Update: any more suggestion? ( Cant get Corsair XMS3200 LL past 187fsb...help)

[Mattlock]

just built the following rig:

8rda+
XP2100 revB week 0248
Thermaltake SLK-800, with SmartanII
1x512mb Corsair XMS 3200 low latency RAM
Zalman Heatsink with 60mm fan on Northbridge
Antec 430 trupower

Current at 12.5x 187fsb = 2,337 (stable)
Temp. 43c load
Voltage: 1.85v
Vdimm: 2.77
Ram Timings: tried 5,2,2,2 and 6,3,3,2 (don't really undersand which is better to be honest)

I dropped thh multiplier to 11 and tried to get my FSB up to 190 but it wont boot.

I am dissapointed that my expensive corsair won't get to 200fsb.
Why did I pay so much $$$ if I cant get beyond 187??????
(If I cant, I mine as well return it and get cheaper or other RAM)
I thought this RAM should easily get to 200fsb.

My goal is to get to 12x200 = 2,400 but it doesnt look good.

Any ideas?

Mattlock


Updated: Well, I just ran my memory "Async" at 200fsb with no errors on Memtest. I guess my CPU is my limiting factor. Other than upping my voltage beyond 1.85 I don't see any other possibilities. Any ideas?

Oh, PS, my Video Card is a Radeon AIW8500, I assume this is not a problem since I have a nforce2 board with PCI/.AGP locks.

 

[pelikan]

Okay, here's the deal. Many (most?) nforce2 boards won't do 200MHz fsb. 187MHz is about where they usually top out. To make sure about the ram, run it async to test it out. On my Asus board there is a bios option to run the memory at 100%(sync), 120%, etc.
If you want higher fsb you can either wait for a possible future bios that will enable 200MHz fsb, or volt mod your board (can be done with solder or smd grabbers).
By the way, nice looking system.

 

[MrEgo]

Are you sure its not the CPU causing the bottleneck? Try running the CPU at the default 133MHz and have the RAM run by SPD (200MHz), just to test and see if the RAM will actually run at that speed.

 

[MrEgo]

I must have been lucky, because I got a used 8RDA+ from z-buy.com that does 200MHz fsb in sync. I'm at 11.5x200. 12.5x200 works, but I have to crank my Vcore up to 1.9V so I'd rather be safe than sorry. Anything over 200MHz won't post though, regardless of how much juice I put in the Vdimm and Vcore.

 

[pbroussard]

Certainly rule out the nf2 board, to see what's holding you back. If it is the ram, then I'd suggest some good burnin runs. My stick of xms pc3200c2 topped out at 190fsb, aggressive settings, new. Running seti and Sandra mem burnin looped , upping the fsb once a day had me at 202mhz, 2,2,2,6,1 settings fairly quick. Can be done a lot faster, as I could only get 50-60 loops a day when running Seti. I could do that in an hour or so just running the sandra mem burnin program.

Paul

 

[ErikaeanLogic]

doesn't the 8RDA+ have a Vdd option to bump the voltage to the Northbridge? If so, then do that

 

[Shimmishim]

Originally posted by: ErikaeanLogic
doesn't the 8RDA+ have a Vdd option to bump the voltage to the Northbridge? If so, then do that

unfortunately the rev 1.0 and 1.1 do not have options to increase the VDD... however.. rumor has it that a new revision will be released that will allow you to change the vdd voltage

 

[Mattlock]

bump for more suggestions

 

[chizow]

What dimm slot is your stick in? Try moving it to one of the other 2 slots. Also, lower timings = better. For now, try running at cas 2-2-2-6-1T, as that is the rated timings for those sticks at DDR400. It might be a NB limitation, as there have been reports of different revision NB's. Also, try removing your NB heatsink and applying thermal paste to it. The stock NB cooler uses a thermal pad that doesn't make very good contact with the NB. You may also want to sand down the edges as the NB isn't flat.

Chiz

 

[Mattlock]

Here's a tempation

Replace my Corsair with this RAM
Link

I would not expect it to be any faster but it is half the price.

Mattlock

 

[Boyne7]

That is a good deal but i wouldnt expect much from em basically no name ram
id say keep the corsair anyday

 

[EXman]

keep your ram that place sux

 

[Mattlock]

Chiz...what is your FSB, ram settings etc?

Did you do a VDimm mod?

Mattlock

 

[bgeh]

imo, it's mostly the chipset limiting you.
try doing the VDD mod and see whether that works

 

[Mattlock]

VDD mod..hmmm... that's a scary thought... atleat for me it is

 

[chizow]

Originally posted by: Mattlock
Chiz...what is your FSB, ram settings etc?

Did you do a VDimm mod?

Mattlock

I'm running 12 x 197MHz = 2364MHz atm. Ram timings are cas 2-5-2-2-1T @ 2.7V Vdimm. VCore is at 1.8V. I haven't done the VDD mod (a few more MHz FSB isn't worth it IMO), as I think its a BIOS limitation atm. Each new BIOS release has stabilized my FSB further and allowed me to run at higher FSB speeds.

What vid card are you using? Also, make sure you have the latest BIOS for 8RDA+. Generally, 8RDA+ users have been able to get @ 5MHz FSB higher with similar components b/c of better BIOS releases for the 8RDA+. Try moving the FSB jumper from 266/333 to 200MHz.

If nothing else works, go to the Corsair Support Forums and follow the procedures for RMA. You'll quickly be able to set something up, as RAMGuy is official Corsair tech support and freely offers RMAs to those who can't get their RAM to run rated speeds.

Chiz

 

[Mattlock]

Hey Chiz...my video card is a Radeon 8500 AIW 128mb.

Where do I change the jumper ?

Mattlock

 

[pelikan]

Have you tried running the memory async yet? That will tell you if your memory is good or not.

 

[Mattlock]

I havent...how exactly do I do that?

thanks for helping me out

 

[Mattlock]

bump for update

 

[pelikan]

Originally posted by: Mattlock
I havent...how exactly do I do that?

thanks for helping me out

In bios there is an option for memory frequency. Set it at 120% and your fsb at 167MHz. Now your memory is running at 200MHz. Set your memory at stock voltage and timings. Then run memtest86 through ten loops.

 

[Mattlock]

Did the async and apparently my memory is fine. Guess it is my cpu.....not sure what options other than upping VCore beyond 1.85 and I dont really want to do that.

 

[pelikan]

Its not your cpu, its your motherboard. Most nforce2 boards dont reach 200MHz fsb. There is nothing wrong with your motherboard.
You are at 187fsb now right? The extra 13MHz is no big deal really. There may or may not be a bios update that will give you 200fsb.
But if it is a big deal to you, you can do the vdd mod. It can be done with solder or smd grabbers. If you do this you will need to improve the cooling on your north and south bridge chipset.

 

[Mattlock]

thanks Pelikan....Did you do a mod to get to 200fsb? just curious.... It's really not that big of a deal to me to get to 200fsb... I think the risk is too great (to do Vdd mod)

 

[pelikan]

Originally posted by: Mattlock
thanks Pelikan....Did you do a mod to get to 200fsb? just curious.... It's really not that big of a deal to me to get to 200fsb... I think the risk is too great (to do Vdd mod)

No, I didn't have to do the vdd mod. I got lucky. But I'll tell ya, I don't have anything left to tweak now so I may do the vdd mod anyways and shoot for 220fsb. I volt modded my video card, which turned out to be pretty easy, and fun. The vdd mod on the A7N8X is more difficult than that, but I think I can do it. I'm completely satisfied with my system's performance right now, I just want more things to do to it. I'm hooked, what can I say?