P4C800-E + Ballistix = :(

Fester_Silently · Sep 25, 2004, 04:29 AM

Okay Fellow Shut-Ins...I need some assistance/advice (what...again?!).

I just went absolutely insane and dropped $600 :eek2: (tax+shipping) on 2Gbs (4x512) of Ballistix 3200. (And I know half of you fainted because you know your significant others would have stabbed you in the neck; while the other half of you swooned with envy. You swooners are sick!

)

In any case, I have had a hardware day from HELL with this stuff! So now I've got a few questions:

1) Why, with all four channels full, is my PAT disabled? (This article states otherwise.)

2) Why, even with just two sticks in, can I not achieve 250fsb, 1:1, even at 2.5-3-3-5, which is much looser than the Anandtech timings at the same speed? (Again, to Anandtech.)

3) Why do I get SPD readings (in CPU-Z 1.24 ) of 2-4-4-8, when the bloody Crucial website shows timings of 2-3-2-6?!

I am tired...and afraid that I might have just thrown $600 out the window. My computer has crashed (to reboot) more times in the past six hours than Matthew Lillard on a weekend bender at a Tijuana Plastic Surgery clinic.

Anybody got any suggestions/questions/answers?

Fretting Fitfully,
Fester

Fester_Silently · Sep 25, 2004, 08:45 AM

I *just* re-read Wes' article on the P4C800-E at Anandtech, and it *clearly* states

"...we discovered that 4 double-bank dimms apparently turn-off PAT above 200FSB. This was confirmed by both CPUZ 1.18C and Sandra tests results. At 800FSB (200) 4DS dimms tested faster than 2 DS dimms, while at 1136FSB (284) 4 DS dimms tested slower than 2 DS dimms. CPUZ 1.18C shows Performance Mode “enabled” with 2 DS dimms and with 4 DS dimms at 800FSB. With 4 DS dimms at 1136FSB (284), CPUZ shows Performance Mode “disabled”. 4 SS dimms show Performance Mode “enabled” at all speeds, and Memory Tests confirm PAT is working."

:me stupid:

So:
a) has a workaround/solution since been found?
b) would it matter that I've got the fsb at 250Mhz *but* the ratio set to 5:4 (therefore the memory *is* running at 200Mhz)?

Feeling Sheepish (but still cheated),
Fester

Nacht · Sep 25, 2004, 03:56 PM

if the memory is running in asynchronous then you will loose some speed between it and the cpu. other than that...i dont know what to tell you. i guess it's a trade off between running less memory, but at a faster speed, or running more memory but at a slower speed.

Fester_Silently · Sep 26, 2004, 04:55 AM

...back to my trusty ol' Corsair sticks.

After tax and shipping (this way and back), this whole adventure will have cost me nearly $100 and a weekend full of stress (for both me *and* my hardware!).

Live and learn, I guess.

MythicaL · Sep 26, 2004, 06:02 AM

I say more memory at a slower speed

Fester_Silently · Sep 26, 2004, 06:06 AM

Okay - so I've got a new P42.8c running stably with stock voltage at 250 fsb and the Corsair 3500 running at 5:4 ratio with 2-2-2-5 timings.

Can anyone suggest 2x512 sticks that'll run 1:1 at this fsb with *decent* timings? (And please don't suggest the Ballistix - I'm not disparaging it, but, even if I *could* have gotten it to run the speed/timings I wanted, it still ran VERY HOT in my system. I mean, it burned my hand after only a half-hour in my rig surfing/emailing)

Thanks In Advance,
Fester

Nacht · Sep 26, 2004, 06:12 AM

both kingston and corsair make ddr500 that will run at 3-4-4-8...but it's pretty expensive stuff....OCZ has some ELSGE that is 2.5-4-4-7, but again, ~140 for one stick! too expensive for my blood

Fester_Silently · Sep 26, 2004, 06:23 AM

The day I buy memory that runs at such loose timings is the same day I put together a DDR2 system!

And as far as the price goes...I paid $139 per stick for the Ballistix, you know.

*Which* OCZ are you referring to? pc4000? pc3500-3700EB Platinum? Gold?

MythicaL · Sep 26, 2004, 06:24 AM

Oh lordy, that must be hot. I would say OCZ or Kingston... I think OCZ would be a bit more expensive though.

CDsDontBurn · Sep 26, 2004, 08:23 AM

what about mushkin? mushkin makes some good stuff sometimes. But i was checking out your sig, and the ram you got, i wouldn't upgrade on that. you got really awsome timings on it and it'll be hard to beat. but if you're going to get something else, i'd say get corsair XMS PRO DDR500. http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduc...145-467&depa=0 newegg has it for $166 + tax + shipping. 3-4-4-8 timings @ DDR500 is pretty good. a couple of my friends have the 1Gb of it and they gotten their timings at 2.5-3-3-7 stable. pretty decent i think for running 1:1 ration upto 250

.

Nacht · Sep 26, 2004, 07:13 PM

the OCZ i was talking about is the

OCZ Enhanced Latency Series Gold Edition. DDR500 @ 2.5-4-47

good timings for that amount of bandwith, and thats without OC mwahahah

You can find it listed on many retailers.

Sep 25, 2004, 04:29 AM	#1
Fester_Silently HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 51 Rep Power: 0	P4C800-E + Ballistix = :( Okay Fellow Shut-Ins...I need some assistance/advice (what...again?!). I just went absolutely insane and dropped $600 :eek2: (tax+shipping) on 2Gbs (4x512) of Ballistix 3200. (And I know half of you fainted because you know your significant others would have stabbed you in the neck; while the other half of you swooned with envy. You swooners are sick! ) In any case, I have had a hardware day from HELL with this stuff! So now I've got a few questions: 1) Why, with all four channels full, is my PAT disabled? (This article states otherwise.) 2) Why, even with just two sticks in, can I not achieve 250fsb, 1:1, even at 2.5-3-3-5, which is much looser than the Anandtech timings at the same speed? (Again, to Anandtech.) 3) Why do I get SPD readings (in CPU-Z 1.24 ) of 2-4-4-8, when the bloody Crucial website shows timings of 2-3-2-6?! I am tired...and afraid that I might have just thrown $600 out the window. My computer has crashed (to reboot) more times in the past six hours than Matthew Lillard on a weekend bender at a Tijuana Plastic Surgery clinic. Anybody got any suggestions/questions/answers? Fretting Fitfully, Fester __________________ Hey - it's a pimpi lappy! Toshiba Qosmio Q870 Core i7 720qm 2 x 4GBs PC10666 500GB Hitachi@7200rpm nVidia GTS 360m Matshita UJ-141ES BluRay/DVD burner Win7x64 Last edited by Fester_Silently; Sep 25, 2004 at 08:44 AM.

Sep 25, 2004, 08:45 AM	Thread Starter #2
Fester_Silently HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 51 Rep Power: 0	*embarrassed* I just re-read Wes' article on the P4C800-E at Anandtech, and it clearly states "...we discovered that 4 double-bank dimms apparently turn-off PAT above 200FSB. This was confirmed by both CPUZ 1.18C and Sandra tests results. At 800FSB (200) 4DS dimms tested faster than 2 DS dimms, while at 1136FSB (284) 4 DS dimms tested slower than 2 DS dimms. CPUZ 1.18C shows Performance Mode “enabled” with 2 DS dimms and with 4 DS dimms at 800FSB. With 4 DS dimms at 1136FSB (284), CPUZ shows Performance Mode “disabled”. 4 SS dimms show Performance Mode “enabled” at all speeds, and Memory Tests confirm PAT is working." :me stupid: So: a) has a workaround/solution since been found? b) would it matter that I've got the fsb at 250Mhz but the ratio set to 5:4 (therefore the memory is running at 200Mhz)? Feeling Sheepish (but still cheated), Fester __________________ Hey - it's a pimpi lappy! Toshiba Qosmio Q870 Core i7 720qm 2 x 4GBs PC10666 500GB Hitachi@7200rpm nVidia GTS 360m Matshita UJ-141ES BluRay/DVD burner Win7x64

Sep 26, 2004, 04:55 AM	Thread Starter #4
Fester_Silently HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 51 Rep Power: 0	Oh, Well... ...back to my trusty ol' Corsair sticks. After tax and shipping (this way and back), this whole adventure will have cost me nearly $100 and a weekend full of stress (for both me and my hardware!). Live and learn, I guess. __________________ Hey - it's a pimpi lappy! Toshiba Qosmio Q870 Core i7 720qm 2 x 4GBs PC10666 500GB Hitachi@7200rpm nVidia GTS 360m Matshita UJ-141ES BluRay/DVD burner Win7x64

Sep 26, 2004, 06:02 AM	#5
MythicaL I like computers. Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In front of a monitor Posts: 3,399 Rep Power: 89 System Specs	I say more memory at a slower speed __________________ Always knew I didn't belong in this world. I wasn't made for this. But I'll never forget those who betrayed me, and those who never failed my trust.

Sep 26, 2004, 06:06 AM	Thread Starter #6
Fester_Silently HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 51 Rep Power: 0	Okay - Now For The Reprise... Okay - so I've got a new P42.8c running stably with stock voltage at 250 fsb and the Corsair 3500 running at 5:4 ratio with 2-2-2-5 timings. Can anyone suggest 2x512 sticks that'll run 1:1 at this fsb with decent timings? (And please don't suggest the Ballistix - I'm not disparaging it, but, even if I could have gotten it to run the speed/timings I wanted, it still ran VERY HOT in my system. I mean, it burned my hand after only a half-hour in my rig surfing/emailing) Thanks In Advance, Fester __________________ Hey - it's a pimpi lappy! Toshiba Qosmio Q870 Core i7 720qm 2 x 4GBs PC10666 500GB Hitachi@7200rpm nVidia GTS 360m Matshita UJ-141ES BluRay/DVD burner Win7x64

Sep 25, 2004, 03:56 PM	#3
Nacht ein Krieger Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Clemson Uni Posts: 3,127 Rep Power: 0	if the memory is running in asynchronous then you will loose some speed between it and the cpu. other than that...i dont know what to tell you. i guess it's a trade off between running less memory, but at a faster speed, or running more memory but at a slower speed.

Sep 26, 2004, 06:12 AM	#7
Nacht ein Krieger Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Clemson Uni Posts: 3,127 Rep Power: 0	both kingston and corsair make ddr500 that will run at 3-4-4-8...but it's pretty expensive stuff....OCZ has some ELSGE that is 2.5-4-4-7, but again, ~140 for one stick! too expensive for my blood

Sep 26, 2004, 06:23 AM	Thread Starter #8
Fester_Silently HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 51 Rep Power: 0	Ack...Thpthht! "3-4-4-8"!? The day I buy memory that runs at such loose timings is the same day I put together a DDR2 system! And as far as the price goes...I paid $139 per stick for the Ballistix, you know. Which OCZ are you referring to? pc4000? pc3500-3700EB Platinum? Gold? __________________ Hey - it's a pimpi lappy! Toshiba Qosmio Q870 Core i7 720qm 2 x 4GBs PC10666 500GB Hitachi@7200rpm nVidia GTS 360m Matshita UJ-141ES BluRay/DVD burner Win7x64

Sep 26, 2004, 06:24 AM	#9
MythicaL I like computers. Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In front of a monitor Posts: 3,399 Rep Power: 89 System Specs	Oh lordy, that must be hot. I would say OCZ or Kingston... I think OCZ would be a bit more expensive though. __________________ Always knew I didn't belong in this world. I wasn't made for this. But I'll never forget those who betrayed me, and those who never failed my trust.

Sep 26, 2004, 08:23 AM	#10
CDsDontBurn Lurking DriverHeaven Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,805 Rep Power: 235 System Specs	what about mushkin? mushkin makes some good stuff sometimes. But i was checking out your sig, and the ram you got, i wouldn't upgrade on that. you got really awsome timings on it and it'll be hard to beat. but if you're going to get something else, i'd say get corsair XMS PRO DDR500. http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduc...145-467&depa=0 newegg has it for $166 + tax + shipping. 3-4-4-8 timings @ DDR500 is pretty good. a couple of my friends have the 1Gb of it and they gotten their timings at 2.5-3-3-7 stable. pretty decent i think for running 1:1 ration upto 250 . __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Sep 26, 2004, 07:13 PM	#11
Nacht ein Krieger Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Clemson Uni Posts: 3,127 Rep Power: 0	the OCZ i was talking about is the OCZ Enhanced Latency Series Gold Edition. DDR500 @ 2.5-4-47 good timings for that amount of bandwith, and thats without OC mwahahah You can find it listed on many retailers.