AM2 testing -> ASUS M2N-SLI Dx, Orleans 3200+, G.Skill F2-6400PHU2-2GBHZ

[perkam]

Sandwa Pwease

Perkam

[ozzimark]

It seems like I can't really get Command Rate 1T to work at this moment. After I apply it in BIOS, it just dies... I will play more with it though.

same problem here... i guess i'll blame the bios again, so there might be hope!

thanks for the info, i appreciate it

[Piotke]

Looks like some decent A64 performance you've got there.

[JohnMike]

Why do you have only 2T ram benchs?! Can't do 1T?!

[Tony]

There are only a handful of people on the forums that would be able to reach cas 2 on DDR2 if they really wanted to...and you know you're one of them

Anyhoo, Let's see some tight timings instead of high fsb bachus

Perkam

The issue is DDR2 does not support cas2, so what the board is actually setting is anyones guess?

Lowest you will ever see is cas3 true and some tweaked out setting that people may think is cas2 but is not

[bachus_anonym]

Sandwa Pwease Perkam

Initial post updated with Memory Bandwidth and Latency benches

Kind of weird UnBuffered results, though... Higher memory frequencies at lower CPU speed = lower numbers???

Why do you have only 2T ram benchs?! Can't do 1T?!

So far I can't get 1T working on this board when playing with memory speed at and north of DDR2-800. Others have had more luck, but with a different board. It looks to me like a BIOS issue, perhaps. But AM2 does not seem to go very far on 1T - around DDR2-880 is max we've seen so far. But it doesn't look like 2T affects performace that much, by comparing my 32M times here with S939 at the same CPU speed.

One thing... Where do you think I can stick my multimeter probe in order to find some vcore? Maybe that choke's leg or where the cap is missing...? I can use some help, please

[high5]

yes, you can read the Vcore on the chokes.

looking at this last pic, that thermal interface between MOSFET's and the heatsink looks absolutely terrible...

BTW nice stuff Bachus... although I find it a bit funny to see (mid-range) air cooling on your pics... you better sort out that mouniting soon.

looking on the bright side, your testing rig isn't loaded with dust any more.

[k|ngp|n]

Nice work Bach! It's not the ram or something else. I fully tested the asus am2 SLI board and had lots of problems running 3d with 1T north of 800 as well. Mobo just couldn't handle it like the Foxconn does.

[arisythila]

Hey, Just to add what AM2 can do, I will post some results that I got with the Asus M2N32-SLI Deluxe. I was able to get 2.8 ghz @ 1.3v Here are some benches.



~Mike

[bachus_anonym]

Thanks guys, just doing it in case there are curious people around...
I just added more updates under MORE UPDATES! in an initial post. I have to say, that G.Skill's RAM I'm playing with, plain and simple kicks ass for the $$ they want for it Fully stable DDR2-1068 8-4-4-4.0-2T is just awesome

[Eldonko]

Nice results bachus, you are great at keeping it organized in post 1.

How do you like the board overall? I think we need a DFI so there is someone to fix things in BIOS for us lol.

[perkam]

Just amazing

Looks like Sandra cares more about fsb than latency Congrats on the 8k

Perkam

[JohnMike]

Well, i'm testting a new system just like this one, only the CPU is different, i have a 3500+ AM2.

I have problems with the Gskill 6400HZ 2GB kit, the system doesn't boot at all, the only away that i found to boot the system was with a Gskill 4200LA 2GB kit. With the 4200LA kit the system boots fine and reach 667mhz@1T easilly and smooth.

With the Gskill 6400HZ 2GB kit, it's no go!!

[ozzimark]

Just amazing

Looks like Sandra cares more about fsb than latency Congrats on the 8k

Perkam

mind if i take that a step further?

it's cares more about cpu mhz than memory clocks

since the MC runs at cpu mhz.. efficiency goes up quite considerably as the cpu clock rises. makes it kinda tough to get any decent bandwidth scores with a cpu that can barely do 3ghz

[ludeboy12]

oh hells yea. I got the same 0605 sticks of ram as you so now im really excited to get these clockin.

only problem is newegg sent the wrong CPU so i must wait i guess.

anyways great job man.

[JohnMike]

oh hells yea. I got the same 0605 sticks of ram as you so now im really excited to get these clockin.

only problem is newegg sent the wrong CPU so i must wait i guess.

anyways great job man.

Don't get to excited... Because this Gskill rams aren't friendly with this Asus mobo.

[ludeboy12]

i went with the new foxconn nf590 board anyways so i'll most likely have varying results....hopefully good results though.

[^don.k's^]

What's max vdimm ?

[Serge84]

Even a biostar Tforce6100 AM2 would have been better. DIMMv upto 2.2v and CPU volts upto 2.25v thats right in the bios it sets upto a extreme inferno of 2.25v. I'm sure you could have reached the cpus full potensial with a board like that or a DFI.

[ozzimark]

Even a biostar Tforce6100 AM2 would have been better. DIMMv upto 2.2v and CPU volts upto 2.25v thats right in the bios it sets upto a extreme inferno of 2.25v. I'm sure you could have reached the cpus full potensial with a board like that or a DFI.

2.2v isn't anywhere near high enough for the ram

[arisythila]

Yeah, I was running up to 2.5v to get 1000 mhz with my D9's, So I mean, You really need some voltage.

~Mike

[bachus_anonym]

How do you like the board overall? I think we need a DFI so there is someone to fix things in BIOS for us lol.

Honestly, I kind of like this board. But after now few days of playing with it and messing around with this "unofficial" 0303 BIOS, there are few things that bother be:

1. I can't for the life of me make this board run Command Rate 1T, even when memory runs @ DDR-667 clocks. System just doesn't POST after CMD is set to 1T. So what Vince has said above, I can myself confirm as well. Kind of makes you wonder as theior S939 mobos also had trouble running 1T at some point in OC.

2. System does not restart when OC'ed, period! Even with the new BIOS it just dies and does not reboot. Pressing RESET "fixes" it but that's not how it should work, right? All fine and dandy when it runs at default 200x10, though.

3. It seems to have a cold boot issues. Every morning, when I turn it on, it's boots but doesn't POST. Then when I hit RESET it just shuts down. When I turn it back on again, it boots and POSTs... Kind of annoying and I'm sure it's "BIOS fixable".

Well, i'm testting a new system just like this one, only the CPU is different, i have a 3500+ AM2.

I have problems with the Gskill 6400HZ 2GB kit, the system doesn't boot at all, the only away that i found to boot the system was with a Gskill 4200LA 2GB kit. With the 4200LA kit the system boots fine and reach 667mhz@1T easilly and smooth.

With the Gskill 6400HZ 2GB kit, it's no go!!

Get in touch with G.Skill Support in your area (EU) because your modules need to have SPD re-programmed to be properly recognized by this platform.

What's max vdimm ?

I have added BIOS shots to my initial post. Vdimm goes up to 2.5v.

Even a biostar Tforce6100 AM2 would have been better. DIMMv upto 2.2v and CPU volts upto 2.25v thats right in the bios it sets upto a extreme inferno of 2.25v. I'm sure you could have reached the cpus full potensial with a board like that or a DFI.

Well, you realy need more than 2.25v to run above DDR2-1000 and definetely to be able to tighten latencies all the way to 12-3-3-3.0 for some DDR2-800+ action.

-----------
BTW, I have added full stability results for DDR2 @ 12-3-3-3.0. Again, shows to tell you how nice this set of 2GBHZ is

[guess2098]

nice but one test pic is not working heheheheheheh

good job man! look like this M2N is not bad also.
i heard that Asus does good job on AM2 mobo this time

[JohnMike]

1. I can't for the life of me make this board run Command Rate 1T, even when memory runs @ DDR-667 clocks. System just doesn't POST after CMD is set to 1T. So what Vince has said above, I can myself confirm as well. Kind of makes you wonder as theior S939 mobos also had trouble running 1T at some point in OC.

Well, in my case 1T it's not a problem.

I have tried 3 different kits of ram:

- Gskill 6400HZ 2GB DDR2, doesn't boot as i said before.

- Mushkin XP2-5300 DDR2, runs fine 1T@533mhz, won't run above that even with Command Rate 2T.

- Gskill 4200LA 2GB DDR2, runs fine 1T@800mhz...

The most cheap and low-end ram in my case is the best of all 3 kits...

It seems that Asus is going to release a extended row of bios update as usual to make their mobos run as they should from the start...

Another thing, i can set any kind of OC, as i push a little bit my CPU clockspeed, the system goes off.

[nutcase]

Well, i'm testting a new system just like this one, only the CPU is different, i have a 3500+ AM2.

I have problems with the Gskill 6400HZ 2GB kit, the system doesn't boot at all, the only away that i found to boot the system was with a Gskill 4200LA 2GB kit. With the 4200LA kit the system boots fine and reach 667mhz@1T easilly and smooth.

With the Gskill 6400HZ 2GB kit, it's no go!!

can you try something for me.

Use your 4200LA and set your Vdimm (ddr2 control Voltage) to 2.1 or 2.2V.

now install your 6400HZ and see if it boots.

I have found out on the M2N32-SLI, the Vdimm Always comes up at 1.8V and with Most low latency PC2-6400, this is not enough for reliable operation.