WTF - PC3200 2-2-2-11 faster than PC3200 2-2-2-7??!!

[j@cko]

Well, I bought a pair of OCZ PC3200 Platinum Edition LE (BH-6/ 2 x 512MB) and it was advertised as 2-2-2-7. However, I couldn't get it up to run at 2-2-2-7 whatsoever (after all the BIOS tweakings and all). I consulted a guy from OCZ and he told me to try 2-2-2-11 so I did and I was able to run it @ 2-2-2-11 stably. He later emailed me that 2-2-2-11 is actually faster than 2-2-2-7 on NF2. (which is what i have, a NF2 system). I tested the above setting with only 1 module.
Why don't the OCZ modules I have run @ advertised timing? Does this cripple this overclockability of the RAM?
I still want a RMA, cu'z it wasn't able to run at the advertised timing, what do you guys think?

Cheers,

Jack

Here's his reply,

TRAS at 11 on NF2 boards is better than TRAS at 7..i wouldn't worry about this setting as TRCD and TRP are the more important timings

mobo: Epox 8RDA+ rev 2.1
BIOS Settings:
Advanced BIOS
Advanced Chipset
I have tried pumping up the voltage, but still a no go with 2-2-2-7.

 

[myocardia]

That's exactly right, on an nForce2 motherboard, 2-2-2-11 is the fastest memory timings available. Those timings are not only faster than 2-2-2-7, they are faster than even 2-2-2-5. It has something to with how the memory controller in the northbridge chipset works.

 

[edmundoab]

I know i got mine set to 2-2-2-11 😉

better then 2-2-2-5

 

[Shimmishim]

It's been known for a long time now for some reason on these nforce2 boards 2-2-2-11 is faster than 2-2-2-5 sometimes....

why rMA ram that works?

and he's right that trcd and trp are more important than the tras

trcd and trp have of an effect on the bandwidth than the tras does....

 

[adams828]

yeah it seems counter-intuitive, but seems to benchmark as true. maybe a tras of 11 is the optimal latency when combined with the other latencies? like if it's lower, it has to end up waiting for something else? i dunno

 

[PCTweaker5]

So is 2-2-3-4 not as good as 2-2-3-11 or does that only go for 2-2-2-11?

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: PCTweaker5
So is 2-2-3-4 not as good as 2-2-3-11 or does that only go for 2-2-2-11?

With an nForce2 chipset, 2-2-2-11 is the fastest available timings, 2-2-3-11 is the second fastest, 2-3-2-11 is third fastest, etc. With this chipset, even 3-4-4-11 is faster than 3-4-4-6. It involves the way the chipset is designed, and the way it implements control of the memory.

 

[Wigwam]

Originally posted by: myocardia

Originally posted by: PCTweaker5
So is 2-2-3-4 not as good as 2-2-3-11 or does that only go for 2-2-2-11?

With an nForce2 chipset, 2-2-2-11 is the fastest available timings, 2-2-3-11 is the second fastest, 2-3-2-11 is third fastest, etc. With this chipset, even 3-4-4-11 is faster than 3-4-4-6. It involves the way the chipset is designed, and the way it implements control of the memory.

my understanding was [as per THG review] this only holds true at 200Mhz and above; less than 200MHz then 6-2-2-2 is faster than 11-2-2-2

 

[Soulkeeper]

i found 2-2-2-6 to be the fastest timings for my mushkin memory (bh-5 chips) on both nforce and an i875 system

it seems to be dependent on the type of applications/games you use and the configuration of your system

 

[PCTweaker5]

I am at 200fsb for my CPU and FSB so if I change that 4 to an 11 it will be faster? Is this a fact and will it show on 3dmark scores?

 

[UNhooked]

So anyways how good are they
since I am planning to buy some too 🙂

 

[TerryMathews]

From what I understand, it's actually a bug in the chipset that makes 11 faster than 5 or 6.

On a normal chipset, lower latency is faster. 🙂