Corsair XMS ram timings

i have the same ram, the XMS and 2-3-3-7 will prob be the best you can get, i think mine might even be 2-3-3-8 and ive got a decent OC on it.

To answer your question about what the numbers stand for: in a 2-3-3-6 timing, the first number (2) stands for the CAS latency, and the smaller the number the better. The second number (3) is the RAS to CAS timing. The third number (3) shows the RAS precharge. The fourth number (6) shows the timing between active to precharge. Generally speaking the smaller these numbers are, the faster the ram works. There is also a 1T and 2T variable, and the 1T is preferred. I usually get 2-3-2-6 timing on my computer with Corsair XMS, but that's no gaurantee that you can do so with yours.

Part of your problem may be that you are using older motherboards with modern ram sticks and the old mobos may not recognize or be able to take advantage of the new ram. I don't know for sure. You need to list exactly what the configuration of your computers are for best help. Carefully check the manuals that came with you motherboards to find out what is allowed and what measures for overclocking are allowed. You may have a conflict between the ram and the motherboard, or the mobo may just not allow what you're trying to do. Therefore, it crashes.

Magic number is 11? I've never heard that. I always was told the lower number was better. At the same time, maybe I've missed something in my education.

Have you got a link to show that 11 is better?

Sorry to offend. I had just typed in a quote and then added my comment that had learned something in reading the article about both the timings and the nForce2. As to being past using nForce2, my thought was that what worked good concerning it would not necessarily apply to modern motherboards. Didn't mean to come down against anyone who is still using one of those boards.