Overclocking my RAM makes my PC unbootable?

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Darkshadw

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Jan 6, 2013
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Hello,

I am trying to overclock my RAM from 1600MHz to 1800MHz (or higher if possible). But when I put the setting 'Memory Frequency' on 1800MHz and save > restart, then my PC doesn't boot up anymore, it doesn't even beep. I then shutdown my PC for a few seconds and turn it back on and I can enter my BIOS again. I have also tried to increase the 'DRAM' voltage and 'VCCSA' voltage, but that didnt help, got the same results.

My CPU is overclocked to 4.8GHz without any crashes so far (running this for over a month or 2 now).

Thanks in advance,
Sapphire~

PC Specs:
CPU: i7 3770K @ 4.8 GHz | Graphics: Nvidia ASUS GTX 690 | Memory: 16GB - 1600 MHz (Corsair: CMZ8GX3M1A1600C10))| PSU: 1000 Watt | Displays: 2x 1920x1080 | OS: Windows 7 Ultimate x64
 
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Darkshadw

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Jan 6, 2013
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I'm not really trying to break any record. I've never overclocked RAM and was wondering if it would gain me anything to begin with. Doesn't it help you load games and/or programs faster?
 
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bgunner

bgunner

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Feb 13, 2009
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your ram may not be able to handle the 1800 speed if it was only rated for 1600. To help facilitate the OC loosen the timings and try again. If this does not help you can try a small bump in the voltage for the ram along with the looser timings and see if this helps.

A full list of system specs would help us help you better anytime you ask for OCing help. The more info the better. CPU, Ram: brand and rated speed and timings, Motherboard: brand and model, PSU: brand model and wattage, HDD/SSD's brand and model, CPU cooler: brand and model, GPU: brand and model, ect...
 
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bgunner

bgunner

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Much over 1600MHz for Ram has little effects on video games right now. The boost in speed will be running ram intensive programs like photoshop and the like.

If your looking for loading programs faster then an SSD is what you will need.

If your looking to just have fun with the OC process go ahead and OC the ram but once you need to loosen the timings there is a large diminishing return and sometimes can go backwards in performance.
 
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photonboy

photonboy

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Jun 20, 2006
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1) Go back to the DEFAULT settings.

2) Run MEMTEST to verify.

Not only does overclocking the DDR3 memory above 1600MHz rarely matter, but I STRONGLY recommend you reduce the clock on your CPU.

Pushing right to the limit of what a CPU can manage will wear it out much quicker than normal, or possibly damage it.

My advice is don't go above 4.5GHz. I have the same CPU and stick to 4.2GHz because I can get there without a voltage increase, and it makes little difference for games on this system to go above 4GHz anyway.

So my system performs the same as 4.2GHz as it would at 4.8GHz but runs quieter.
 
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photonboy

photonboy

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Jun 20, 2006
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Why?
Why are you telling him to run 200MHz above the specs just to see if it will boot? And why raise the frequency then increase the CAS delay?

1800MHz CAS11 is probably the same or possibly even worse than 1600MHz CAS10.

Avoid a big headache and stick with DEFAULT SETTINGS. Again, it's unlikely to benefit you in most scenarios going above 1600MHz.
 
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bgunner

bgunner

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I'm not going to get into a pissing match over it but the OP requested help in OCing. Considering the OP is already running at Cas 10 how would it hurt? Now if you read my other posts in this thread you will find that I had already mentioned the fact that for gaming there is very little to no advantage over 1600Mhz. Now for other programs that use a lot of ram then there is an advantage to going over 1600Mhz.

@ OP I would be willing to bet If you want you could actually tighten the timings of that ram @ 1600Mhz down to 9-10-9. you would need to test the ram after with Memtest86+ to make sure the ram would be stable at those settings though.
 
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Darkshadw

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Jan 6, 2013
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Thank you, I will try those timings and see if it works. Also, why does raising the frequency not give any "boost" but tightening the timings does? I don't understand :(.

BTW, I have an SSD (SanDisk SDSSDX120GG25) and am running my games off an 3TB hard disk (ST3000DM001-9YN166). I don't think it's healthy for my SSD to run games on it, at least that's what the guy in the store told me.

EDIT: Okai, I have tried those setting but my PC kept rebooting before I could even enter my BIOS. I managed to get back in my BIOS after a while so I've tried some different settings. Right now I have these timings: 10-9-10-24-2T
 
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bgunner

bgunner

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The reason tightening the timings helps is going to take a little explaining. So here it goes.

Lame-mans Terms for easy understanding: lets take your ram as am example. Lets say it is supposed to be run at 10-10-10 timings @ 1600 Mhz. This means that Information can only be run through the ram every 10 clock cycles of the CPU. Now if you tighten the timings to lets say 9-9-9 then Information will be run through the ram every 9 clock cycles of the CPU.

The Frequency of the ram (1600 MHz in your case) is the speed at which the information can be passed during the 10 clock cycles (in your rams case).

Now If the CPU can send the Ram information faster then It will start working on it sooner meaning it will get done sooner and be ready for more info. This is why tightening the timings gives a bigger boost than just Upping the frequency of the ram. Both can improve performance but the biggest gain comes from tightening the timings.

Remember this is a Dumbed down explanation of how it works and if you Google it you will find tons of info on this subject that will get into greater detail if you desire it.

Not all ram can have the timings tightened and operate correctly. This is why you need to test the ram using Memtest86+ to be sure the am is stable. Your ram will not opperate at the 1800 MHz speed so your Best option is to try to tighten the timings. the first number being the Cas latency is going to be the biggest performance boost but may not run correctly. The other timing do make an impact but not as much as the Cas latency.

Keep going the way you are and keep testing every time you change a setting to insure that you remain stable. Only make one change at a time so you know if it does not pass the test you know the exact setting that caused it to fail. OCing takes lots of time an patience to achieve maximum OC.
 
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Darkshadw

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Jan 6, 2013
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Thank you!! Okai, I've downloaded a program called "MaxxMEM2" and did 2 tests (before and after the OC). Do you think these results look okai? Here are the pictures:

6YWBr.jpg
6YWB5.jpg
 
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bgunner

bgunner

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well It shows an increase in performance. a performance increase is an increase. Make sure you run the test multiple times to get an average. Use the stock as a base line. Did you test with Memtest86+ to make sure your stable? If the ram errors it can lead to major headaches down the line trying to figure out what is wrong.
 
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Darkshadw

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Jan 6, 2013
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Not yet, planning that for tonight :), I've been playing a few games already with these settings and everything looks okai from here, there could be stuff going on in the background that I don't know of course. But I can't seem to tighten the settings any further... Also increasing the voltage doesn't help, does this mean I've reached the limit?
 
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Darkshadw

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Jan 6, 2013
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Okai, thank you :), going to mark an answer because it's solved :3!
 
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