Should I up the voltage on my RAM for better latency?

Geminiwave · Jul 21, 2004, 11:27 PM

Currently I am running 512mb PC-3200 Geil dual channel RAM. Its normal timings are CL2-3-3-5(or 7 when its OCed) I have it running at 2-2-2-3 when im not OCing the FSB. the second I hit the latency to 2-2-2-2, my computer fries out and it starts loading up my Radeon BIOS on the POST screen(im not joking. but thats not what this is about)

Im wondering if raising the voltage would help? I've heard that its near impossible to ruin your RAM...that its pretty rock solid...soooo should I give it a shot? Or will it not make a difference in this case.

@/2ct!< · Jul 22, 2004, 02:23 AM

why do you want your last setting, (omg i forgot the term, anyway..) 2? With Athlon xps, it usually gives best performance at 2-2-2-11

tek · Jul 22, 2004, 02:52 AM

Yeah use 2-2-2-11 with the A7N8X - it's some bug in some nforce2 mobos (including yours).

Geminiwave · Jul 22, 2004, 04:59 AM

Oh really? I was unaware. I simply thought that the lower the latency, the better speeds. Could you perhaps explain why the 11 setting is better cause I dont really understand.

Forbidden Donut · Jul 22, 2004, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Geminiwave
Oh really? I was unaware. I simply thought that the lower the latency, the better speeds. Could you perhaps explain why the 11 setting is better cause I dont really understand.

Not sure if anybody really understands, we just know it works better at 11 (doesn't everything?)

.

Chaos · Jul 22, 2004, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Forbidden Donut
Not sure if anybody really understands, we just know it works better at 11 (doesn't everything?) .

According to Spinal Tap I would have to say 11 it is

Judas · Jul 22, 2004, 11:30 PM

actually got a buddy with a abit NF7-S rev 2.0 that found a different setting that produced even better results and makes even less sense....

No_Style · Jul 22, 2004, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Geminiwave
Im wondering if raising the voltage would help? I've heard that its near impossible to ruin your RAM...that its pretty rock solid...soooo should I give it a shot? Or will it not make a difference in this case.

That's pretty much true. There's RAM out there which require you to raise the voltage to operate at a certain speed. I forget which modules they were though. Might as well give it a whirl

Also, don't forget to update your Mobo's BIOS for any fixes.

The_Neon_Cowboy · Jul 22, 2004, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Geminiwave
Oh really? I was unaware. I simply thought that the lower the latency, the better speeds. Could you perhaps explain why the 11 setting is better cause I dont really understand.

Yes, I could but most won't probubly wouldn't under stand it anyways... just use 11

theres is an old thread on here some were about it

Zardon · Jul 22, 2004, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Geminiwave
Oh really? I was unaware. I simply thought that the lower the latency, the better speeds. Could you perhaps explain why the 11 setting is better cause I dont really understand.

- ACTIVE TO PRECHARGE DELAY (AKA. RAS PULSE WIDTH): This sets how long the delay is from reading a section of the memory and writing to it again. This has to be no less than THE CAS LATENCY + RAS TO CAS DELAY + ANOTHER TWO CYCLES!

- CAS LATENCY - This is how many cycles the memory waits before it responds to a read command. This is critical to stability, but also yields the greatest performance increase for the RAM.

- RAS PRECHARGE - This is how long the memory is charged up for before it can be read.

- RAS TO CAS DELAY - Data is stored in rows and columns, and this is how long it takes the memory to find the data.

(RAS = Row Array Strobe and CAS = Column Array Strobe)

with regards to your specific question you will find lowering that setting (raising the number) on the nforce 2 chipsets can sometimes make an unstable system stable and will hardly affect performance at all. the nforce2 chipset is a pretty poor chipset with many flaws, its a decent performer and the masses loved it, but it has issues. you are always wise to experiment with your boards and ram timings, at worst it will give you a no post and you reset the cmos. get a hold of sandra and run tests with various timings.

Zardon · Jul 22, 2004, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Geminiwave
I've heard that its near impossible to ruin your RAM...that its pretty rock solid...soooo should I give it a shot? Or will it not make a difference in this case.

over 2.9 you are into a risky zone, especially if your ram doesnt have heat spreaders. BH-5 etc will handle massive voltages, as a "general comment" I would tend to err on the side of caution over 2.8-2.9 unless you know exactly what modules are on your sticks.

No_Style · Jul 22, 2004, 11:56 PM

About the last value "11":

Rojak Pot's BIOS Optimization Guide Says:

Quote:

DRAM Act to PreChrg CMD
Common Options : 5T, 6T, 7T, 8T, 9T
Quick Review

Like SDRAM Tras Timing Value, this BIOS feature controls the memory bank's minimum row active time (tRAS). This constitutes the time when a row is activated until the time the same row can be deactivated. Hence, the name DRAM Act to PreChrg CMD which is short for DRAM Activate Command to Precharge Command.

If the tRAS period is too long, it can reduce performance by unnecessarily delaying the deactivation of active rows. Reducing the tRAS period allows the active row to be deactivated earlier.

However, if the tRAS period is too short, there may not be enough time to complete a burst transfer. This reduces performance and data may be lost or corrupted.

For optimal performance, use the lowest value you can. Usually, this should be CAS latency + tRCD + 2 clock cycles. For example, if you set the CAS latency to 2 clock cycles and the tRCD to 3 clock cycles, the optimum tRAS value would be 7 clock cycles.

But if you start getting memory errors or system crashes, increase the tRAS value one clock cycle at a time until your system becomes stable.

You can learn more about Memory Basics by listening to this kick ass slideshow made by Corsair themselves. HERE

Explains everything very nicely and you don't need to read just listen and watch neat animations.

Geminiwave · Jul 23, 2004, 12:40 AM

YES!! Thank you everyone (especially Zardon) For your explination. I'm pretty sure I get it now.

I'm really sorry but just saying "just set it to 11, its best" doesnt really work for me. I need to know WHY.

And as far as nForce2 chipsets being bad, I like them a HECK of alot better than the alternatives for the Athlon XP.

Btw I believe they are BH-5 chips and they do have heat spreaders on(really pretty copper ones)

Geminiwave · Jul 23, 2004, 12:46 AM

OH MY FREAKIN GOD!!! NO NO THIS IS INSANE!!! MY RAM SPEED JUST SKYROCKETED!!! I always thought it was alittle bit slow for the fact that it is high performance RAM, dual channel, and on what is supposedly one of the fastest chipsets around...but now the speed increased drastically!!

By about 500mb\s on Sandra

@/2ct!< · Jul 23, 2004, 07:28 AM

see? lol, anyway, it really depends on chipsets, etc. Athlons like low latency while pentiums like high bandwidth. Heck, a64s have more of a benefit from low ras settings than cas settings.

Jul 21, 2004, 11:27 PM	#1
Geminiwave I Have lovely Breasts Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: In the closet... Posts: 5,395 Rep Power: 64	Should I up the voltage on my RAM for better latency? Currently I am running 512mb PC-3200 Geil dual channel RAM. Its normal timings are CL2-3-3-5(or 7 when its OCed) I have it running at 2-2-2-3 when im not OCing the FSB. the second I hit the latency to 2-2-2-2, my computer fries out and it starts loading up my Radeon BIOS on the POST screen(im not joking. but thats not what this is about) Im wondering if raising the voltage would help? I've heard that its near impossible to ruin your RAM...that its pretty rock solid...soooo should I give it a shot? Or will it not make a difference in this case. __________________

Jul 22, 2004, 02:23 AM	#2
@/2ct!< HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Not Vegas, anymore :( Posts: 1,391 Rep Power: 0	why do you want your last setting, (omg i forgot the term, anyway..) 2? With Athlon xps, it usually gives best performance at 2-2-2-11 __________________

Jul 22, 2004, 02:52 AM	#3
tek DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Boston, US Posts: 2,103 Rep Power: 0	Yeah use 2-2-2-11 with the A7N8X - it's some bug in some nforce2 mobos (including yours). __________________ [COLOR=White][/COLOR]

Jul 22, 2004, 04:59 AM	Thread Starter #4
Geminiwave I Have lovely Breasts Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: In the closet... Posts: 5,395 Rep Power: 64	Oh really? I was unaware. I simply thought that the lower the latency, the better speeds. Could you perhaps explain why the 11 setting is better cause I dont really understand. __________________

Jul 23, 2004, 12:40 AM	Thread Starter #13
Geminiwave I Have lovely Breasts Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: In the closet... Posts: 5,395 Rep Power: 64	YES!! Thank you everyone (especially Zardon) For your explination. I'm pretty sure I get it now. I'm really sorry but just saying "just set it to 11, its best" doesnt really work for me. I need to know WHY. And as far as nForce2 chipsets being bad, I like them a HECK of alot better than the alternatives for the Athlon XP. Btw I believe they are BH-5 chips and they do have heat spreaders on(really pretty copper ones) __________________

Jul 23, 2004, 12:46 AM	Thread Starter #14
Geminiwave I Have lovely Breasts Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: In the closet... Posts: 5,395 Rep Power: 64	OH MY FREAKIN GOD!!! NO NO THIS IS INSANE!!! MY RAM SPEED JUST SKYROCKETED!!! I always thought it was alittle bit slow for the fact that it is high performance RAM, dual channel, and on what is supposedly one of the fastest chipsets around...but now the speed increased drastically!! By about 500mb\s on Sandra __________________

Jul 23, 2004, 07:28 AM	#15
@/2ct!< HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Not Vegas, anymore :( Posts: 1,391 Rep Power: 0	see? lol, anyway, it really depends on chipsets, etc. Athlons like low latency while pentiums like high bandwidth. Heck, a64s have more of a benefit from low ras settings than cas settings. __________________