OCing memory with a Gigabyte 81EXP

[Richdom]

I just got this board a few days ago and I've been trying to figure out this whole 3:4 ratio thing. All I know is what I read in these forums (and others) and everyone refers to it as something obvious that I'll just see in the BIOS. Well, it's not.

I have the 81EXP, P4 2.53mhz and 2x 512mb of Corsiar XMS 3200 CAS2 memory.

Right now, I just want to OC the memory a bit.

In my BIOS I see lots of options and none of them say "3:4 ratio"

Here is what I see:

HOST/DRAM CLOCK RATIO: Auto/1.5/2.0
----Memory Frequency (Mhz): will read 266 if set to Auto or 2.0 and goes to 200 if I set it to 1.5

DIMM OVERVOLTAGE CONTROL: Normal/+0.1V/+0.2V/+0.3V
That doesn't seem like much since I'm reading ppl having 2.9v on their DIMMs.

I can see my current timings in BIOS and they are 2.5/6/3/3.

Currently Sandra tells me:

FSB: 4x133mhz (532 mhz) STOCK

Memory speed: 2x177 Mhz (354 mhz) STOCK
Multiplier: 1.33x

CPU Core Voltage: 1.46V
Aux Voltage: 1.78V
+3.3V Voltage: 3.25V
+5V: 5.03V
+12V: 11.36V
-12V: -9.40V
-5V: -4.00V
+5V Stabdby: 5.13V
(I have no idea what any of those voltages are for. Which one is my DIMM voltage anyway?)

In my extremely limited understanding of all this I have figured that if I want to stay on the ultra-conservative OCer side that the least I can do is bring my memory up to speed with my FSB.

Is that right?

 

[Duvie]

well I can explain the bios options at least...

with a 2.53ghz p4 the default fsb is 133....

auto is likley the default of the board which is standard ddr and match fsb and double pump it...ie 133x2 = 266

1.5 = 133fsb x 1.5 = 200mhz...

2 = 133fsb x 2.0 = 266mhz...

I don't know about the gigabyte board per say, but I would suspect maybe there is a jumper on the mobo itself that may open up the 3:4 multiplier.

In the bios have you cranked up the fsb of the chip and see if it opened up other options in the dram speed?? Ie older i845d mobos only gave a person 3:4 or 4:5 at 132fsb or lower, but this was do to the fact they were not officially 533fbs mobos anyways...Once you got to 133fsb and the best you had was 1:1 ratio or which would be match host fsb of cpu and double pump for ddr.

 

[THUGSROOK]

Memory speed: 2x177 Mhz (354 mhz)

that means your memory is in 3:4 mode and overclocked.
what is your sandra score? (to verify)

 

[Richdom]

Originally posted by: THUGSROOK

Memory speed: 2x177 Mhz (354 mhz)

that means your memory is in 3:4 mode and overclocked.
what is your sandra score? (to verify)

Really?? Did it OC itself?? I haven't touched a thing yet!

My Sandra score is 10188/12436.

What about the memory stepping? My BIOS says it's 2.5/6/3/3. I assume I can do better which is why I have this CAS 2 memory to begin with.

Thanks for any and all help.

 

[THUGSROOK]

hehe ~ no i meant your sandra memory score 😉

if youre actually at 354ddr you should be getting 2600/2600 scores.

 

[Richdom]

Originally posted by: THUGSROOK
hehe ~ no i meant your sandra memory score 😉

if youre actually at 354ddr you should be getting 2600/2600 scores.

Goes to show you how much I know.

Memory scores 2054/2053.

So I guess I need to tweak something.

 

[THUGSROOK]

you are in 1:1 266ddr mode 🙁

 

[Richdom]

I figured as much since I wouldn't know how to get to any other mode.

So, what's next?? Where do I go to get this thing out of 1:1 mode?

I know it can handle more, I just don't know where to go to change anything.

I've searched for other ppl on the same mobo and haven't found any answers.

I'd appreciate any help you can extend.

thx

 

[Richdom]

Here's another thing that's confusing me.

I'm trying to change the timings on this memory. I read this in a review and figured I would try the same.

Our testing mythology is simple, lets see what this stick taps out at 2-2-2 1T and 2-3-3 1T with no errors or abnormalities. We also plan on pushing for the limits of setting the memory at 2.5-3-3 2T.

In my BIOS the options I have are as follows:

CAS Latency Time: 1.5/2/2.5

Active to Precharge Delay: 7/6/5

DRAM RAS# to CAS# Delay: 3/2

DRAM RAS# Precharge: 3/2

What's with that 2nd option?? 7, 6, or 5?? That doesn't jive with anything I've read.

Any explanation??

thx

 

[THUGSROOK]

your memory (in the order of your motherboard) is rated cas 2/6/3/3.

im not even sure if your board has any other memory ratios.
try underclocking to 132fsb and see if another option appears for the memory ratio.

 

[Richdom]

Nope, underclocking did nothing.

I've been searching all over and can't seem to find any info regarding this board and these memory timings.

 

[Ketchup]

Richdom, There should be a jumper on your motherboard that sets your fsb to 100/133. It is probably set to 133 since you have a 2.53 chip. Set this to 100, and then go into your bios and you should see different memory setting, one of these should be the one for 3:4 memory settings. Then set your fsb to 133 manually (since it's at 100 now) and you should be good to go.

 

[Richdom]

Ketchup,

Thx for the reply. I was pretty excited when I heard that simple solution.

Problem is I have no such jumper!

Another thing that I find weird is that my Memory freqency reads as 300mhz in my BIOS and during boot-up but Sandra tells me it's running at 400mhz.

 

[THUGSROOK]

Originally posted by: Richdom

Another thing that I find weird is that my Memory freqency reads as 300mhz in my BIOS and during boot-up but Sandra tells me it's running at 400mhz.

that's typical ~ dont worry aboout it.
WCPUid or CPU-Z are better for that info.

🙂

 

[Ketchup]

Hmm, according to your first post, your memory is running 177, which means your 3:4 divider is working. I'm not sure why your sandra memory score is so low. How many times have you run it? Hopefully someone out there with your board will reply to your thread, and be a little more helpful than I.

 

[Duvie]

If you have no jumper then maybe that means manually set it to 133fsb...I mean maybe it is in an auto mode and if you set it manually it may open up this option....

Good luck....

Also thugs is right those memory scores are definitely that of pc2100 or 266mhz speed...

Also waht version of Sandra??? Get the 2002 sp1 version as it finally reads the ram speed and other things right of the newer intel p4 chipsets...