Memory Question (crucial ballistix)

[VeggieX]

I just built a new PC. Not my first won't be last. I am not a pro by any means but I can build one just fine. What I am curious about is. I ran Everest Ultimate Trial version and it said the following:

Chipset Properties:
Motherboard Chipset nVIDIA nForce 780i SLI
Memory Timings 5-5-5-15 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)
Command Rate (CR) [ TRIAL VERSION ]
DIMM1: Crucial 1 GB DDR2-800 DDR2 SDRAM (5-5-5-18 @ 400 MHz) (4-5-5-15 @ 333 MHz) (3-4-4-12 @ 266 MHz)
DIMM2: Crucial [ TRIAL VERSION ]
DIMM3: Crucial [ TRIAL VERSION ]
DIMM4: Crucial [ TRIAL VERSION ]

5-5-5-15 Is my manufacture spec for my timings. But when it gets down to DIMM1: I get confused. What do these other timings mean? I know that originally my timings were set to 5-5-5-18 in my BIOS. I changed it to manufacture specs. I also changed it from 1.85v to manufacture spec 2.2v.

Basically I spent alot of money (well worth what I got) and I want to make sure everything is running right. Any advice and comments is definately appreciated and wanted.


I just ran CPU-Z and what i got under memory tab is:

Module size: 1024
Max Bandwidth PC 6400 400mhz (this is lower then it should be)

Then down to timings table:

JEDEC#2
333mhz
cas 4.0 (manufacture spec say 5.0)
ras to cas 5.0
ras precharge 5.0
tras 15
trc 20
command rate is blank
voltage 1.8

JEDEC#3
400mhz
cas 5.0
ras to cas 5.0
ras precharge 5.0
tras 18 (supposed to be 15)
trc 23
command rate is blank
voltage 1.8

EPP#1
400mhz
cas 4.0 (manufacture spec say 5.0)
ras to cas 4.0
ras precharge 4.0
tras 12
trc 24
command rate 2T
voltage 2.2

EPP#2
533mhz
cas 5.0 (manufacture spec say 5.0)
ras to cas 5.0
ras precharge 5.0
tras 15
trc 30
command rate 2T
voltage 2.2

My PC:

Windows Vista Home Premium
EVGA 780i SLI Motherboard
Intel Q9300 Quad-Core 2.5ghz @ 2.63ghz
4g Crucial Ballistix DDR2 1066 (PC8500)
EVGA 8800GT 512mb SLI
Seagate Barracuda 3.5gbs 250gb
Soundblaster X-fi Extreme Gamer (in the mail)
Cooler Master Real Power Pro 750w PSU
Cooler Master Cosmos S Case

 

[railroaderron]

DRAM Voltage 2.2V

CAS# Latency 4
RAS# to CAS# Delay 4
RAS# Precharge 4
RAS# Active Time 12





That is a start...I run my 6400 ddr2 800mhz 2x1 kit at 5,5,5,15 @1069mhz at a vdimm of 1.86. I know its a lot different than the above but why volt if you don`t have to? Also, it`s been said that 1069mhz@ 5,5,5,15 is very similar in performance to 800 mhz @ 4,4,4,12. The reason I run mine at the higher mhz spec is account of overclocking the cpu to a faster speed. After overclocking my choices are 890mhz or 1069mhz. Since I am unable to run 4,4,4,12 at 890mhz the other choice is the best for my setup.

 

[Zorg]

Those are other timings that are called "enhanced performance profile". They don't meet the JEDEC standards. The timings table that you refer to is actually the SPD page. This data is read from the RAM and is a list of the timings at the various speeds that the manufacturer says the RAM will run at. You use them as your guide to set the minimum timings at the various speeds.

This is somewhat moot anyway, because RAM speed and timings make a very small difference in real world performance with the core 2 architecture.

 

[VeggieX]

So why is the program seeing my ram as PC 6400 when it is PC 8500?

 

[Zorg]

So why is the program seeing my ram as PC 6400 when it is PC 8500?

Because Crucial didn't put 8500 in the SPD. JEDEC standards don't go to 8500, unless that was changed recently, so 6400 is the max that they can technically call it, anything higher would be EPP. That doesn't mean that some companies haven't put 8500 in the SPD. Don't worry, you have PC8500, just refer to the SPD in CPU-Z. You can manually increase the the speed to 1066 and set the timings, found in the SPD, manually. You won't get much by running the RAM at 1066 over 800 anyway. the core 2 is insensitive to increased RAM speed. 1066 can get a bit hot on the RAM and the speed plus the divider will also make the northbridge hotter.

If I was you, I would run the RAM at 800 5:6, you will get less heat and loose very little, if any, performance. You could even run it at 1333 1:1 with tighter timings. Either of these is a toss up and IMO 800 doesn't get too hot.

What you should concentrate on is raising the FSB from 1333 to 1600 and running the RAM in 1:1. This will give you an OC to 3G.

If you want to go further on the OC, the additional headroom that you got with the better RAM will allow you to do that without driving the RAM faster than it was designed for.

 

[VeggieX]

I plan to OC it once I run it at stock speeds for a little while. I am gonna get some more 120mm fans to as my case has room for 4 more.

 

[Zorg]

Good luck with it.