You never hear of this tweak setting

[sitka]

Bios Advance Chipset in Award 6

Dram Drive Strength > Auto Manual
Dram Drive Value > two digit hex value

Saw somewhere that it maybe amperage?

 

[sitka]

Get Up, Bump

 

[Slikkster]

Check out this page for more info:

Advanced Memory Timing Tweaks

 

[sitka]

Thanks Slikkster.

The Screenshot of that bios shows drive value in mA but in Award Bios is is a hex number. I think. Plus that Gigabyte bios has a much wider range of options. The hex number I have may map to one or more of those values but I haven't found any doc on what the valid entries mean. I looked at Award a little while ago but will dig again.

The real point here is that the link you gave describes some very important tweak functionality, and in places like this forum it is never discussed. Whether the settings make any difference I haven't found out. Maybe KNOW ONE knows, or even better there are untapped perf. boosts to be found. Lurking....

 

[Slikkster]

Here's another page that explains exactly what that does. Doesn't look like a hex setting...it is a milliamp setting, and it is an Award Bios page. Of course, yours could be customized for your pc.

Memory Drive Strengh

Here's a snippet:

Chipset Features Mem. Drive Str. (MA/RAS)

Mem. Drive Str. This option controls the driving strength of memory
(MA/RAS) address and control signals. It is recommended to
10mA/10mA use less driving current for light memory loading, to
10mA/16mA prevent undershoot or overshoot.
16mA/10mA
16mA/16mA

 

[sitka]

It still hasn't really sunk in for me. The hex setting remains elusive but the Pheonix site gives one small reference to that MA/RAS setting as being combined in the one hex value. That was my first guess after seeing the Gigabyte range, which gave more granular control. I e-mailed Soltek about this setting, if I get a response I will probably buy another one of their boards. (Haha, easily impressed) That last link you gave seemed a little LEGACY but any knowledge is good knowledge and I really appreciate it. And again, it seems like people smarter than me (bios authors) seem to think this setting is pretty important. The fact that I am using 2x128Meg 8Mx8 dimms kind of draws me to this subject because I was concerned about their efficiency and signalling along the mem bus when I bought them. Turns out these Micron std chips are pretty smokin. Don't know if I could drop in another one (3x128meg) with good results.

 

[AndyHui]

This setting exists in the CUSL2 family motherboards BIOS, known as SDRAM Data Driving Mode. The values given a Normal and Strong.

This setting is used to stabilise large amounts of RAM at high or overclocked speeds, particularly effective where the i815E/P chipset is concerned. Normally the i815E/P is limited to 4 RAS lines (4 rows) of RAM when running at 133MHz. Setting the Driving Mode to strong allows using all 6 RAS lines at 133MHz.

 

[sitka]

Cool,

More evidence that this is very manufacturer bios edit specific. Imagine it exists in all bios they just decide to show it in different ways. Andydid changing from normal to strong have any effect? Gigabyte gives all kinds of definition, Soltek Q6 bios seems to allow a two digit hex and an Acer board allowed 4 or five amperage couples.

Very interseting

 

[sitka]

Got an immediate reply from Soltek. Very cool considering I wrote in English and they are in Taiwan.
Gonna have to keep bugging them though. It isn't a no untli you've asked eight times.
This is the jist of it

Dear Sir:
Generally speaking.We always recommend the End user to set the Dram Drive strength on Auto and set the Dram drive value on 4F.please try it.

 

[AndyHui]

Yes. Changing it to strong on the CUSL2 allows users who have stability problems with 3 DIMMs filled running at 133MHz FSB to run without problems, assists in overclocking to reach higher speeds, and allows users who sometimes have stability problems with large DIMMs ie 256MB to run stably as well.

 

[sitka]

Very good Andy I plan on asking for the hex values from Soltek, nice to know the Strong setting had an effect and especially with 3 slots filled.