Newbie needs help understanding RAM overclocking

I would say to leave the latency timings on Auto for the time being. Then up your FSB in increments to the desired level, and see if the ram will work at that clock speed. Run a few programs to check for stability. Once you have achieved your max. o/c, considering the heat and stability of the system, you could then try to tighten the latency timings to further improve system performance.

Programs like MemSet or CPU-Z will tell you your ram timings in Windows without having to reboot to your bios.

Thanks Invader. If I need to reset the CMOS, do I need to re-set the jumper, or is there an easier way.

If anyone else has more comments please post.

you should set all things in bios manually - for the best results!

The higher the voltage the faster your ram can run - better ram can take more voltage before leakage occurs. leakage is: electrons not completing the circuit but turning into energy (heat) inside the chips resistance material.

1) feel your ram - if its not hot increase the voltage
2) speed and latencies are a trade off

to find the range look at what is being sold, for example

ddr400 2-2-2-5 or ddr500 3-3-3-8

ddr2 800 4-4-4-12 or ddr2 3-3-3-8 ddr2 553

these are your ranges you can guess at - if you take ddr 400 2-2-2-5 and run it ddr 480 speed you know your latencys can will be slightly less then 3-3-3-8 @2.8v infact 2.5--3-3-7 fsb 920 is what i set many systems too with corsair 2-2-2-5 ddr400 @2.9v.

so try 2.9v 2.5-3-3-8 or 2.5-3-3-7 at ddr 480 or 960 fsb - you try different settings - your system does not boot you need more volts, slower speed or slower latencies (higher number)

ocz 3-3-3-8 ddr2 533 is about the same as 5-4-5-15 ddr800 - in fact i got hgiher sandra numbers with 3-3-3-8 set to 5-4-5-15 specs

3) voltage if the ram is not hot you can raise voltage - this rule has never failed me. ddr2 1.8v ram usually runs better at 21.v (note: now I add a crab memory cooler $14 to all systems, or use dominator with the fan or use water cooled ocz (for water cooled systems) - all high end systems)

4) once you boot you may crash at the desk top - slow the ram

5) once you get a good fast boot run sandra memory bandwidth for the - adjust until you get the highest bandwidth

ddr 400 oc should be 5200-5500 mb or higher with really good ram 2.8-2.9v

ddr2 @2.1v should get 6500-6700 mb - better ram 2.3v should get 6700+

I have tested many different combs - get the mid priced ram then you should be able to get the mem band #'s shown above.



6) always program your os with default settings

Good advice.

Do you know how many volts a Corsair 6400 C4 can handle? I'll feel it like you said.
I am stuck running at CL6 @ 400 Mhz. Trying hard just to get down to CL5 :S

Thanks DragonSprayer you're a wealth of information!

crank up the volts until the ram is warm and check for memory errors with mem test.

if you not cooling the ram with a crab cooler or other means you should limit ddr2 2.1-2.2 - some low end ram will get hot and you can not over volt it.

2.3-2.4v with a fan

Thanks. I'll try going beyond 2.1v