ECS x58b-a3 motherboard won't run my DDR3 at 1600

tenmagnet · Nov 15, 2013

My specs:
i7 930
12GB RAM (G.skill 2GB PC3-12800 1600MHZ Trident CL7 DDR3)
AMD 5850 OC'd and OV'd.
500W PSU
XL120 water cooler

It's been a week trying different settings, either OC'd or stock, it won't reach near 1600. At stock when I set SPD to disabled and timings to manual, I can't get it to boot even just using the SPD specs. I had to reset the BIOS everytime.

At stock when i set it to detect SPD to enabled, and 'DRAM Frequency' to 1600, it will only boot to 1333. I tried enabling XMP profile as well but it still will only boot to 1333. Should I give up on this mobo? I'm wondering if there are any ECS experts here.

Here are my module specs 6x2GB triple channel:

OC'd to 3.8 they run at 1480mhz:

OC'd BIOS:

AIDA64 showing current memory timings:

nukemaster · Nov 15, 2013

1. The cpu only officially supports DDR3-800/1066 so anything else requires either a multiplier(all boards have it labeled differently.)
2. The memory clock speed comes from the FSB. so overclocking the cpu changes the memory speed. So if the next step up pushes past 1600(800ddr) it will have to drop or overclock the memory.

I do not think you will loose any performance with the speed the way it is now to be honest.

This has less to do with ECS and more to do with X58(the only chipset that supports your cpu.) and LGA 1366 cpus.

tenmagnet · Nov 15, 2013

I have set the multiplier for the dram at stock to 1600 and still it will just boot to 1333 multi. The options for that is in the 'DRAM Frequency' field in the BIOS. This was tested while the cpu was at stock clocks. I just want faster memory since it seems BF4 likes that.

nukemaster · Nov 15, 2013

Best I can say would be to set the memory at 1333 then start to push the base clock on the cpu(cpu overclock frequency) to see how far it pushes the memory. I am not 100% sure if the board just lacks the multiplier for 1600 or not, but as you overclock set at 1333 should push the memory.

I am also going to guess that the 3 channel memory controller should help you as well.

You may start to hit the limit of other parts of the system by the time the memory becomes a bottleneck for you. Your screen shows the gpu at 97%, I would say you are at the limit for that card anyway. A faster cpu or memory will not get you more performance because the video card is working as hard as it can.

tenmagnet · Nov 15, 2013

I will try that when I get home. Thanks!

I'm also wondering about the performance gain. With a gpu working at 97-99%, faster memory shouldn't be much if a gain, right? However, this benchmark posted by Corsair suggests that they were able to squeeze more fps on their gpu's. I'm taking it with a grain of salt actually, but it's good to be able to maximise what i paid for if possible.

Battlefield 4 Loves High Speed Memory

Update: did a bit of searching. Looks like Corsair's 780 SLI setup wasn't utilised in full causing a bottleneck in the memory subsystem or CPU.

As this image shows, no real gain:

nukemaster · Nov 15, 2013

At that load. I think you stand very little to gain.

As it sits you do not seem to be even close to maxing out your cpu either(so that is not holding you back at this point).

Please note a game that only uses 2 threads will appear to run at only 50% cpu, but can be cpu bottlenecked, but that tends to show up as lower video card use.

tenmagnet · Nov 15, 2013

Do you have an idea what I could set for the uncore multiplier and CPU VTT voltage to? I think CPU VTT is QPI Voltage for ECS mobos, right? and safe to go to 1.3v? These are 1600Mhz CL7 DRAMs at 7-7-7-24, so I don't think they will hold me back. I just need to find sweet spot on the mobo.

nukemaster · Nov 15, 2013

XMP was supposed to set those numbers for you. The problem was XMP has been used over various cpus since.

I think my 920 had all default expect for memory and cpu voltage.

1.3 is about as high as you want to go for QPI

You can try this older guide for the 920. it should be about the same with the 930.
http://whirlpool.net.au/wiki/rmp_i7_920_overclocking

tenmagnet · Nov 15, 2013

I gave up trying to make it work at 1600. Everytime I set it to that speed, it tries to boot, but restarts after a few seconds and defaults back to 1066. I think I've tried every possible combination of relevant settings. I just settled for tighter timings: 6-7-6-21 @ 1415Mhz. I lowered my overclock to 3.7 since my psu keeps shutting down the system during prime.

Here's final config with DDR3/memory benchmarks I performed on Aida64. They look really quick!

Benchmarks and final settings

tenmagnet · Nov 15, 2013

For those who are looking to overclock this board, reset the BIOS to default first and set 'CPUOver-clocking Func.' to 'Enable' in MIB. Don't up the BCLK yet until it reboots. Press F10 to save the setting then reenter BIOS. This step is crucial, it won't boot if you increase the BCLK immediately.

UPDATE: Finally able to run it at 1600mhz by OC'ng BCLK to 200. CPU is at 19x200=3800 ghz for now. No need to waste energy to go higher as there's no need for my current games.

Chritstos · Feb 10, 2014

tenmagnet :

i got the same mobo but i got an i7 950 and 2x3gb corsair 1600mhz but the run only at 1066 what i should do to run them at 1600?

tenmagnet · Feb 10, 2014

Chritstos :

tenmagnet :

i got the same mobo but i got an i7 950 and 2x3gb corsair 1600mhz but the run only at 1066 what i should do to run them at 1600?

Overclock it. That's the only way.

Chritstos · Feb 10, 2014

is your pc stable after this overclock?

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ECS x58b-a3 motherboard won't run my DDR3 at 1600

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