DDR440-500, 2-2-2-5 on 4PCA3+

[Clevor]

I bought two L310xxx Malay 2.40c, and my second one is decent so I was able to get some benches. The 4PCA3+ runs two sticks Corsair XMS3500 C2 in dual channel as well as the 4PEA+ runs one stick! Of course you need voltage, but even at lower VDIMM results are excellent, all results are at 2-2-2-5:

Up to DDR420 @ 2.7 volts
Up to DDR437 @ 2.8 volts
Up to DDR445 @ 2.9 volts
DDR484 @ 3.1 volts
DDR500 @ 3.2 volts

I still have to test DDR500 thoroughly, but DR484 is 3D stable. My other L310xxx Malay could only do 242 fsb so I pretty much wrung it out there at 1:1, DDR484, 2-2-2-5 for 3D testing.

I am currently at 278 fsb, 3.34 gig, 5:4, DDR445, 2-2-2-5 at 2.9 VDIMM. VCORE is 1.475 actual. Sandra unbuffered:

[Clevor]

Sandra buffered is not too impressive:

[Clevor]

CPUZ:

[Clevor]

DDR500, 2-2-2-5 at 3.2 volts. It is Memtest clean and seems stable as it will pass numerous Sandra memory and Cache-and-Mem runs. Still testing 3D stability (this is unbuffered):

[Nomjr]

nice ub scores:)

[Shane5578]

very good. i guess those extra vdimm helped.

i'm also getting excellent unbuffered scores.

the 3.3vdimm is scary though

[macci]

Whoa those are quite amazing unbuffered scores :toast:

Its wierd that your ALU is so much faster than FPU thou. Its usually the FPU that is faster - thats the case on my ASUS mobos atleast :)

[twiztdskatr]

i got about the same with 2-2-2-5 @ 440mhz.

[taco]

omg, when does it come out..

[DoGMaN]

Does it goto 3.2vdimm stock???

[macci]

i got about the same with 2-2-2-5 @ 440mhz
you mean the buffered test I take it?

[Shane5578]

i've compared other forums members ic7 results at the same fsb 2-5-2-2 streetracer 1:1.

the ic7 was better buffered, but my epox was better unbuffered.

unbuffered tests is a more accurate measure of actual real performance.

[Clevor]

Macci, those Sandra screenies are the first run scores. I think Tanghiro over at Asusboards gets the same thing. On the 2nd Sandra run, the FPU is higher, and on the 3rd run, they even out and scores drop a bit. Also, I am running Win98SE which gives better Sandra scores than WinXP.

With the 845PE boards, the scores go up at around the 6th Sandra run. I figure everybody else posts their best scores, so I might as well. :)

I have benched 3D at DDR500, 2-2-2-5, 3.2 VDIMM and have passed all three 3DMarks. I also pass the 16M SuperPI run so I reckon I'm stable here. At 3.1 VDIMM, I get a bunch of #5 errors in Memtest so can't cheat lower. I believe Pilsy did DDR500, 2-2-2-5 with a 256 MB stick of XMS3500 on the 4PEA+, but on the 4PCA3+, I am running two 512 MB sticks in dual channel!

Dogman, yes the 4PCA3+ does not need modding to do 3.2 VDIMM; in fact, it also offers 3.3 in the BIOS though I have not tried that.

I just came home with some ADATA PC4000 today and will be trying it out on the board. These sticks are rated CAS3 though. Like other ADATA I've seen, there are no fancy resistors and complex circuitry like on the Corsair. But I imagine for sure they should do DDR500, albeit at 3-4-4-8 or something, and I presume at 2.5 VDIMM. I'll get some Sandra benches on it.

[Alexandrus]

Clevor, what Windows version are you using ?
The scores and screenshots make me believe you're running Win98 or something, right ?

[Clevor]

Alexandrus, as I mentioned, yes, I am running Win98SE. It gives higher Sandra memory scores than WinXP. On the other hand, I've found WinXP gives higher PCMark2002 memory and 3DMark2003 scores.

Verdict on the ADATA PC4000? Runs as advertised. So far, I've run two 256 MB sticks at 280, DDR560, 1:1 on the 4PCA3+, at 2.9 VDIMM. However, it doesn't like running anything other than 3-4-4-8. I tried running DDR400, 2-2-2-5 (even left the voltage at 2.9), and the board wouldn't boot! Even at 2.5-4-4-8, Memtest is clean, but the system is unstable. These are the unbuffered scores at DDR560, 3-4-4-8:

[Clevor]

I still get better memory scores at 280 by running 5:4, DDR448, 2-2-2-5 on the Corsair. And VDIMM equals the ADATA at 2.9 volts. It shows on the benches:

280, DDR560, 1:1, 3-4-4-8:

3DMark2003=5528
3DMark2001=18078
3DMark2000=20938

280, DDR448, 5:4, 2-2-2-5:

3DMark2003=5544
3DMark2001=18307
3DMark2000=21282

The ADATA PC4000 is a no-brainer though: don't have to mess experimenting with CAS settings. Just up the VDIMM to run higher at 1:1. If your board is limited to 2.8 VDIMM, you should max out at DDR550 or so, that's assuming your board puts out as good VDIMM as the 4PCA3+ (probably the best there is). I have tried 3.3 on the 4PCA3+ and looks like it's true.

My Corsair XMS3500 maxes out at DDR504, 2-2-2-5 at 3.2 VDIMM. Not bad for year old PC3200 stuff. 3.3 volts would probably net me maybe DDR510 at most. I did not want to run there very long, but the Epox hardware utility read 3.32 volts in Windows!

[Alexandrus]

Originally posted by Clevor
Alexandrus, as I mentioned, yes, I am running Win98SE. It gives higher Sandra memory scores than WinXP. On the other hand, I've found WinXP gives higher PCMark2002 memory and 3DMark2003 scores.


Sorry, must have missed that.
Question is, how did you manage to load Win98SE with 1GB of RAM ?
I have a 4PCA3+(a bit damaged on the IDE side but no matter, it will be exchanged), 1GB of RAM, and Win98SE will not load unless I remove a 512MB DIMM. It started once or twice, but I ket getting video config errors, only 16 adn 256 color was working and only 640x480.
Any advice ?

[Clevor]

Well, there seems to be quite a bit of variation on these 4PCA3+ boards: my 1.1 will not boot at 1.45 VCORE so I can't get the 1.75 volts. However, I run a 512 MB stick in each of the black slots. I've even tried them in the green slots with no problem, but didn't see any performance increase.

What video card are you running? The board does have issues with a 9700 Pro and Win98 a la the GB boards: random blue screens. Press a key and it goes away and it even completes 3DMark OK after that. It's a video issue because the blue screens only occur after the ATI drivers are installed. A 9800 Pro runs fine as ATI fixed something in the hardware on the card.

Are you sure you haven't corrupted your video card drivers or OS by overclocking? I'd try doing a fresh install.

[Alexandrus]

GeForce4 Ti4600, it's not the VC, it the OS. Weird OS it is, this Win98SE.

[twiztdskatr]

Originally posted by macci
you mean the buffered test I take it?

yep...pretty much

[Shane5578]

win9x doesn't like anymore than 512mb of ram. you'll need to patch up the registry for stability

[Alexandrus]

How ? Patch up the registry how ?

[Shane5578]

win98se has trouble handling over 512mb of ram. below are the fixes

http://forums.techguy.org/t137975/s763d3f0e7cfb26ffdaea14bc133929ea.html

http://aumha.org/win4/a/memmgmt.htm

[Alexandrus]

Yeah, well, it's all nice, but my Win98SE won't even start with 1GB of RAM :(

[Netto]

Damn, I Wish I could get a 2.4c Like yours, mine does only 260fsb at 1.7v :(

[bcn]

how do you cool it at 1.7V? air?

[Clevor]

win9x doesn't like anymore than 512mb of ram. you'll need to patch up the registry for stability

I've heard about this before, but I've never had problems with this 4PCA3+ board or with Granite Bay boards. Never had to patch the registry. Only reason I run two 512 MB XMS3500 sticks is these are left over from my 845PE wars.

how do you cool it at 1.7V? air?

I am on air running an Alpha8942, however I can't get above 1.55 actual VCORE on my board. The rig does run cool: 38-40 C stress with my A/C on, room temps are around 24-25 C. I use a digital temp probe on the CPU.

Damn, I Wish I could get a 2.4c Like yours, mine does only 260fsb at 1.7v

You have to keep trying. My first (highly touted) L310xxx Malay only did 242 at 1.55 volts. 2nd L310xxx does 280 at 1.525. I just tried a 3312xxx Costa Rica last night and this one does 284 at 1.525. I found these 2.40cs hit a wall: what you see at default voltage is what you get. 'Course I can't try more than 1.55 VCORE on this board. One reason I am late trying out these Canterwood boards is I was waiting to see the dust clear on good pack dates for the 2.40c.

Since I'm now able to do 284, I found my ADATA PC4000 maxes out at DDR560-565, 1:1. At DDR570 I get a lockup in the #5 Memtest no matter what the voltage (I've tried 3.2). But this is where my Corsair comes in: at 284 I can run 5:4 and DDR454 at 2-2-2-5. On the ADATA, I'd have to run that at 3-4-4-8.