Extremely Low Memory Timings

jumpman

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So i overclocked my computer, and when i was adjusting the memory timings i was able to bring them from 4-4-4-12 to 3-4-3-1, and this is on kingston ddr2-533 value ram. Now ive never heard of the tRAS being brought down so low and was wondering if this is a bad thing to do. Also, when i overclocked i set the memory to run at 400mhz, then i upped the fsb from 266>339, effectively bringing the memory clock up to about 511
 

raven_87

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hell, if your RAM runs @ that speed with those timings....I wouldnt question it; otherwise the tech gods that lore o'er our heads will smite thee
 

jumpman

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hell, if your RAM runs @ that speed with those timings....I wouldnt question it; otherwise the tech gods that lore o'er our heads will smite thee

haha pretty much what i was thinking, though i would like to know if in the long-term this could cause real damage to the RAM.
 

subtlewordplay

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Generally, I've heard tras is usually equal or more the number of the total trcd and trp.

8O wow, if you can run some kind long-term/ overnight test to verify a pass. Go for it!

... what kind of board is this if I may ask?
 

raven_87

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if he's setting them in the bios then I can't see how they'd be on an override.
timings that tight without extra voltage would cause massive instability, I dont think he'd make it through the post... then again you do have a point.

can we get some confirmation here?
 

tool_462

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Impressive. Though I had a set of PC2700 a couple years ago that would run 3-3-3-4 but not 3-3-3-3 or 3-3-3-2 but it would run 3-3-3-1... I don't know if the board actually raises it higher or something, but since CPU-Z verifies, I have no idea how it's working. Especially since it's DDR2.

Wouldn't surprise me if there was something more to it, but who knows.

Do you bench higher at the lower timings than original?
 

jumpman

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Do you bench higher at the lower timings than original?

i haven't run much of anything in the way of benches, but when i get home this weekend i'll run some. what do you recommend for benching the memory?
 

jumpman

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ok so i ran the memory latency bench in Sandra...

Stock Timings(4-4-4-12): Latency - 89ns
Speed Factor - 88.3

Advanced Timings(3-4-3-1): Latency - 83ns
Speed Factor - 82.3
 

jumpman

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just though i would add that these are 2 one gig sticks and also i didn't even buy them at the same time. what're the odds that i got 2 sticks that are able to run at such timings? something just doesn't seem right...