2x1GB OCZ Gold PC4000 now on Opty170 E6

[gabbadoo]

Hi there OCZ support

I've just upgraded my Opteron 146 (E4) to an Opteron 170 (E6) cpu.

What should I expect performance wise. I know my modules are infineon ce5 modules - as far as I know that makes me lucky, but still I haven't been able to run my old 146 at 3GHz/250 MHz as specs, only 2.88GHz/243 MHz, but still at great 3-3-2-8 timings with internal/secondary timings pretty tight aswell.

So, should I expect more from my modules now that I've got a newer revision memory controller or might I get less performance now?

It's mostly because I hate the whole 2 days of constant looking at the BIOS, Memtest86+ while running Prime95 and all that stuff - I want to jump through some hoops this time. It took very long time to find the best combination of cpuspeed, memspeed and timings on the 146.

[andyOCZ]

Gosh, it' hard to say what you will find. The newer memory controller are generallly better but you might have a good or a "not so good" CPU. Use your old settings as a baseline and see what you get and go from there. If you can get more out of the mmeory you will have to find out. I wish there was a magic setting for all CPU's but it doesn't work that way.

[gabbadoo]

Hi - I'm having trouble getting the memspeed higher than 245MHz.

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/2213/memtimingsfw0.th.jpg (http://img145.imageshack.us/my.php?image=memtimingsfw0.jpg)

The Tref setting has been adjusted to 0908,3.9us,233MHz, (3.9us since that's what BIOS gets from SPD) otherwise timings are set as on screenshot. Other than that, only basic timings: 3-3-2-8-10-14 have been set manually aswell as Trtw at 3. Rest is "auto".

Do you have any suggestions on what parameters might need a bit adjustment except the basic first 6 (especially Trp) ?

[andyOCZ]

CL 3-4-3-8
(CAS-TRCD-TRP-TRAS)

These are the rated timings. You should set your BIOS to reflect these. You have a few timings off from what I can see. Trp for sure meds to be Trp 3.

Try this and let me know. I may not be on here until later this evening though.

Good luck!

[gabbadoo]

I set all other timings to auto except the 3 4 3 8 rated ones while running the cpu/mem at 2500/250. I know my cpu runs stable at 3050 with mem at 218 (7/10 divider), so I've kept the x10 multiplier.

I used a mem spd reader on my mem (found it somewhere at xtremesystems.org - just to read :slobber: ) and it turned out it read Tref at 7.8us, but still bios seems to default to 3.9us. Don't know which one is telling me the truth though.

As soon as I launch any 3D application (game) the system starts to lag like hell and eventually freezes - even if it completes a dual superpi 8 or 32M. If i keep mem below 245MHz everything is fine though - even with 3 3 2 8 timings.

Screenshot shows what bios sets memtimings to.

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/2614/250autotimingssh4.th.jpg (http://img247.imageshack.us/my.php?image=250autotimingssh4.jpg)

[gabbadoo]

Reason why I'm doubting the SPD a bit is, that if I set everything to auto, bios sets timings to 3 4 4 7 - definately "out of key". Still, the SPD reader program reads the mem as DDR2 modules with 4 4 4 x timings - but therefor it might not read the Tref wrong. The Tref for Infineon ce5 1 Gig modules, I don't know. I don't even know if it's a specific setting that applies to all infineon ce5 modules.

[gabbadoo]

I read this thread, a review of some Mushkin XP4000 Redlines (using infineon ce5 modules) - adopted the settings (except the speed) - and just beat my old SuperPi 8M record. That's why I'm certain they're ce5 modules. Still they won't go past 244 MHz though. Maybe a bad batch, but they scale a bit with voltage, 2,98V (2.9V + .03V setting) is in fact necessary to get to 244MHz stable.

Except lowering timings from 3 3 2 8 10 14 to 3 3 2 6 7 13 Tref was adjusted to 4708, and Drive Strength to Level 7 - Data Drive Strength to Level 3 -15%. Read Preamble was lowered from 6.0 ns to 5.5 ns. ICL has been set to 0 and Dynamic Counter has been Enabled. They're perform better, but they still won't reach the 250MHz mark at any timing set.

Redline review: http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/archive/index.php/t-109923.html

This thread shows that Tref=4708 is 15.6us refresh speed, but I don't know if the modules really care / if they need that one to be specific.

Tref: http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?p=906948#post906948

4708 512 15.69x300 = 4708

Screenshot of the timings:

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/4139/current244timingscg1.th.jpg (http://img408.imageshack.us/my.php?image=current244timingscg1.jpg)

[andyOCZ]

Do me a favor and overclock each stick seperately and let me know what you find. We can see if it's the kit or something else this way.

Thanks

[gabbadoo]

Will do. Thank you.

[gabbadoo]

Just tried that it. Tried both modules in 1st upper socket (yellow) then in 2nd upper most (orange), but no difference. Set speed to 250 - 3 4 3 8 - rest auto. 8x250=2000 stock cpu speed. Still game lags and freezes as before.

However, even though both modules have been running in Dual Channel mode in the yellow sockets (2 and 4? ) up to 244 MHz. Neither of them will boot if they're inserted into socket 2 / first yellow socket. System doesn't even get to post.

To me that seems like the memory aren't up to the rated speeds and the motherboard has a faulty socket, socket 2. Haven't been able to reach socket 1 / 1st orange socket due to my cpu-cooler, but I guess that makes no difference.

[gabbadoo]

Just learned from posting a thread on diy-street.com (http://www.diy-street.com/forum/showthread.php?p=691904#post691904) that none of the yellow slots work in single channel mode - so the mainboard isn't the problem after all.

[gabbadoo]

The DFI manual states memory in Dual Channel should be set in the orange slots if they must run in 1T cpc mode - I've had them running in the yellow slots. If I put the modules orange slots however, the system wont boot at all. It wont even post. I really no longer know if the memory is bad at all; maybe the board has been the hardware to blame all the way. I'll figure out how I'm going to RMA the mainboard, and once I've received a replacement, I'll report back with an update on the memory situation.

[andyOCZ]

OK, it sounds like you have been busy!

Let us know what you find.

[lucky jim]

I have the exact same RAM and the exact same problems... on a 3700+ with a 250 MHz bus speed, stock timings. I'm just in the process of raising the voltage in increments to see if I can get it stable at this speed.

I'll try around 243-244 MHz and see if that's stable at all.

Edit: 243 MHz runs absolutely fine.. starts pausing and eventually freezes in 3dmark 06 even at 245. Weird. Oh well, I'm over it.

[andyOCZ]

Depending on the age of your PC4000 Gold, it may well have Hynix chips. The Hynix base memory never ran that well on A64 systems, where it would fly on Intel boards. We were not recommending the older Gold PC4000 for AMD at the time (or now).

There was a PC4000 Gold and a PC4000 Gold Rev 2.

[gabbadoo]

I just tried resetting my cmos before re-trying to run the modules in the Orange slots (slots 2 and 4; read top-to-bottom), but system wont POST. It hangs with 3 LEDS lit meaning cpu is detected. Next step, reducing the light by one LED, means DRAM is detected, but that never happens. Power-on LED keeps flashing and monitor stays on Stand-by.

I'm still not 100% sure what causes the problem; if it's the board, the mem or just me being a bit of a noob - but I'll troubleshoot a bit more on DFI Forums.

I'm also wondering what benefits I would gain at all by RMA'ing my sticks, because they run Platinum timings (3 3 2 8) at 244MHz, yet they're rated at Gold timings (3 4 3 8) 250MHz, which they wont do under any circumstances.

If my board's indeed the culprit, RMA'ing my mem could put me in the position where I'll have to pay for a technician salary because I RMA'ed not-faulty mem, and still, why would I expect the mem I'd return from RMA, to be running at the same Platinum timings at speeds anywhere above 250MHz.

[gabbadoo]

EDIT: Btw I'm sorry for the delay between my posting, but I've been having issues with my graphics card, due to some dustballs trying to conquer my GPU.

I can't see anywhere what revision the mem are, only the partnumbers on the stickers on the modules:

PN: OCZ5002048ELGE-K

couldn't find no serial number either: Cpu-z fields are greyed out. Sisoft says they're manufactured December 25th 1999, but I doubt that's even possible :)

[gabbadoo]

Reading through the recommended memory for overclocking on my board at DFI.com.tw ->

http://eu.dfi.com.tw/Product/xx_product_memory_us.jsp?PAGE_TYPE=US&INDEX_TYPE=MB&CATEGORY_TYPE=LP&SITE=UK&PRODUCT_ID=3471

I found this line in the DDR500 section:

"Samsung - UCCC 1024 OCZ DDR500 1024MB EL Dual CH Gold Double"

I assume they're talking about single modules, since there's no mention of any 2GB sized memory/modules and since the smallest module is sized 256MB.

----

OCZ doesn't recommend any PC4000 modules at all for the NF4 Ultra-d motherboard - tried to check if the SLI-DR Expert had PC4000 recommended by OCZ (used the "memory configurator"), but highest speed was still PC3200.

[RyderOCZ]

If you are using the Ultra-D, then this is the thread you want: http://www.bleedinedgesupport.com/ocz/forum/showthread.php?t=17269

I believe post 4 has your modules in it....You should be using the Orange slots, I recommend the 704-2BT bios or the 0406 which is the latest on the DFI site.

[gabbadoo]

I'm currently using latest bios 0604 (April 2006) - feel a bit bad about reverting to an older bios, but if there's advantages I'll do it. One thing: Will the 704-2BT bios overwrite my SATA RAID Bios? or doesn't it matter? I know "11 . Change NV RAID ROM to 5.50" was introduced in bios'es since March 2006 but does a bios update affect my NVRAID Bios?

[andyOCZ]

If you are using RAID be careful. The 704-2BT is an older BIOS and I have no idea what RAID version it uses. Unless you are reformatting and rebuilding I would stick with what you have.

[gabbadoo]

Fixed the orange slots. Bad cmos clear procedure. DFI board is OK, mem slots work. Single mem module in top most orange slot works at 3-4-3-8 timings as suggested in the thread you linked to, RyderOCZ.

Still they wont work at rated speeds in Dual Channel mode, but I've gained some speed though. I'm now able to run the mem in Dual Channel mode at 247MHz (244MHz before) and with 3-3-2-8 timings. Mem seems to have a weird quirk when approaching the 250MHz barrier, ruling out the cpu since I've tested them at 8x250=2000MHz.

Currently my system is running at 2960/247 speeds 3-3-2-8. Haven't Prime'd it yet, but it's 3D stable (3dMark06) and it's able to do dual 32M SuperPI's

[RyderOCZ]

3-3-2-8? These are rated at 3-4-3 at 250.... 3-3-2 at 247 is about 3 - 5% faster than 3-4-3 at 250.

3-3-2 at 230-ish is just as fast as 3-4-3 at 250....so I would say you are doing very well for the gold kit.

[gabbadoo]

I agree fully :)

When I bought the modules some ten months ago, I was hoping to do 250 at the rated timings and never thought there wouldn't be overclocking headroom in the modules - hell I thought I might tweak my way to 270+ on them, but I'm still a noob, and there's not much reference to find, since mostly you'll have no obvious clue on what IC's are used, and the whole binning issue is a complete black hole to me. I feel satisfied.

Although I consider myself entitled to an RMA-replacement, I find myself in a little dilemma: "Why would I expect OCZ to RMA me back a couple of Platinum sticks? I mean my sticks do platinum timings up to 247MHz".

The whole RMA case might end with me receiving a couple of sticks that do 3-4-3-8 timings at 260MHz MAX. That leaves me with a few more divider-options, but I know that neither SuperPI nor 3dMark really care, and I know I get a better 3dMark06 score when running 3050/218 compared to 2930/244, probably mostly since the mem wont do 2-3-2-5 timings until I'm below 210MHz.

I'll rest my case here. Close it if you like. I'm gonna try that 704-2BT bios and see if I'll gain a few MHz there. Thank you for all your help so far.

[andyOCZ]

We are glad to help!