I just purchased a Gigabyte GA-N680SLI-DQ6 motherboard. It supports DDR2 800. I purchased 1066 Crucial Ballistic Tracer memory 2x1 gigs without fully doing my homework. Since I'm stuck with the memory a friend told me that I needed to change the settings on the motherboard to take better advantage of the 1066 memory. I'm new at this, what settings changes would you recommend? Thanks in advance...

Hi, before you start changing settings, download a program called CPU-Z. Open the program, and switch to the memory tab. If it says 533MHz as the frequency, you're all set, and your memory is already running at DDR2-1066

DDR2 stands for Double Data Rate, in actuality, RAM runs half it's rated speed, but the way it's designed, DDR2 can complete two actions per clock cycle, effectively doubling it's speed.

If the frequency is reported as 400MHz, post back, and we can work from there. It's easier to at least check before we start messing with BIOS settings. And what CPU are you using, and are you overclocking it?

Thanks, hope this helps.

I'm using an Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700 Kentsfield 2.66GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor, I haven't overclocked it yet but was thinking about doing that too.

Right now CPU-Z reports 400...

Thanks for the help so far...

Read this post regarding memory speed, latency and voltage settings: http://forumz.tomshardware.com/har [...] 81#1249881

Ok, so your RAM is running at DDR2-800.

First let me say that I'm assuming that the DS3's bios settings are similar to the DQ6's.

So, right now, your default FSB is 266MHz. Your RAM is running at 400MHz. So your FSB:RAM ratio is 2:3. Since you're not OCing, we want to change this ratio to 1:2. Using this new ratio will change the RAM speed to 533MHz, or effectively DDR2-1066.

OK, go into your bios. once at the main screen, press Ctrl+F1. This unlocks some advanced settings we might be dealing with. Proceed into the MIT section of your bios. Gigabyte uses a weird FSB:RAM setting, so I'm not sure what yours should say. But whatever it is you want to change it to four. So the FSB is 266 x 4 =1066, which is what you want.

And nice system!! Quad core Wow, that's gotta be fast. Just to say overclocking is a different story. You definately want an aftermarket heatsink if you don't have one already have one. But using these settings, you can run you memory up to spec.

Hope this helps.

Thanks much! I have a Zalman Resirator ONE water system, so I most likely try to OC the CPU. From what I've read OCing this type of system is very easy, and produces quite an increase in performance. Assuming I bump the multiplyer up a little or the FSBup, the 1:2 ratio is what I want to stive for? Again, I can't tell you how much I appreciate your taking the time to help me out...

Scott

I misunderstood the above; this space now intentionally left blank.

:? Hmmm. Hear me out here.

In most normal circumstances, a 1:1 ratio is what you want. (Because most people don't need more than a 400MHz FSB in order to fully OC their CPU. So doubling this gives you only DDR2-800. And any slower FSB speed will require slower RAM. So in most cases, DDR2-800 is overkill for OCing) The only problem I see with that is when you want to run your RAM at full speed. So to run sghill's RAM at full speed, he needs a FSB of 533, which is a substantialOC. Even if he lowers his multiplier, hitting a 533MHz FSB is a difficult feat! So I don't recommend for sghill to try a 533MHz FSB.

So in this case, where RAM speed is higher than a reasonable FSB, you have to change the ratio. I think 1:2 is the best because the RAM is exactly twice as fast as the FSB. Rather than 2:5 and similar ratios. And RAM is normally easy to OC. My DDR2-675 (4.4.4.12) ran DDR2-1066 (5.5.5.15) no problems, or extra voltage. So that's a 60% OC! So I'm sure your RAM can be ran higher than speced. And since you have a Core 2 Extreme, your multiplier is unlocked! So when you OC, I'd use the multiplier to OC rather than the FSB. Lower FSB speeds I think are better because of the less voltage required, and less heat output of the Northbridge.

Hope this helps. And please ask any questions you may have!

Sorry, I misunderstood your post! When you mentioned a 533MHz RAM speed, I thought you were talking about the effective data rate, not the memory bus clock rate. Thanks for the clarification.

Thx all for your help!

I've finally got the machines monitors, I have three, one 30" Dell and two 20" Samsungs up and running as one.

Now, I'd like to overclock this thing and set the memory to it's full potential. I was thinking about uping the multiplyer to 13 from 10, then increasing the voltage to 1.45. Only problem is I don't know what voltage to turn up..

Which voltage control do you change??? There are several settings on the board,

1. System Voltage Control
2. DDR2 Voltage Control
3. NB/PCIE
4. SB/PCIE
5. FSB Voltage Control
6. HT-Line
7. SB Standby Voltage Control
8. CPU Voltage Control

I'm thinking it's #8 CPU Voltage Control, but don't want to guess.

After I get the multiplyer up and the voltage set, what are your recommendations for the memory as far as the settings to take full advantage of the 1066 speed?

I know this is alot to ask, but if you have a couple of minutes I'd really apprecitate your input, thanks ahead...

Scott

Yeah, just rub it in.

Ok, if you haven't already, READ THIS.

When the guide mentions a X6800, that also applies to you.

And because of your higher than normal memory speeds, disreguard this:

Instead you want to use a memory multiplier of 4. If you use the standard 2, you will have to set your FSB over 533MHz in order to run DDR2-1066. Becaue this is such a hard thing to do, use a 4 multiplier.

BE WARNED!! If you adjust the FSB with a memory multiplier of 4, You will be overclocking your RAM also!! This isn't bad, I just wanted to point that out.

For you I'd stay away from using the FSB to OC. Since your multiplier is unlocked, I'd just up the multiplier a bit. With stock FSB, a memory multiplier of 4 and a CPU multiplier or 11 or 12, you will have a 2.93 or 3.19GHz CPU and your RAM will be running in spec at DDR2-1066.

And since I just realized you have watercooling, you might even be able to use a 13 multiplier to hit 3.46GHz!! And that'll be somethin' to brag about!!

So READ THE C2D OC'ing GUIDE and then re-read my post. And if you have any more questions, don't hesitate to ask! I enjoy doing this.

Thanks once again!!!

I increased the multiplier to 12 and increased the voltage to 1.4, when I start the machine and start CPU Z it shows a voltage of 1.36 and a multiplier of 6. The voltage seems to oscilate at the beginning of the startup, then settles down to 1.36.

Also when the machine is starting, the multiplier oscilates between 6 and 12.

Any ideas as to what is happening?

Thanks, Scott

It might be Intel's speed step ie. your processer clocks itself down when theres no load detected then when your processer detects a load it clocks up to say 3.4GHz if thats you overclock. CPU-Z can show you when it clocks down. Let say you have the Vcore at 1.4, your processer uses slightly less to maitain 1.325volts. Basicly to maitain 1.375 you have to have 1.4 as an overhead. Hope this helps.

It sure does, I was worried my power supply was not providing a steady stream of juice to the board...

Thx...Scott