computer & jhites:
i'm back again. 🙂 thanks for the help before, but i have another question.
as a refresher:
3 weeks ago i got a 2.8C, 2x256 Corsair PC3200 (XMS C2s, not the TwinX LLs and not matched pairs). On another forum I asked about lowering the memory timings and trying memtest out. i was advised to:
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- Set the FSB to 210 and MEM to 400
- Set AGP/PCI to 66/33
- Set VCORE to 1.525
- Set VDIMM to 2.55
- Set VAGP to 1.50
- Set the PERFORMANCE MODE to STANDARD
- Set USE SPD SETTINGS to DISABLED
- Set the timings to 2-3-3-6 (BIOS order)
- Set PERFORMANCE ACCELERATION to ENABLED
- Boot a MemTest86 floppy and let it run for at least 2 hours.
If OK, repeat test with timings = 2-2-3-6 (BIOS order)
If OK, repeat test with timings = 2-2-3-5 (BIOS order)
If OK, repeat test with timings = 2-2-2-6 (BIOS order)
If OK, repeat test with timings = 2-2-2-5 (BIOS order)
Use the timings that passed, with FSB = 200 instead of 210 and you will have the best performance setup with maximum component durability/reliability. Overclock at your own risk.
If you want some eventual extra performance, set MEM to 320 (actually this means that your memory will run at 4/5 of your FSB, and not the real memory speed) and FSB to 225 & up. At FSB = 250 your memory will be again at 400MHz but your CPU will be running at 3.5 GHz instead of 2.8.
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so i set the settings and Memtest crashed - every time. it gets to about the 4th test and just sits there. i have to reset or shut it off. and usually i get a "Overclocking failed!" response when I reboot.
i've tried running Memtest with:
1 stick at a time in each slot
2 sticks dual channel
2 sticks not dual channel
i even took those 2 sticks back and got new RAM (from the same place and the same model) with the same problems.
no go. i'm not having any problems with the computer - but it's really bugging me that I can't get through a Memtest without it locking up. i even try NOT OVERCLOCKING and it's locking up.
so yesterday I bought another 512 of the Corsair to give me 1GB total (not to replace the others, but to complement them). When I took them home, I realized I got the LLs (this time i got a matched pair). so i now have:
2x256 C2s
2x256 LLs
both running in dual channel
I put them in, set Overclock to 5% and it posted! before, it always failed whenever I tried to use the "Auto overclock".
So i bumped it up to 10%, and it posted again. Checked with CPUZ and I believe it said i was at 220MHz @ 10% (but I can't remember the memory timings.. 2-4-4-7 or something at 5:4 i think). I watched the Asus probe utility temps (on one monitor) while I played a heavy round of Unreal Tournament 2004 and watched the CPU temp shoot up to 114 F from 85F and it stayed under 120F with the stock HSF.
now, my questions
1) what the heck is wrong that I can't run Memtest without it crashing, even when i'm not overclocking
2) is that temp OK for extended periods of time?
3) i probably shouldn't have mixed and matched timings because it'll use the loosest timings right?
tonight i'm going to try Memtest with just the 2 LLs in dual channel with the memory settings suggested above, unless you have any other suggestions.
thanks guys.. this is frustrating!