Can't overclock memory.

[Jonathanese]

I just not a new setup:

Core i5 3570K (@4.4GHz 1.19v)
ASUS P8Z77-V LK
8GB Corsair Vengeance 1600 CL9

I've been trying to overclock the RAM, much to no avail.

I've tried the minimum bump up to 1800, and while I was able to get my benchmarks to run (with a well-noted boost!) The system was unstable, and would lock up in windows. (This was 1800MHz 10-10-10-30 @ 1.65v)

So I tried all the way to 11-11-11-33 with 1.7v 1800MHz. The UEFI would glitch and lock up sometimes, other times it would freeze during boot, other times it would run, but would lock up or BSOD during Prime 95.

These tests were done with and without and overclocked CPU.

So basically, I really can't run this thing in any way besides the vanilla spec. kinda seems like a waste of huge heat spreaders, does it not?

 

[DJDeCiBeL]

So basically, I really can't run this thing in any way besides the vanilla spec. kinda seems like a waste of huge heat spreaders, does it not?

The heat spreaders are there more for looks than anything else really, and there's no real reason to OC the RAM anyway. 1600 at 9-9-9-24 (I'm assuming that's what it is), is plenty fast enough.

OC'ing RAM and RAM faster than 1600 is hardly ever worth it with Sandy and Ivy CPU's.

 

[Jonathanese]

Yeah, I figured not. I'm at 21GB/s in Sandra at about 21ns time.

During the 1800 test, though, I got 24-25GB/s and around 18-19ns. A fairly notable improvement.

But I suppose the point is moot if the 3570K doesn't even use all that bandwidth. But I figured a RAM OC proportional to the CPU OC might be ideal. This board has tons of overclocking potential and everything runs cool except the CPU.

WIth my previous set, A-DATA Vitesta DDR2-800, there was a timing I was able to change that did ABOUT the same thing as over-volting. It was the Precharge time. When I got worried about temperature, I would raise this timing instead of the voltage, and it performed basically the same task.

 

[DarkOutlaw]

Why are you pushing 1.7v through ram??

I havent overclocked my RAM yet...because its not really worth doing...but it seems to me you should set your ram voltage to 1.5v and then change your ram timings to whatever the package says, then try upping your mhz slowy. if you crash, up the voltage on your cpu a little.

 

[Jonathanese]

That's exactly what I did.

1800MHz is the minimum overclock speed I have available. That's my smallest increment. Do I crash? Yes. So I try loosening the timings first. No luck? Rase the voltage slowly and test it.

1.55 Nope
1.60 Still no luck
1.65 Nada
1.70 Time for the TH forums.

Each time, I've been feeling the RAM. doesn't get but a degree above room temperature.