New GEIL PC3200 -- bad stick or poor overclocker?

[BlueWeasel]

My current system (prior to RAM upgrade):
XP-M 2600+ @ 2.5Ghz (11.5x215)
1024MB PC3200 and PC2700 RAM (Kingston PC3200 and Muskin PC2700 Value RAM)
Epox 8RDA3I Nforce2 Ultra MB

I recently got 4 - 512MB sticks of the GEIL PC3200 Value RAM (GE1GB3200BDC) rated at 8-4-4-2.5. I knew it was Value RAM, but the reviews were pretty good and I was using a "hodge-podge" of mixed RAM before.

Being higher quality RAM that what I had before, I figured it would be able to at least hit 215 FSB with no problems. But, I'm getting MemTest errors at 207 FSB even with 2.9v. I've tried adjusting timings with no luck. I have not tried benchmarking it at the stock FSB yet, though.

I'm using the latest BIOS for my NF2 board.

I'm beginning to wonder if I've got a bad stick of RAM. Or, maybe I've got a finicky board -- although, I was using all 3 RAM slots previously with no problems.

1) What's the rule of thumb for testing RAM sticks? Put a single stick in the first slot, run Memtest, and add sticks as necessary?
2) Are there any RAM testing programs that can isolate the errors to a particular stick when there are multiple sticks in the system?

I'm a little shocked that this RAM has problems hitting even 210 FSB at 2.9v when my Muskin PC2700 Value RAM could it hit 215 FSB at 2.75v.

Any suggestions?

 

[Avalon]

You may just have a bad stick, but remember that value ram typically doesn't go that far. I use the Geil Value ram fairly often for builds, and they don't usually overclock higher than 215mhz with stock timings. I only had one stick out of a dozen that could run at CAS 2.

I guess I'd try testing the sticks individually. That will at least let you know the headroom you'd have with each one.

 

[BlueWeasel]

Originally posted by: Avalon
You may just have a bad stick, but remember that value ram typically doesn't go that far. I use the Geil Value ram fairly often for builds, and they don't usually overclock higher than 215mhz with stock timings. I only had one stick out of a dozen that could run at CAS 2.

I guess I'd try testing the sticks individually. That will at least let you know the headroom you'd have with each one.

Yeah, I knew the risks you take with value RAM when overclocking. But considering a stick of Mushkin PC2700 value RAM could hit 215 at a lower voltage, I figured the Geil memory would at least be able to do that.

I'd certainly lower the timings in order to hit the higher FSB, but haven't found a combination that works yet.

For older NF2 boards with RAM running in dual mode, what generic timings are recommended?