tRD setting - which MBs support this?

[AndyKH]

I'm looking into buying a Penryn based machine - probably with a Intel chipset, but I have not decided yet.

Some months ago Anandtech published this article about the Asus ROG Rampage formula with X48 chipset. This article had the tRD setting as a central subject - a setting I didn't know existed (probably because none of the MBs I've owned supported setting this independently). After this article it has seemed like focus shifted away from it again - I don't remember many reviews mentioning if this specific X48 (or X38) based MB sported a BIOS allowing for adjustment of this parameter - quite odd since adjusting the tRD did yield a quite impressive performance boost.

So therefore I'm asking you: Which MBs support adjusting this parameter and which would you recommend?

Btw, I've thought about waiting for nehalem, but if Intel introduces this architecture to the desktop at the same "speed" as penryn, I would rather get a penryn now than wait ~1 year for nehalem.

Thanks in advance

 

[j0j081]

I works in my DS3L so I'm guessing it does in the more expensive Gigabyte boards as well. Lowering it from the default does seem to give a nice boost in performance.

 

[lopri]

Asus, Gigabyte, and DFI's X38/X48 boards all give an option to select tRD (Performance Level) in the BIOS. However, tRD is overrated - not because it doesn't impact performance (it sure does) but because often times performance oriented boards will set the lowest (best) tRD by themselves, even if there is no direct manipulation available.

 

[AndyKH]

Thank you for the replies

I Assume that X48 based boards will consistently allow for lower tRD settings than X38 boards, is that correct?

 

[lopri]

Originally posted by: AndyKH
Thank you for the replies

I Assume that X48 based boards will consistently allow for lower tRD settings than X38 boards, is that correct?

Not likely unless ASUS did some magic in the BIOS. What's likely is less voltage.

 

[j0j081]

Originally posted by: lopri
Asus, Gigabyte, and DFI's X38/X48 boards all give an option to select tRD (Performance Level) in the BIOS. However, tRD is overrated - not because it doesn't impact performance (it sure does) but because often times performance oriented boards will set the lowest (best) tRD by themselves, even if there is no direct manipulation available.

Are you sure? I thought it would be based on the Ram in the system so how would the board know for sure what was stable and what was not?

 

[ShadowFlareX]

No board 'knows' whether your settings are stable 😛 By default, tRD is set on Auto (at least on my board). It changes tRD value depending on what speed I set the RAM at. Say right now I have it at 1066MHz, tRD looks to be set at 9, as seen on BIOS. When I set RAM at 800MHz, it switched to 6 or 7, can't remember. The change in values can be seen after a Save & Exit, and re-enter BIOS.

 

[Fadey]

My x48 set my trd at like 8 or 10 i cant remember i was getting 7700mb/s memory performance, ive now set it to 6 and its over 8500. If you have a intel chipset you can use a program called memset to view and change your performance level in windows.

 

[lopri]

Originally posted by: j0j081

Originally posted by: lopri
Asus, Gigabyte, and DFI's X38/X48 boards all give an option to select tRD (Performance Level) in the BIOS. However, tRD is overrated - not because it doesn't impact performance (it sure does) but because often times performance oriented boards will set the lowest (best) tRD by themselves, even if there is no direct manipulation available.

Are you sure? I thought it would be based on the Ram in the system so how would the board know for sure what was stable and what was not?

I didn't say that RAM had no effect..

 

[Sylvanas]

If you are considering buying an X48 board, be completely positive that the board allow adjustments of the TrD via the BIOS. The board's I currently know for certain that allow this are the DFI X48 and Asus Rampage Formula- Gigabyte X48 may or may not i am not certain. Usually other chipsets like the P35 do not have TrD availiable in the BIOS, it is hidden and is often reffered to as a memory 'strap'. This strap, as mentioned previously changes according to Ram/fsb speed (this is on ANY and ALL recent LGA775 Intel chipsets). Some older motherboards like the P35 can allow TrD (Performance level) adjustment in windows through an excellent program named Memset made my Felix from XS. It works for most mainstream boards however be advised it will not work on all boards.

 

[bryanW1995]

if you manually change your trd from, say 7 to 5 using memset, is that going to require more relaxed memory timings and/or memory testing?

 

[lopri]

Originally posted by: bryanW1995
if you manually change your trd from, say 7 to 5 using memset, is that going to require more relaxed memory timings and/or memory testing?

You can't just change the tRD value from A to B without the preconditions met. That's what I was trying to say from my earlier post. For instance,

400FSB, DDR2-800/CL3 or DDR2-1000/CL4 -> tRD=5

Since 2GB sticks can't do 800MHz/CL3 or 1000MHz/CL4, the lowest value under normal setup (i.e. air-cooling) @400FSB is tRD=6 (DDR2-1000/CL5).

With some ridiculous voltages and cooling, tRD=4 is possible with 1GB sticks @400FSB.

You can relax the tRD to higher values, but you can't go tighter than what your components allow.