Is OCZ lying about their Platinum Revision 2 memory?

I purchased a set of OCZ Platinum Revision 2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820227139

I contacted OCZ in advance and was specifically told this set would work with my Intel D975XBX rev 304 motherboard with E6600 CPU and they even directed me to the part number on Newegg to purchase them. They also mentioned proudly a reviewer that had used OCZ memory with this board.

The memory works fine in "automatic" mode. Unfortunately, that mode clocks the chip down to 533mz! That's not what I paid the big bucks for. That's problem #1.

The Intel motherboard BIOS tells you what the SPD ratings of the RAM chips are. It reports these chips at 5-4-4-14, 800mz, rather than the 4-4-4-15 advertised. 1 point better on the tRAS, but I specifically purchased these for the CAS rating of 4, so I am rather disgusted to see the SPD report CAS at 5. I spoke with OCZ support and they told me that the chips contain 2 SPD tables. If the first table doesn't boot, it switches to a more compatible table with CAS 5 and 533mz to boot successfully (though SPD correctly reports 800mz). He blamed the motherboard for having weak memory handling - the same motherboard that OCZ had assured me their memory was compatible with!

So I attempted to make the chips run at their SPD settings. No overclocking of anything. I manually set the memory to 5-4-4-15, 800mz, 2.1v. The tRAS of the SPD was actually 1 point better than advertised, but when 14 didn't work, he suggested putting it at 15. That didn't work either. I can boot the computer but I get a spontaneous reboot within 15 minutes.

So I am going to have to RMA the RAM as it is not functioning at it's advertised (and paid for) specs.

Now I have 2 questions:

1. In regards to the SPD ratings and OCZ telling me of the "2 SPD tables" - is this for real? Is there any software that will show me both SPD tables for the RAM? Or is this bogus and the allegedly 4-4-4-15 chips really have a CAS of 5 and OCZ is trying to cover it up?

2. Is anyone else running this combo of mobo and RAM with success or will my RMA with OCZ only give me more RAM that only works at 533mz?

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Quote :

I purchased a set of OCZ Platinum Revision 2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820227139

I contacted OCZ in advance and was specifically told this set would work with my Intel D975XBX rev 304 motherboard with E6600 CPU and they even directed me to the part number on Newegg to purchase them. They also mentioned proudly a reviewer that had used OCZ memory with this board.

The memory works fine in "automatic" mode. Unfortunately, that mode clocks the chip down to 533mz! That's not what I paid the big bucks for. That's problem #1.

The Intel motherboard BIOS tells you what the SPD ratings of the RAM chips are. It reports these chips at 5-4-4-14, 800mz, rather than the 4-4-4-15 advertised. 1 point better on the tRAS, but I specifically purchased these for the CAS rating of 4, so I am rather disgusted to see the SPD report CAS at 5. I spoke with OCZ support and they told me that the chips contain 2 SPD tables. If the first table doesn't boot, it switches to a more compatible table with CAS 5 and 533mz to boot successfully (though SPD correctly reports 800mz). He blamed the motherboard for having weak memory handling - the same motherboard that OCZ had assured me their memory was compatible with!

So I attempted to make the chips run at their SPD settings. No overclocking of anything. I manually set the memory to 5-4-4-15, 800mz, 2.1v. The tRAS of the SPD was actually 1 point better than advertised, but when 14 didn't work, he suggested putting it at 15. That didn't work either. I can boot the computer but I get a spontaneous reboot within 15 minutes.

So I am going to have to RMA the RAM as it is not functioning at it's advertised (and paid for) specs.

Now I have 2 questions:

1. In regards to the SPD ratings and OCZ telling me of the "2 SPD tables" - is this for real? Is there any software that will show me both SPD tables for the RAM? Or is this bogus and the allegedly 4-4-4-15 chips really have a CAS of 5 and OCZ is trying to cover it up?

2. Is anyone else running this combo of mobo and RAM with success or will my RMA with OCZ only give me more RAM that only works at 533mz?

CPU-Z should show if there's multiple timings that the RAM will run at. Under the SPD tab.

CPU-Z 1.36:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/CPU-Z_d425.html GL

Reply to 1Tanker

Interesting program, though I am a bit confused. Here are my numbers, but I don't know what they mean:

from Latency.exe:

Level 1: size 32Kb latency= 3 cycles
Level 2: size 4096Kb latency= 16 cycles

from CPUZ.exe:

Memory tab:
Timings section:

Frequency: 266.7 MHz
FSBRAM: 1:1
CAS Latency: 4 clocks
RAS to CAS Delay: 4 clocks
RAS Precharge: 4 clocks
Cycle Time (Tras): 10 clocks
Bank Cycle Time (Trc): 14 clocks

SPD tab:

Max Bandwidth: PC2-6400 (400MHz) - [400???]

Timings Table section:

Frequency 266MHz 333MHz 400MHz
CAS Latency 3.0 4.0 5.0
RAS to CAS 4 5 5
RAS Precharge 4 5 5
Tras 10 13 15
Trc 15 19 22

Any chance you know what all this means? It does look like there are multiple tables, but it looks like 5-5-5 at 800 (400?) MHz. Then again, I am not sure how to interpret the info.

Reply to realmadmartian

Quote :

Interesting program, though I am a bit confused. Here are my numbers, but I don't know what they mean:

from Latency.exe:

Level 1: size 32Kb latency= 3 cycles
Level 2: size 4096Kb latency= 16 cycles

from CPUZ.exe:

Memory tab:
Timings section:

Frequency: 266.7 MHz
FSBRAM: 1:1
CAS Latency: 4 clocks
RAS to CAS Delay: 4 clocks
RAS Precharge: 4 clocks
Cycle Time (Tras): 10 clocks
Bank Cycle Time (Trc): 14 clocks

SPD tab:

Max Bandwidth: PC2-6400 (400MHz) - [400???]

Timings Table section:

Frequency 266MHz 333MHz 400MHz
CAS Latency 3.0 4.0 5.0
RAS to CAS 4 5 5
RAS Precharge 4 5 5
Tras 10 13 15
Trc 15 19 22

Any chance you know what all this means? It does look like there are multiple tables, but it looks like 5-5-5 at 800 (400?) MHz. Then again, I am not sure how to interpret the info.

Okay, the latency section just tests your RAMs.....Latency.(delay before executing a command).
Frequency:266@ 4-4-4-10. Means that you're running your RAM synchronously(1:1 ratio between FSB/RAM speed). That's standard for C2D. The SPD chart's showing the various speeds that OCZ claims it will run , and the timings at each speed. These are not carved in stone, as your RAM may well run at faster speeds and/or tighter timings. I would try lowering the timings towards the advertised settings...a bit at a time. Run MEMtest 86+ at each setting, and that will show if there are any errors. If no errors, than tighten more, until you get errors. Now you have two choices, either increase the RAM's voltage and try again,or if you feel uneasy about upping the voltage, then drop the timings back to the last stable settings. If the RAM throws lots of errors @ 800MHz and 5-5-5-15, then i would suggest an RMA. GL

http://www.majorgeeks.com/Memtest86_d4226.html

PS. You have to copy the program to a floppy, then boot from floppy for the test to initiate.

Reply to 1Tanker

Ive got the same memory (with the P5W DH) and i am in the middle of RMAing it as well with OCZ. Mine will not run at 800 MHZ either or at the rated timinigs without having errors in MemTest right away. I am hoping it was just faulty memory cause I want to change my multip to 8 and FSB to 400

Reply to wstcoaster07

Quote :

Okay, the latency section just tests your RAMs.....Latency.(delay before executing a command).
Frequency:266@ 4-4-4-10. Means that you're running your RAM synchronously(1:1 ratio between FSB/RAM speed). That's standard for C2D. The SPD chart's showing the various speeds that OCZ claims it will run , and the timings at each speed. These are not carved in stone, as your RAM may well run at faster speeds and/or tighter timings. I would try lowering the timings towards the advertised settings...a bit at a time. Run MEMtest 86+ at each setting, and that will show if there are any errors. If no errors, than tighten more, until you get errors. Now you have two choices, either increase the RAM's voltage and try again,or if you feel uneasy about upping the voltage, then drop the timings back to the last stable settings. If the RAM throws lots of errors @ 800MHz and 5-5-5-15, then i would suggest an RMA. GL

http://www.majorgeeks.com/Memtest86_d4226.html

PS. You have to copy the program to a floppy, then boot from floppy for the test to initiate.

Note that I ran memtest for 6 hours during the last test with no errors, yet I had a spontaneous reboot within 15 minutes, and another within 10 minutes (in auto mode I have no reboots).

What's with the 50% MHz ratings? Why does it say 400MHz instead of 800MHz?

The SPD chart appears to confirm that the CAS at 800MHz is 5, not 4 as advertised. Do you concur?

Thanks much for the info.

Reply to realmadmartian

Quote :

Note that I ran memtest for 6 hours during the last test with no errors, yet I had a spontaneous reboot within 15 minutes, and another within 10 minutes (in auto mode I have no reboots).

What's with the 50% MHz ratings? Why does it say 400MHz instead of 800MHz?

The SPD chart appears to confirm that the CAS at 800MHz is 5, not 4 as advertised. Do you concur?

Thanks much for the info.

This is DDR (double data rate) thus 400mhz x 2 = 800mhz effective rate. Yes, it appears the SPD shows CAS 5 at 800mhz. Sometimes the SPD is set loose so the mobo can boot properly. You can easily set it to CAS 4 in the bios.

Reply to hawkeye22

Try pushing a few more volts thru your ram. Those seem to like a little more to work properly. Don't go to far though.

Reply to sleepy127

Quote :

Try pushing a few more volts thru your ram. Those seem to like a little more to work properly. Don't go to far though.

I tried 2.2 volts before the second spontaneous reboot.

Reply to realmadmartian

Quote :

Forget MemTest86. Use P95 toture mode, the 2nd option.

Good call! The same settings that passed for 6 hours with memtest but spontaneously rebooted in windows also failed Prime95 within seconds. I bumped the timings to 5-5-5 and it still failed P95 within seconds! In automatic mode it passes. Of course this means not only do the 4-4-4 timings I paid extra money for actually turn out to be 5-5-5, but the 800MHz I also paid extra money for only runs at 533MHz! Talk about suckage! Well, ok, I haven't tested 667MHz yet. I'm getting tired of rebooting Windows. Wish P95 ran in DOS.

Any bets on if I'll be able to get OCZ to make good on their marketing numbers and replace this with memory that actually works as advertised, rather than just blaming the motherboard???

Reply to realmadmartian

I will let you know if my new RMAed memory from OCZ ends up working at the correct timings cause sounds like we have almost the same problem.

Reply to wstcoaster07

Quote :

Forget MemTest86. Use P95 toture mode, the 2nd option.

Good call! The same settings that passed for 6 hours with memtest but spontaneously rebooted in windows also failed Prime95 within seconds. I bumped the timings to 5-5-5 and it still failed P95 within seconds! In automatic mode it passes. Of course this means not only do the 4-4-4 timings I paid extra money for actually turn out to be 5-5-5, but the 800MHz I also paid extra money for only runs at 533MHz! Talk about suckage! Well, ok, I haven't tested 667MHz yet. I'm getting tired of rebooting Windows. Wish P95 ran in DOS.

Any bets on if I'll be able to get OCZ to make good on their marketing numbers and replace this with memory that actually works as advertised, rather than just blaming the motherboard???They should come clean, no problems.

Reply to 1Tanker

I agree that OCZ should RMA your RAM. You may also find this post helpful in clarifying the various sets of speed/timing numbers:
http://forumz.tomshardware.com/har [...] 81#1249881

Reply to Mondoman

why does my fsbram say "cpu/10" im so confused lol!

Reply to Coops07

By the way, the memory does run at 667. Here are the CPUZ memory timings:

Frequency: 333.3MHz
FSBRAM: 4:5
CAS Latency: 4.0 clocks
RAS to CAS Delay: 4 clocks
RAS Precharge: 4 clocks
Tras: 15 clocks
Trc: 20 clocks

Reply to realmadmartian

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