Skylake CPU with DDR3 1.6v

Mangotango · Jan 18, 2017

Hi all,

I have recently purchased a Skylake i5 6500 CPU and Motherboard.

Turns out the motherboard i ordered was DDR3 not DDR4, my fault for just assuming all Skylake boards were DDR4 only right!

Anyway, I have been reading online that the voltage for DDR3 is 1.65 and the max voltage for the Integrated Memory Controller is 1.5v when Overclocking or DDR3L at 1.35v, DDR4 is 1.2v.
Apparently, using normal DDR3 at 1.6v will damage the Integrated Memory Controller over time.

My question is:

I have a AsRock H170 Pro4/D3 (http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/H170%20Pro4D3/) motherboard, when I check the BIOS it shows that the VCCIO which is as far as I can tell the IMC is running at 0.95v.
So, does this mean that my motherboard manufacturer was aware of this and has somehow separated the RAM voltage from affecting the IMC voltage and I am safe to use DDR3 with this board and a Skylake CPU?

Thanks.

Rogue Leader · Jan 18, 2017

No there has been no change to how it works. It only supports DDR3L. As for what you're seeing in the BIOS the memory is not being used or active, hence low voltage.

Mangotango · Jan 19, 2017

I've checked my DDR3 voltage in BIoS and it sits at 1.6v all the time and the VCCIO stays at 0.95v.

Rogue Leader · Jan 19, 2017

and VCCIO at 0.95 is the standard voltage for Skylake. However when its being driven and used it will increase. 1.35 is as high as you want it to go.

You need to monitor these things under load not in the BIOS. I can tell you 100% that the board manufacturers have not corrected for DDR3, the spec is DDR3L and DDR4 only and thats driven by the CPU which has the IMC.

Mangotango · Jan 19, 2017

But if the BIOS is reporting the RAM at 1.6v and th VCCIO at 0.95 why would it ramp up, the RAM only ever runs at 1.6v, I don't overclock it.

Rogue Leader · Jan 19, 2017

Mangotango :

You are not listening to what I am saying.

You need to measure this while using the computer and running data through the ram. the VCCIO will increase when the RAM is being utilized. All you are seeing in the BIOS is the base settings.

Mangotango · Jan 19, 2017

Ok, which hardware monitor can I use to see this information in real time?

Thanks.

Rogue Leader · Jan 19, 2017

I believe hwinfo64 will show you VCCIO in real time.

piggy_rambo · Jan 19, 2017

Skylake can work with DDR3 but it will damage the chipset over time as it runs at a higher voltage then DDR3L, how much damage will depend on how much you use it, how much RAM is utilized and how good the chipset in the board is.

Rogue Leader · Jan 19, 2017

piggy_rambo :

Thats simply not true. The memory controller is integrated into the CPU (hence its called IMC). From the cheapest to the best Skylake motherboard all have the same issue when using DDR3 ram, which is also the reason why the OP's speculation of ASRock somehow correcting for it is incorrect.

It does wear on the processor, and in theory it could damage the controller, however evidence of it actually happening hasn't really shown up yet. Intel does highly advise against it, I would say they probably do that with good reason.

Mangotango · Jan 19, 2017

Ok This is a screenshot from my PC using HWID, can someone identify the IGM voltage?

Rogue Leader · Jan 19, 2017

Thats not HWifno64, thats what you need

https://www.hwinfo.com/

Mangotango · Jan 19, 2017

Hmm, It would appear that AsRock has performed the impossible and managed to keep the VCCIO voltage at 0.95v even with DDR3 at 1.6v.

Way to go AsRock!

Rogue Leader · Jan 19, 2017

Mangotango :

As I said thats the base setting.

You need to download something that will track it as it will auto adjust based upon the needs of the memory as it runs through a benchmark. hwinfo64 will show you that.

I've answered you now with this same information 4 times and yet you continue to believe some magic is afoot with your motherboard. It is not, and there is no way AsRock, ASUS, or anyone else can change the way the IMC in the CPU operates.

Until you listen to me and actually test it the way I have told you, this is a waste of time. You can continue to believe what you want and try to validate it, but you came here for answers and I have given them to you in spades, but you seem to just want to validate your incorrect perception of how it works.

Mangotango · Jan 19, 2017

Ok thanks for the reply, which of these is likely the IMC then?

Rogue Leader · Jan 19, 2017

You are looking for VTT or IMC you may need to click the settings button at the bottom and add it to the list.

Mangotango · Jan 19, 2017

Rogue Leader :

Ive been through all the settings and everything is already set to display by default, there's nothing that says VCCIO, VTT or IMC

I don't know which one is the IMC voltage

Rogue Leader · Jan 19, 2017

Thats strange, but there may not be a live sensor for it only a setting. Probably because your board is an H170.

You should try and run a benchmark and lets see what results come out on what you have there, its possible one of the sensors VIN4 VIN5 or VIN6 will correspond to it.

The only other thing you can try is aida64

https://www.aida64.com/downloads

That has a VCCIO line but only if your board has a sensor for it.

Mangotango · Jan 19, 2017

These are the only Sensor voltages i can find in Aida64

The Asrock A-Tuning utility has sliders that allow me to alter the voltages of the VCCIO, i have set them to 0.95 anyway to see if it makes a difference since i cant find any software that gives me real time IMC voltage readings.

Rogue Leader · Jan 19, 2017

Its very likely your motherboard does not have a sensor there because its not overclockable. In fact changing that setting may not even do anything.

If it was simple enough as changing a setting to prevent issues, then Intel would never have told people not to do it. However its not that easy. Not only that undervolting the memory could cause stability issues, assuming it even works (which it probably doesn't).

Mangotango · Jan 19, 2017

Rogue Leader :

Oh well, not really much else i can do other than undervolt the RAM, I cant change motherboard since my Windows 10 install was the free upgrade and is locked to the motherboard, not paying for Win10 and reformatting.

I downloaded the A-Tuning software from the mobo support page but Im not sure how functional it is on my board.

Ill just have to take the risk and see what happens.

Thanks for all the help, even if you came accross a little condescending at times

Rogue Leader · Jan 19, 2017

Mangotango :

Actually your Windows 10 can be moved to another board. Just make sure you're upgraded to the latest version and have logged into your Microsoft account. Once you have if you sap out he board when you install Win 10 on the new one, you will login with the account and then go on to the Microsoft account website and de-authorize the old hardware, and then re-authorize the new one. Then you're set!

And you're welcome, I'm only condescending when someone is completely ignoring what I am saying

Mangotango · Jan 20, 2017

I Emailed AsRock Support, this was their official response:

Hello,

I5-6500 officially supports maximum DDR3L-1600 as DDR3 speed. Maximum supported voltage for DDR3 is officially 1.35V. But 1.50V is still safe to use.

Please do not use 1.6V. Your modules might need 1.6V to work at DDR3-1866. But I expect they can work properly at DDR3-1600 frequency using 1.5V. Please try setting DDR3-1600 and 1.5V in BIOS.

Kind regards,

ASRock Support

ASRock Europe B.V.

Bijsterhuizen 1111

6546AR Nijmegen

The Netherlands

Rogue Leader · Jan 20, 2017

Well then looks like its worth a shot to manually set to 1.5 v

Skylake CPU with DDR3 1.6v

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