Suggestions for getting my RAM to run at 800MHz?

[balane]

I have this RAM;

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820231098

and this motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813121035

I wasn't informed enough when I bought my hardware so I'm stuck with it. The E6400 is obviously not overclocked any. I'm able to run the RAM at 667MHz 4-4-4-12. I can get it to boot and run reasonably well in Windows at 800MHz 5-5-5-15 but I will see lock ups in games and benchmark programs on a regular basis.

I have two questions;

1.) How much of an improvement is 800MHz over 667MHz? Am I taking a noticeable hit here?

2.) Do you have any suggestions for getting my RAM to run at its designated speed with this set up?

I just would like things to get working as they should to capitalize on my investment.

Thanks.

 

[phile]

I'm not familiar with your board, but it should be capable of running your mem at DDR2-800 with the FSB at stock (266). This configuration would use the 2:3 memory divider. If you haven't tried boosting the memory voltage, increase it to 2.0v. This may be all you need to get that configuration stable.

Before doing anything, though, it's probably a good idea to run a diagnostic on your memory, to make sure you don't have a faulty DIMM. Run the test with the mem at DDR2-800 and the VDIMM at 2.0v.

http://www.memtest.org

Download the ISO and burn the image to a CD. Boot with the CD and let all 10 tests run at least once. If you see any errors, run the same test on each DIMM separately. If you get errors on one DIMM and not the other, it's a good bet that you have a bad DIMM.

Note: before removing or seating DDR2 DIMMS, make sure to power-off the PSU.

-phil

 

[balane]

Thank you Phil. I have run memtest before and there are problems with 800MHz. The issue is with Intel's motherboard. it specifically states that 1.8v RAM must be used and even then the Intel approved list of 1.8v RAM is not a long one. My RAM is rated 1t 1.8-2.0V and I have issues at 800MHz. I have the most recent BIOS installed, which supposedly lent support for 1.9V RAM and that update is the only reason I have any Windows stability at all, before I had none.

While Intel allows for adjustment on speed and timings they do not allow any voltage adjustments whatsoever. I most certainly wish they did.

I'm sure that I'm stuck with 667MHz, I just thought I would toss it out for some fresh ideas I might have overlooked. I know that the P965 chipset allows for more adjustments, it's just that Intel does not.

 

[phile]

Did I understand correctly, memory voltage is locked at 1.8v on your board? Do yourself a favor and sell it and get an ASUS P5B-E. Same chipset, with a lot of flexibility for moderate overclocking. And, it's rather inexpensive. In the meantime, take some comfort in the fact you're taking a negligible hit in performance running your mem at DDR2-667.

-phil

 

[balane]

Yes, it is not adjustable past 1.8V although a semi-recent BIOS update did allow it to automatically adjust itself if 1.9V was needed, that allowed me to operate in Windows, just not run intensive programs like games or benchmarks. The CPU is also not overclockable. I was naive when I purchased it. It is a very good motherboard, stable, easy to install and use, lots of options like firewire for example, and it was cheap. I like it, I just crave to overclock now. I'm certain that it will be the first thing to go when the time comes.

Glad to hear there isn't much of a performance loss with 667MHz Vs. 800MHz though.