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XMP help, and a little clarification

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  • Memory
  • RAM
  • Intel i7
  • Product
Last response: in Memory
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September 18, 2009 6:46:46 AM

Okay, so I recently upgraded my PC, and have my i7 stable at 3.6 for the time being, but my memory is a being a pain, and i've never OCed RAM before.



What is going on?

More about : xmp clarification

September 18, 2009 4:29:42 PM

that voltage is too high for an I7-920 mem setting, those must be older ddr3 modules. You don't want to exceed 1.7 volts on mem voltage for a I7-900 series cpu.
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a b } Memory
September 19, 2009 6:00:21 AM

Why would XMP chipped RAM be older?

Most of Mushkin's RAM "designed for I7" does show 1.65V or less though. But the other should work, just have to tell BIOS to send it the required voltage. None of their lower voltage RAM has CL's that good.

I think once you set the voltage, you shouldn't have to OC the RAM.

kg, does sending RAM 1.85V somehow damage the I7 or motherboard?
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September 19, 2009 8:53:26 AM

My ram is rated at 1600 at 1.9, with base timings of 7-7-6, i'm really just curious, what would I have to do to get to that rating, i'm currently at 1440 on an ASRock X58 Extreme. Here is the mobo, and the ram on newegg, i'm really just trying to get it to stock settings, maybe push a little more.
MoBo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Funny enough, the MoBo has a Tom's Hardware Recommended buy, strangely coincidental. I did read the review for sub 200 boards after I had my board.
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a b } Memory
September 19, 2009 12:43:46 PM

Flying Sq - what's stopping you from going to 1600? That board and BIOS seems to have every setting in the world. One thing is the RAM specs are 1.95V, not 1.9V.

Load DDR3 EZ OC Setting
You can use this option to load DDR3 EZ overclocking setting. Please note
that overclocing may cause damage to your memory and motherboard. It
should be done at your own risk and expense.

What does this give you?

XMP Frequency
Use this option to adjust XMP frequency. The default value is [Auto].
Don't know if your RAM supports XMP so no idea if this helps you

DRAM Voltage
Use this to select DRAM Voltage. The default value is [Auto].
Gotta set this one to 1.95V. I think the starting value is 1.5V - check that before adjusting. But need to boost it to 1.95V to get RAM specs.

Uncore Frequency
Use this option to adjust uncore frequency. The value of uncore frequency
should be at least double of DRAM frequency. For exanple, if the DRAM
frequency is [800MHz (DDR3 1600)], uncore frequency should be above
[3200MHz]. Configuration options: [Auto], [1600MHz], [1866MHz], [2133MHz],
[2400MHz], [2666MHz], [2933MHz], [3200MHz], [3466MHz], [3733MHz],
[4000MHz] and [4266MHz]. The default value is [Auto].

DRAM Frequency
If [Auto] is selected, the motherboard will detect the memory module(s)
inserted and assigns appropriate frequency automatically. You may select
[Auto], [400MHz (DDR3 800)], [533MHz (DDR3 1066)], [666MHz (DDR3
1333)], [800MHz (DDR3 1600)], [933MHz (DDR3 1866)] or [1066MHz (DDR3
2133)].


Uncore Freq. should be at 3200MHz and DRAM Freq. at 800MHz.

Good luck, let me know how it goes...

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September 19, 2009 7:55:16 PM

Okay, this is what really confused me in the first place. The Uncore Freq, can only be set to, 2100, 2450, 2800, 3150, 3500, 3850, 4200, 4550, 4900, 5250, 5600.

And my DRAM can only be set to 1050,1400, 1750, 2100, 2450, or 2800.

EDIT: My XMP setting is at 1600, but it doesn't seem to be doing anything.
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September 19, 2009 9:41:41 PM

but if you look at my ddr3, you'll notice the xmp spec of 1.65v, going over 1.7v on a I7 will cause problems with the cpu later on.
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a b } Memory
September 19, 2009 11:49:29 PM

I'm not an Intel user nor am I familar with the 1.65V limit on RAM affecting the processor. Don't know why the RAM voltage would affect the CPU, but it's clearly a subject that needs research since it is mentioned in many places. Perhaps the higher voltage RAM should never be used with the I7.

**** Hope a more experienced person here can jump in on this one ****

Flying Sq - might want to reset the BIOS to Optimal defaults or similar before proceeding - making sure you know any settings you've changed for cause.

There seems to be another setting or multiplier that's affecting the choices mentioned - because the manual itself says those are the correct settings For exanple, if the DRAM frequency is [800MHz (DDR3 1600)], uncore frequency should be above [3200MHz]. (sic) - typo and all...
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September 20, 2009 4:16:22 AM

Okay, it's my modifier for my CPU, BCLK to be exact, as I bump it up, my RAM bumps up. To get my RAM running at 1600, I need to have a BCLK at 143, instead of 180. I've never really had this problem.
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a b } Memory
September 20, 2009 4:28:09 AM

Sounds like BClk is the bus base speed. Changing it will always modify the speed the RAM actually runs at - but on most systems doesn't affect the speed the RAM thinks its running at! LOL

For example, my RAM is 1066, shows as 1066 in BIOS and POST. But when I change the bus speed, it increases since that's the number that's multiplied to get 1066. So if my bus speed is at 205 instead of 200, my RAM runs at 205 * 5.33 = 1093 rather than 200 * 5.33 = 1066.

I would set your bus speed, BClk to normal, then set your RAM speeds, then go back and adjust your Bus as desired. It'll overclock your RAM to higher than 1600, but that's to be expected and always true (to my knowledge) - just may not have been obvious in other systems.

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September 21, 2009 2:41:01 AM

My ram starts at 1600, and ramps up to 2200, and doesn't post. Maybe underclock it and go from there?
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a b } Memory
September 21, 2009 3:19:35 AM

Well, if it's showing and running as 1600 - wasn't that your goal?
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September 22, 2009 2:50:45 AM

No, by starts, I mean, with default clock speed for my CPU. I can tune it down, but either way, I have to run it a few hundred megahertz over or under it's rated speed, and over doesn't work, and under is giving me problems.
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a b } Memory
September 22, 2009 3:29:41 PM

OK - let's try again.

If you leave the Bus speed at normal, you can set your RAM to 1600 and it works fine. Once you overclock the Bus, it naturally increases the speed of your RAM, with existing settings, to over 1600. And it fails to POST at 2200 - no surprise there.

As you overclock the bus, you need to notch down the RAM speed a little for each increment. Let's assume the RAM won't run over 1800 - just adjust its speed to that level once you ramp up the bus clock.

And once you find a 'actual' RAM speed that works, need to test it heavily at that speed. You may find you're best at something nearer to 1600 than 1800.
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September 27, 2009 8:30:17 PM

Okay, so i've been testing my overclocks, and right now i'm on 3.75 with 1520, i'm pretty sure it was my RAM undervolted, as well as my CPU, everything is running smoothly.

Oh, mongox, I can only pick from 4 or 5 speeds, I can just notch it down.
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a b } Memory
September 28, 2009 12:19:29 AM

Sounds good to me!

I'm running my AMD Phenom II x2 550 - 2 cores at 3100MHz with the other 2 cores unlocked and at about 3530 MHz. My RAM right now is actually running under specs, at 800 even but with CL=4 so it's very fast. I may try again at 1066 @5 but it'll not make any difference my computer can see. The bus is at normal 200 and doesn't seem to like being changed. I'm happy and glad all is working for you!
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