OCZ EL Platinum won't run stable! Help!

[Alphanos]

Ok, I've just got the parts arrived and assembled for my new machine. Abit IC7-G, P4 2.8GHz C Processor, and 2x512MB OCZ EL Platinum PC3200 memory (along with other non-relevant parts). Flashed to latest BIOS (1.5), and started playing with memtest86.

First I started out with SPD latency settings of 2.5-3-3-7. Even thought the RAM is rated at 2-2-2-5, I thought this would be fine as I could get to a higher frequency. Well, the highest I got was about 215(after using much looser timings than SPD defaults), which I now suspect I may not have tested thouroughly enough for stability. So I said that's still ok, I'll try a 5:4 divider to oc my cpu and use low latency settings to improve RAM performance at 200MHz. Well, I tried a very wide variety of settings, including 2.6, 2.65, 2.7, and 2.8 Volts for the RAM (this RAM is rated to be fine at 2.8V), but I'm still having difficulty trying to get it stable at 2-3-3-7 (lower CAS than the SPD values). This seems pretty messed up to me, since I paid extra money for enhanced latency platinum memory rated at 2-2-2-5, and I'm having trouble getting it to run at even the claimed speeds! I thought that OCZ memory was supposed to be good stuff, so I must be doing something wrong?!


Right now it seems to be ok at 2.5-3-3-7 (200MHz), but I really expected better from high-quality memory. Is there anything more I can do to improve this? Do I need better airflow or fixed cabling? Case temps are 35-40 celsius as reported by my IC7-G board, but this board is supposed to report significantly higher than real temps.

Please suggest something. Unless it becomes apparent that the memory will not run stably at ANY reasonable settings, RMAing it is not an option because I need the time between now and the end of the summer to get my machine ready for university, and I don't have spare RAM lying around.

Note: I have not yet tried overclocking my CPU beyond the 7.5% boost that 215MHz FSB gave it. I ran at 1:1 for testing purposes of RAM timings, planning to oc later. CPU cooler is Zalman CNPS7000-AlCu, so I don't think that's the problem. PSU is Antec TrueBlue 480, in case anyone asks about that.

 

[orion7144]

Well first go into your BIOS and disable the last two settings under GAT (I can't remember what they are) and make sure GAT is AUTO. Keep your voltage at 2.8 as the OCZ is actualy able to run at 2.9 according to their website. As a last resort head over to the asusmbforums and PM oczguy and he will hook you up. That ram you have is what I started with (well the 256 version) and it took awhile to work out all of the bugs. Also when running memtest use 1 stick at a time. THere seems to be some conflics with running it in Dual mode.

 

[Alphanos]

Thanks for the advice. I'll try some of that stuff now. Last night after I posted I ran a pass of memtest on 2-3-3-7 with 2.7V and it was fine (before I ran it unsuccessfully at 2.65V), so I ran it for 5 hours overnight without any trouble. I'd like to get it working to specs though.

You said that memtest has trouble with dual-channel RAM; does that mean that I I get it working without dual channel than the errors aren't really there? I wasn't quite sure what you meant. Should I try to put the two sticks of RAM in different banks to test it without dual channel, or just one stick at a time?

 

[orion7144]

Originally posted by: Alphanos
Thanks for the advice. I'll try some of that stuff now. Last night after I posted I ran a pass of memtest on 2-3-3-7 with 2.7V and it was fine (before I ran it unsuccessfully at 2.65V), so I ran it for 5 hours overnight without any trouble. I'd like to get it working to specs though.

You said that memtest has trouble with dual-channel RAM; does that mean that I I get it working without dual channel than the errors aren't really there? I wasn't quite sure what you meant. Should I try to put the two sticks of RAM in different banks to test it without dual channel, or just one stick at a time?

I did one stick at a time. Didn't think of putting them in different slots like 1-2 3-4

 

[Alphanos]

Thanks very much for your help. I now have the voltage set at 2.8V, some GAT settings disabled (were on auto before) and cleaned up my wiring to improve airflow over the memory. It seems to be running fine at 2-3-2-5 now.

 

[orion7144]

Your welcome