?

 

[Yellowbeard]

Just run CPU-Z and look at the mainboard tab. It has the bios revision there.

http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

 

[SanDiegoPC]

Originally posted by: Yellowbeard
Just run CPU-Z and look at the mainboard tab. It has the bios revision there.

http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

Thanks. Bios is listed as 1.x (BIOS:10) under that, chipset revision is A2

does that help? This Bios does not even have 12 listed under Memory Timing. It starts at 15! If it would boot, I could set it to 4-4-4-15 instead of what it is now, 5-5-5-18

But the 12 isn't even there.

 

[Yellowbeard]

It is an odd numbering but it appears you have the 10 (aka 1.0) shipping bios. Is there a compile date listed?

Regardless, find your bios here and flash it to the 14 Final. There is a beta out but, I don't know if it is any better than 14 final yet and since you don't have a 45nm CPU, there is probably no need for the beta.

http://www.uabit.com/index.php...id=48&page=3&model=381

 

[SanDiegoPC]

I just looked at CPU-z again. I was looking under 'motherboard', next to MODEL where it says it's an IP35-Pro. That's where it said 1x(BIOS:10)

the next section is of course where I should have been looking: Where it says BIOS !!!

BRAND: Phoenix Technologies
Version: 6.00 PG
Date: 9/6/2007

So the date on this BIOS is the same as the 14 update? Doesnt' make sense.

 

[Yellowbeard]

That means you have the 14 bios. You may want to look around at the ABIT forums and try their beta. You may also want to post over there so you can get more ABIT specific user input and expertise. They are a good bunch of fellows over there.

But, as you noted above, it does run well at those settings. It's entirely up to you at this point of course. If you think it's faulty memory we'll gladly replace it for you.