About memory timings

bADmOToRFiNgER · Dec 1, 2004, 01:59 PM

I found an BIOS editor for ATI cards (RaBiT, www.guru3d.com) that allows me to change the card's memory timings

Did anyone tried changing those? Is there any benefit in performance in lowering them, or is it better to relax them to get a higher OC?

Thnx

BTW: I have a Sapphire 9600XT w/ Samsung 2.8ns chips

Zardon · Dec 1, 2004, 02:01 PM

I certainly would not touch this in the bios, its too much of a risk, especially if you messed something up and the card didnt boot. you would end up in a right old pickle. ATI tool offers memory timing changes and at least if you mess it up you can reboot.

bADmOToRFiNgER · Dec 1, 2004, 02:09 PM

Wow
That was fast

In Powerstrip theres an option to change the timings, but the box is grayed out and I can't change it, so I thought it wasnt possible to do that via software
I'll check ATiTool later

Thnx

Zardon · Dec 1, 2004, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bADmOToRFiNgER

Wow
That was fast

In Powerstrip theres an option to change the timings, but the box is grayed out and I can't change it, so I thought it wasnt possible to do that via software
I'll check ATiTool later

Thnx

Well I cant say ive actually changed memory timings in ATI tool myself as im quite happy with performance and dont mess with video cards much, but ive seen the options and they arent greyed out. Let me know how you get on.

refraction · Dec 1, 2004, 04:27 PM

if tried a couple of timings changed in atitool, 2 lowered by 1 made the screen mess up, but one ( cant remember which) did actually lower without problems.

not tried it extensively tho

me972 · Dec 1, 2004, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by refraction

if tried a couple of timings changed in atitool, 2 lowered by 1 made the screen mess up, but one ( cant remember which) did actually lower without problems.

not tried it extensively tho

since I've messed around with many BIOS files I can tell you that most of them cannot be changed. they are almost at the peak when they leave the factory.
as for those that do work the canges will usually limit your options to O/c the card ending up with a slower card.
also RABit alows you to make changes in real time to most of the timings meaning you may do some tests and reboot back to default settings if something goes wrong just like all the other tools.

also remember that tighter timings to the memory makes them reach higher temps - so make sure that if you find better settings to improove the air flow around the card or add mem sinks.

rgds
me972

bADmOToRFiNgER · Dec 2, 2004, 10:44 PM

OK
I did some tests with ATI Tool

Needed to use some data sheets about the mems (from Samsung site), since there are so many options and I couldnt change any without getting a garbled screen :P

I tried to use the recommended timings for 400mhz operation, and could get the mems up to 370~375mhz (vs the 355mhz max I was getting with default timings)
At 375 it started to show some artifacts after a while tho, but I guess thats because there are no ramsinks on the card (although I leave the case open and a BIG fan blowin cool air into it)

As for the performance, i saw no big improvement over the 350mhz that I normally use, testing on 3dmark03

I think i'll just stick to the default timings for now...
...at least until i get some ramsinks

EDIT: about that Powerstrip option...
The box is not grayed out (oops), but theres only one option ("Normal"), so i cant change it anyway

Geminiwave · Dec 3, 2004, 12:18 AM

I've found a use for messing with the mem timings. Loosen the timings a bit and OCing goes up a bit. Not so much for 9800PROs but for the 9700PRO it worked pretty well. Though I've only tested my 9800 and my friends 9700 so it could just be our luck.

even so its not that much of a boost. It does improve benchmarks a bit but I notice no difference in gaming.

In-Fluence · Feb 16, 2005, 09:16 PM

Out of interest, which timings did you loosen Geminiwave?

Lowfat · Feb 17, 2005, 06:01 AM

I have edited the timings on my 9700 PRO using RaBiT. Dont understand this but I tighted a few and was able to get a higher mem OC. most 9700's have trouble getting 350mem, however i have up to 360 no problem. I cant remember which ones i edited though.
I just fooled around with ATI tool and figured out which ones i could change and still maintain a decent OC, then flashed it.

Geminiwave · Feb 17, 2005, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by In-Fluence

Out of interest, which timings did you loosen Geminiwave?

the same ones that you can do on normal ram. Cas, Ras2Cas, something2RAS, and osmethin else.

Sorry im really spacy and I'm at school...but I remember that it was only the ones that I could remember from my own mobo with system ram.

There are about 30 Ram settings though with RaBIT bios editor for Radeon cards.

Dec 1, 2004, 01:59 PM	#1
bADmOToRFiNgER DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 5 Rep Power: 0	About memory timings I found an BIOS editor for ATI cards (RaBiT, www.guru3d.com) that allows me to change the card's memory timings Did anyone tried changing those? Is there any benefit in performance in lowering them, or is it better to relax them to get a higher OC? Thnx BTW: I have a Sapphire 9600XT w/ Samsung 2.8ns chips

Dec 1, 2004, 04:27 PM	#5
refraction DriverHeaven Addict Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 307 Rep Power: 0 $refraction is on a distinguished road$	if tried a couple of timings changed in atitool, 2 lowered by 1 made the screen mess up, but one ( cant remember which) did actually lower without problems. not tried it extensively tho __________________ [color=royalblue]Computer Specs[/color] := [color=royalblue]AMD Opteron 146 2.0Ghz @ 2.9Ghz[/color] = [color=royalblue]1024Mb PC4400 RAM Dual Channel[/color] = [color=royalblue]Gainward BLISS 7900GTX 512mb[/color] = [color=royalblue]SB Audigy 4 [/color]= [color=royalblue]250Gb SATA Hard Drive[/color] = [color=royalblue]Thermaltake Xaser Case [/color]= [color=royalblue]Benq FP91G+[/color][color=royalblue] 19" TFT[/color]
$refraction is offline$

Dec 3, 2004, 12:18 AM	#8
Geminiwave I Have lovely Breasts Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: In the closet... Posts: 5,395 Rep Power: 63	I've found a use for messing with the mem timings. Loosen the timings a bit and OCing goes up a bit. Not so much for 9800PROs but for the 9700PRO it worked pretty well. Though I've only tested my 9800 and my friends 9700 so it could just be our luck. even so its not that much of a boost. It does improve benchmarks a bit but I notice no difference in gaming. __________________

Feb 17, 2005, 06:01 AM	#10
Lowfat Xtreme Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Grande Prairie, AB, Can Posts: 4,254 Rep Power: 101	I have edited the timings on my 9700 PRO using RaBiT. Dont understand this but I tighted a few and was able to get a higher mem OC. most 9700's have trouble getting 350mem, however i have up to 360 no problem. I cant remember which ones i edited though. I just fooled around with ATI tool and figured out which ones i could change and still maintain a decent OC, then flashed it. __________________

Dec 1, 2004, 02:01 PM	#2
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	I certainly would not touch this in the bios, its too much of a risk, especially if you messed something up and the card didnt boot. you would end up in a right old pickle. ATI tool offers memory timing changes and at least if you mess it up you can reboot.

Dec 1, 2004, 02:09 PM	Thread Starter #3
bADmOToRFiNgER DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 5 Rep Power: 0	Wow That was fast In Powerstrip theres an option to change the timings, but the box is grayed out and I can't change it, so I thought it wasnt possible to do that via software I'll check ATiTool later Thnx

Dec 2, 2004, 10:44 PM	Thread Starter #7
bADmOToRFiNgER DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 5 Rep Power: 0	OK I did some tests with ATI Tool Needed to use some data sheets about the mems (from Samsung site), since there are so many options and I couldnt change any without getting a garbled screen :P I tried to use the recommended timings for 400mhz operation, and could get the mems up to 370~375mhz (vs the 355mhz max I was getting with default timings) At 375 it started to show some artifacts after a while tho, but I guess thats because there are no ramsinks on the card (although I leave the case open and a BIG fan blowin cool air into it) As for the performance, i saw no big improvement over the 350mhz that I normally use, testing on 3dmark03 I think i'll just stick to the default timings for now... ...at least until i get some ramsinks EDIT: about that Powerstrip option... The box is not grayed out (oops), but theres only one option ("Normal"), so i cant change it anyway

Feb 16, 2005, 09:16 PM	#9
In-Fluence DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 21 Rep Power: 0	Out of interest, which timings did you loosen Geminiwave?