RAM voltage question

[Rifter]

I have this ram Corsair XMS2 Dominator 4GB DDR2-1066 CL5-5-5-15, its 2 2GB sticks. It is running at 1066Mhz according to my splash screen/bios at boot and all software applications i have tried. I had to set the timing manually in the bios and the speeds to get it to 1066. It passes memtest86+ no problems and does not get that hot to the touch after a few hours of memtest. However it is running at 1.85V, the specs on corsairs spec sheet list it as needing 2.1V at 1066 speeds. When i try to up the voltage in the bios it first turns the numbers yellow color when i hit 1.9-2.0V and then red when 2.01V+ and this makes me think maybe i should not try to raise the voltage as the bios seems to think the SPD rating says this ram is not made for that voltage. What should i do? I am hesistant to turn anything in my bios up to the point the numbers turn red. But at the same time corsair rated it at 2.1V and it does have some decent heatsinks on it.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Originally posted by: Rifterut
I have this ram Corsair XMS2 Dominator 4GB DDR2-1066 CL5-5-5-15, its 2 2GB sticks. It is running at 1066Mhz according to my splash screen/bios at boot and all software applications i have tried. I had to set the timing manually in the bios and the speeds to get it to 1066. It passes memtest86+ no problems and does not get that hot to the touch after a few hours of memtest. However it is running at 1.85V, the specs on corsairs spec sheet list it as needing 2.1V at 1066 speeds. When i try to up the voltage in the bios it first turns the numbers yellow color when i hit 1.9-2.0V and then red when 2.01V+ and this makes me think maybe i should not try to raise the voltage as the bios seems to think the SPD rating says this ram is not made for that voltage. What should i do? I am hesistant to turn anything in my bios up to the point the numbers turn red. But at the same time corsair rated it at 2.1V and it does have some decent heatsinks on it.

Some RAM makers give a range of recommended voltage: for instance, I have two sets of G.SKILL that are rated for 2.0-to-2.1V. Typically, motherboards with default "auto" settings tend to volt RAM lower than the manufacturer spec. On the G.SKILLs, they came up in BIOS with a default of about 1.9V.

Other RAM makers like Corsair specify a single, fixed "recommended voltage." Like my DHX DDR2-800 kit from Corsair, yours apparently are spec'd at 2.1V. I spoke to Corsair about volting them lower, and was advised to set them at 2.1V. I was also told that their warranty allows for a setting of 5% over that spec, so they can (probably) be volted to 2.2V without any damage -- certainly covered by Corsair warranty. I had also seen benchtests for my DHX modules where the tester volted them as high as 2.4V. "Kids -- you can do this at home, but you'll have to accept the consequences."

It may be that ASUS' BIOS-maker assumed that RAM specs would be lower. I've seen this sort of thing before: nVidia Monitor's earlier version would show CPU voltage "in the red" when the setting and reported voltage were within the Intel "safe range." You might contact ASUS by e-mail, and see what they say. But if (a) Corsair says the recommended voltage is 2.1V, and (b) the motherboard reports the voltage at or near your setting, I wouldn't worry about the RAM's longevity or health.

 

[Yellowbeard]

Based on your first post, it seems like you are stable. If you are stable, don't raise the voltage. If you are not stable, increase it.

 

[Rifter]

thanks guys, i think i am ok at the lower voltage as it is rock stable i just thought it was wierd that corsair says 2.1V at 1066 and my bios seems to think otherwise.