GA-X58A-UD3R + 1600 Mhz ram ??

[the_julle]

Hi all.

I have the Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R (rev. 2) motherboard, with Intel core i7-950 CPU.

I have 3 * 2 Gb ram:
Kingston DDR3-1600 6GB HyperX (3x2GB) TripleChannel (KHX1600C9AD3B1/2G)

The RAM is 1600 Mhz, but why is it that the x58 chipset doesn't support that? I have read that there are some tweaks to make full use of the memory, but how??

Thanks.

Ragards, Alex.

 

[sadams04]

Good info => http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/270183-30-x58a-ud3r-1600-support

 

[the_julle]

Thanks.

So the only way is to overclock the CPU. Or to sell my Kingston HyperX and buy some low latency 1333.

Which one has the lowest latency and 1333 Mhz (only 2 og 4 GB modules)?
http://download.gigabyte.eu/FileList/Memory/mb_memory_ga-x58a-ud3r_v2.0.pdf

 

[davcon]

Your board supports up to DDR3 2200Mhz ram.
You have to set-up ram higher then 1333Mhz in the bios.
Google works good i hear.

 

[the_julle]

The board support up to 2200 Mhz, but not 1600 Mhz. The supported is: ..., 1333, 2200.

So i order to make full use of the 1600 Mhz, I'll have to overclock the CPU as far as I udnerstand...?

 

[davcon]

The board support up to 2200 Mhz, but not 1600 Mhz. The supported is: ..., 1333, 2200.

So i order to make full use of the 1600 Mhz, I'll have to overclock the CPU as far as I udnerstand...?

I might be mistaken but i have 2 1156 Giggy boards and 1600Mhz ram.
Enable XMP
Adjust dram voltage to vendors spec
Save and exit.

 

[the_julle]

Okay, thanks.

I don't think my ram supports XPM - am I still able to enable it?

 

[davcon]

Okay, thanks.

I don't think my ram supports XPM - am I still able to enable it?

Go in bios and enter the rams vendors specs manually.
Apparently your board is a PITA for 1600Mhz ram.
Worse case scenario is it will run at mobo defaults.
There's no need to buy another kit btw it will still run 1066 or 1333Mhz if it won't set up to 1600.

 

[the_julle]

Thanks again.

I changed the "system memory multiplier" to 12, as 12*133=1600. It seems to work, however according to CPU-Z my NB-frequency rices from 2150 Hz to 3200 Hz (approx). What is NB-frequency and is it good / bad that it has changed?

Do you know of any good benchmark program that will tell me whether or not I'm gaining anything?

 

[the_julle]

Apparently I'm not allowed to edit my own message... So here it comes:

EDIT:
The NB frequency in CPU-Z is the uncore frequency. It has automatically changed to 3200 Hz, because it optimally should be twice as high as the ram frequency.

But is it okay, that the uncore frequency is that high??

 

[jaquith]

3200 MHz is fine and within safe numbers, it's the UCLK and it's 2X the Memory Multiplier. Nice Chart -> http://vip.asus.com/forum/view.aspx?id=20081220191040237&board_id=1&model=P6T+Deluxe&page=1&SLanguage=en-us {see "Overclockings for Core i7 950 / Core i7 960"}.

 

[jaquith]

BTW - If you didn't use the XMP setting then I would strongly recommend that you also manually enter the CAS Timings {e.g. 9-9-9-24-2N} and the DRAM Voltage. The UD3R is problematic often with XMP so I would do it all manually...

 

[the_julle]

Thanks for your answer.

Very nice thread you have linked to. I just thought that the QPI should be higher than the uncore?

My ram does not support XMP, so i manually entered system memory multiplier. The latency settings is automatically changed from cas7 to cas9, which is what the vendor also says it should be. However the CR is 1N and not 2N - does that make any diference?
I'm pretty sure the DRAM voltage increased from 1.5 to 1.65 V, but i haven't double checked

 

[jaquith]

I would look-up your RAM for the full specs. Regarding the the DRAM Timing Mode depends on your RAM's specs. A generic answer is 1N is quicker and 2N is more stable, and 'most' 1600 MHz RAM is 2N.

Kingston KHX1600C9AD3B1/2G 2GB 1600MHz DDR3 Non-ECC CL9-9-9-27{pretty sure 2N} 1.65V

Yeah, if your RAM is indeed 1.65v then either a little less or more {closet setting} is best.

The 'Goal' is to have the speed WITHOUT throwing errors. Every time I build a system one of the procedures I do after the OC is done is to run, at minimum, Prime 95 http://www.mersenne.org/freesoft/ and Memtest86+ {use ISO/zip bootable CD/DVD} http://www.memtest.org/ plus monitor your temps with some temp App e.g. HW Monitor http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/hwmonitor.html

Leave the QPI Clock Ratio -> Auto, and the values are tied to your BCLK.

 

[the_julle]

Thanks.

Right now I'm running CL9-9-9-24, but my systems seems to be stable. Whats the difference there?

I found the datasheet of my ram:
http://www.valueram.com/datasheets/KHX1600C9AD3B1_2G.pdf

And it says (same as you do)
DDR3-1600MHz at a low latency timing of 9-9-9-27 at 1.65V

However, not at single word about CR.

 

[jaquith]

Google:
0 results = Kingston KHX1600C9AD3B1/2G +"9-9-9-27-1N"
8 results = Kingston KHX1600C9AD3B1/2G +"9-9-9-27-2N"

The 'difference' is if the timing is set too fast then you produce more errors, and the best way is to run Memtest for 2~4 passes. It's like OC the RAM 1600 8-8-8-24-2N or 1800 9-9-9-27-2N - it may 'seem' okay until you TEST to find that errors are being produced.

Since those are value RAM and if it were 'me' I would run 1600 MHz 9-9-9-27-2N @ 1.65v and be happy...

 

[the_julle]

Thank you so much.

I'll do some test tomorrow. Thanks again.

 

[the_julle]

Hi again.

Just did some google-search in my lunchbreak I google'ed for:

Kingston KHX1600C9AD3B1/2G +"9-9-9-24-2N"

which gives above 1300 results.

So i'll try with that timing too (in Memtest) as soon as possible. What do you think?


And just a bonus question Is value RAM a bad thing? )

 

[jaquith]

Value RAM is not a bad thing, the IC used though are slower than most 'performance' RAM and the net result is slightly slower processing overall bandwidth. So unless you are constantly running Apps that are pushing tons of data e.g. Gaming, Rendering, SQL, etc you'll never notice the differences. Gaming 4~8FPS can be gained with good 'performance' RAM with low-tight CAS. Also, a lesser concern as voltages go down in RAM is cooling; the older 1.8v+ RAM runs hot and the 1.65v warmer and so on with the 1.5v->1.35v cooler. The 1.65v RAM with high density and filled DIMM slots can get hot, but the 1GB & 2GB sticks should be okay.

Again, the 2N is to reduce or eliminate random memory related BSODs. There's nothing worst than throwing a BSOD during Gaming or other processing.

Good Luck with your testing!

 

[the_julle]

I have now done some testing.

1th test: Standard setting, ram running at 1066 Mhz, latency is 7-7-7-20. I did a MEMTEST two times, no error!

2end test: Ram running at 1600 MHz, latency 9-9-9-24, CR=1. Note, it is not 9-9-9-27. Again, i did a MEMTEST twice, no error.

I planning doing some more memtesting, just to be sure. However, do you agree, that the setting 9-9-9-24, CR=1 is the best of these four settings (all running at 1600 MHz):
9-9-9-24, CR=1
9-9-9-27, CR=1
9-9-9-24, CR=2
9-9-9-27, CR=2

So, if 9-9-9-24, CR=1 passes there is really no reason to test the other settings...?

BUT, even if I wanted to test the other settings I properly couldn't... Can you take a look at my bios?

Pic1: Main screen => entering "MB Intelligent Tweaker (M.I.T)"
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/the_julle/CIMG0997.jpg

Pic2: Confirms, that my memory is running at 1600 Mhz, with a DRAM voltage of 1.65 V
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/the_julle/CIMG0995.jpg

Pic3: I'm now in "M.I.T Current Status". Again confirming that my memory is running at 1600 Mhz, with a latency of 9-9-9-24. Not sure if any of the numbers is the command rate (which should be 1 acording to CPU-Tweaker and CPU-Z
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/the_julle/CIMG0994.jpg

Pic4: I'm now in "Advanced memory settings". The frequency is still 1600MHz, but the DDR voltage is 1.5V ??
I changed DRAM Timing Selectable from "Auto" to "Quick"
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/the_julle/CIMG0993.jpg

Pic5: After the changing mentioned above, I'm entering "Channel A Timing Settings". Why is the lateny now 7-7-7-20 ??
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/the_julle/CIMG0992.jpg


So, to sum up.. How does I change the latency, and CR?


Thanks for your time, I really appreciate it!!

 

[the_julle]

Arg..Made a mistake and I'm still not allowed to edit my post!!

EDIT::

Pic1: Main screen => entering "MB Intelligent Tweaker (M.I.T)"
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/the_julle/CIMG0992.jpg

Pic2: Confirms, that my memory is running at 1600 Mhz, with a DRAM voltage of 1.65 V
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/the_julle/CIMG0993.jpg

Pic3: I'm now in "M.I.T Current Status". Again confirming that my memory is running at 1600 Mhz, with a latency of 9-9-9-24. Not sure if any of the numbers is the command rate (which should be 1 acording to CPU-Tweaker and CPU-Z
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/the_julle/CIMG0994.jpg

Pic4: I'm now in "Advanced memory settings". The frequency is still 1600MHz, but the DDR voltage is 1.5V ??
I changed DRAM Timing Selectable from "Auto" to "Quick"
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/the_julle/CIMG0995.jpg

Pic5: After the changing mentioned above, I'm entering "Channel A Timing Settings". Why is the lateny now 7-7-7-20 ??
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t244/the_julle/CIMG0997.jpg

 

[jaquith]

Like I stated above -> "OC the RAM 1600 8-8-8-24-2N or 1800 9-9-9-27-2N" VERSUS 1600 9-9-9-27-2N. You are essentially OC'ing your RAM, it's no big deal to do as long as your run in 'those' cases 4-passes without errors. I OC ALL of my Gaming rigs - both CPU & RAM --- just not with 'Value' RAM.

Clearly, if it passes it's okay.

From above:

MG0992.jpg - correct place
MG0993.jpg - yeah rounding {BCLK} varies
MG0994.jpg - 9-9-9-24-1N (I assume timing is Auto and BIOS is reading a JEDEC number 'SPD'
MG0995.jpg - again a JEDEC / SPD + Auto; you need to Manually set Memory Multiplier = 12, DRAM Voltage & Timings
MG0997.jpg - again/again - the BIOS is reading 'available' JEDEC / SPD info. Besides JEDEC 1~4, most RAM will also have an 'XMP-1600' with the 1.60/1.65v which you stated your Value RAM lacks. Hence, the SPD info is from the 'highest' speed it contains.

RAM with XMP adds another 'XMP-1600' column with either 1.6/1.65v

 

[the_julle]

Thank you very much for taking your time to answer all my questions

Thanks.