Run 1.65v mem at 1.5v - what effect on mem?

[jetpack]

I have a GA-X58A-UD3R and am using TR3X6G1600C8D memory. Whenever I try to run this stuff at it's rated voltage of 1.65v I get intermittent cold boot fails with a BIOS error message about a boot failure caused by overvoltage. I.e. some cold boots are fine. Eventually, after a day or so I get it again. Then the memory settings get reset and thing runs fine at 1.5V 1066MHz.

Does anyone know the technical effect of running this memory at a lower voltage is? Could it eventually damage the voltage? At this point, I just want a pc that boots reliably and would run the stuff at 1.5v 1066 rather than deal with these boot fails.

 

[Lmeow]

If your memory is stable at 1.5V, then just leave it - I tried running my sticks at 1866MHz on 1.5V - it booted up, although Prime 95 crashed my computer. I originally booted with 1066MHz and 1.5V too, it was stable, and I'd just leave it at those settings personally. If you feel 1.5V is too low, or you do run into memory stability issues, then just up the voltage to 1.55V or so.

 

[EXT64]

Lower volts never hurt. In fact it will likely extend the life of the chips. I am running my 7-8-7-24-2T 1600 1.65V ram at 7-7-7-21-1T 1430 1.5~1.54V. I often run ram below the voltage spec. it also makes the ram run cooler an use less power. The Official DDR3 spec is 1.5V, so it had better be able to run at that, otherwise it is not to spec.

 

[jetpack]

Thanks guys for the info. Unfortunately, I'm still getting boot fails even when running my RAM at 1.5 v 1066MHz so there's something else going on too. Corsair offered to RMA the ram so I'll try that and see what happens.

 

[EXT64]

Sounds like a good idea. Ram is just defective now and then