Why isn't my memory running at its rated level?

[ArbY]

Ok I have the 2GB Mushkin eXtreme Performance kit ... DDR2-800, PC6400, 4-4-3-10, blah blah blah...

My problem is, when I plug 4-4-3-10 into the BIOS, as well as set it to DDR2-800MHz (yeah I know it's not really 800MHz, it's just what the BIOS option says) ... I am getting constant system crashes. I think the default voltage for this memory is 2.0v ... but I went up to 2.2v and still experienced crashes.

My motherboard is the ASUS P5W DH Deluxe (LGA775) and I have the E6600 CPU.

Can anyone help me troubleshoot this? Thanks.

 

[rammedstein]

at ddr2-800 are you ocing your cpu at all? if you are there might be some problems...

 

[jedi940]

you shouldn't have to change the timings at all. What do they run at by default? maybe you got a bad set. check the FSB multiplier. make sure that is correct.

 

[JMecc]

Make sure the FSB for you CPU is 266 (non-OC) and your memory clock is at 400 (the 800MHz of DDR2 is just an internal doubling - it still runs external at 400MHz).

Run Memtest86 on it at 2.1V and if it fails any tests at all go to 2.15 then 2.2 & if still bad call Mushkin's support.

Jo

 

[ArbY]

at ddr2-800 are you ocing your cpu at all? if you are there might be some problems...

If I let the SPD determine the timings, I get 5-5-5-15 which is not what this memory was advertised at (nor is it what the sticker says on the modules themselves).

I am not OC'ing my CPU at all. FSB is 266 by default.

I will try the memtest at 2.2v and report back.

 

[javimars]

try 4-4-4-10.. you wont notice the difference...im running my gskill hz @950 4-4-4-10..it FLYS

 

[ArbY]

DDR2-800MHz
2.2v
4-4-3-10

Memtest86 = tons of errors.

I'll be calling mushkin tomorrow. I'm rather unhappy as this whole RMA process has taken about a month, and now I'm left with the same problem all over again.

 

[ArbY]

Turns out the error was completely on my end. The memory is fine.
The BIOS timings do not match the "standard" order.

This is the standard order:


■TCL = CAS Latency Time
■Trcd = DRAM RAS# to CAS# Delay
■Trp = DRAM RAS# Precharge
■Tras = Precharge delay

In my BIOS, the two options highlighted in red are switched. So when I set up the timings, I should've input 4-3-4-10, even though, according to the standard order, my RAM timings are supposed to be 4-4-3-10. This oversight caused my system to be unstable. Now that everything is straightened out, my PC is fine.

 

[jedi940]

I'm glad you figured it out. I would not have thought to check the order. Good thing you did.