WPCREDIT tweaks for the A64

[CodeRed]

No probs:

As you suspected

2x512MB (double sided) in slots 1 & 2
contiguous mapping

that means no interleaving

[HKPolice]

As you suspected

2x512MB (double sided) in slots 1 & 2
contiguous mapping

that means no interleaving

What do I look for to indicate interleaving?

How does it affect overall performance?

[HKPolice]

There is an Interleave driver for old VIA chipsets (PIII, K6) which enables memory interleave. So I guess there IS a way. It requires a restart, though.

If it can be done via Driver, I think WPCREDIT should be able to do the same thing without causing windows to crash?

[CodeRed]

If it can be done via Driver, I think WPCREDIT should be able to do the same thing without causing windows to crash?

On the A64 you have to shutdown the DRAM controller whilst programming the DRAM CS & Mask registers. These control interleaving. Also once the interleaving is enabled the pyhsical memory map gets changed, so windows would be totally screwed.

There may be a way to do it from a DOS program (all running from cache), then jump into a bootstrap routine which bypasses the BIOS mem setup and loads windows, but its a lot easier to do it from the BIOS.

Checking for interleave is a bit messy, the DRAM CS and Mask registers tell the story. Get 26094.pdf from the AMD web site and read pages 71-79. It explains how these registers work. The easiest way to determine if the banks are interleaved is to check if the Base addresses for each consequetive bank are offset by 8 bytes.

[HKPolice]

Damnn, i couldn't even begin to comprehend what bits to be looking for

Could you please make some kinda prog to select upto 8way interleave? It should work with all A64s I assume?

On the A64 you have to shutdown the DRAM controller whilst programming the DRAM CS & Mask registers. These control interleaving. Also once the interleaving is enabled the pyhsical memory map gets changed, so windows would be totally screwed.

There may be a way to do it from a DOS program (all running from cache), then jump into a bootstrap routine which bypasses the BIOS mem setup and loads windows, but its a lot easier to do it from the BIOS.

Checking for interleave is a bit messy, the DRAM CS and Mask registers tell the story. Get 26094.pdf from the AMD web site and read pages 71-79. It explains how these registers work. The easiest way to determine if the banks are interleaved is to check if the Base addresses for each consequetive bank are offset by 8 bytes.

[CodeRed]

Damnn, i couldn't even begin to comprehend what bits to be looking for

Could you please make some kinda prog to select upto 8way interleave? It should work with all A64s I assume?

If I could make a program to select the interleave I would. But unfortunately I belive it can be done from within windows.

Eventually, I will add a mem interleave display to A64 Tweaker. At least this will show you your mem configuration.

[DEI Rocks]

Untill such time as Code Red can incorportate that bit into A64 Tweaker, RightMark Memory Analyzer v3.4 appearently shows interleaving status on my msi 250gb.

[-TB-]

is there a way to disable the 1T on the athlon 64 3200+ with C0 stepping?

[DEI Rocks]

no, im afraid there isnt.

[HKPolice]

Untill such time as Code Red can incorportate that bit into A64 Tweaker, RightMark Memory Analyzer v3.4 appearently shows interleaving status on my msi 250gb.

Where does it show that?
nvm, found it

Do the DFI or MSI boards have an option to select how much interleave there is?

[DEI Rocks]

I havent found the option in the bios of my dfi or msi 250gb boards.

I would like to direct an inquiry to someone like Oskar.

[VVJ]

FOR ALL:

Everyone may use Central Brain Identifier tool for memory tweaking:



site: http://cbid.amdclub.ru
link: http://cbid.amdclub.ru/files/cbid74b.zip

[Geforce4ti4200]

A64 Tweaker is used to get the most out of your A64 by allowing you full control over all the useful memory settings. Originally I wrote this because my AN50R BIOS was so lacking in memory timing options. Only the latest DFI BIOS allows such fine control over your timing options (amazing how similar the new DFI BIOS options are to those inA64 Tweaker ).

The ultimate goal is to have the tightest memory timings at the highest possible freq ... a good target is 2-7-12-2-2-5-2-2-1-1 (really need BH5 for this), but dont worry if you cant hit such aggressive values. Start at something like 2-10-13-2-2-6-3-3-2-2 and work your way down testing at each step.

I used SuperPi and Pifast to test the effectiveness of each change to my timings. Its best to choose a proram that really stresses memory and gives good systematic results (3DMark is a pain to tune since it varies from run to run).

I cant tell everyone what their best timings will be since it varies from RAM module to module. Some sticks work with agressive vaues others do not and you are better off with relaxed timings and higher FSB. You have to test your own sticks and see what works best for you.

Attached is a screen shot showing the values I get the best 3DMark, SuperPi and PiFast times with. My Kingston BH5 sticks run up to 274-277 MHz with these settings @ 3.6V.

PS Dont worry about the extra Link settings in V0.5XT for now ... I am still working on it

w00t shaved a second off superPI im at 37s now at 235x10 with your timings in the screenshot except max async latency is at 5ns instead of 6ns, is this good? comp locks if I set that to 4ns. also that 13 is set to a 12, locks if set to 11. My goal is to get superPI to less than 30 seconds at 238x11=2.62GHz, some dude gets 31s with his stock 3000+ so I got a long way to go still. bartons dont do as well, my friend has 38s at 2.6GHz on his barton, is this a bad or good number

[CodeRed]

w00t shaved a second off superPI im at 37s now at 235x10 with your timings in the screenshot except max async latency is at 5ns instead of 6ns, is this good? comp locks if I set that to 4ns. also that 13 is set to a 12, locks if set to 11. My goal is to get superPI to less than 30 seconds at 238x11=2.62GHz, some dude gets 31s with his stock 3000+ so I got a long way to go still. bartons dont do as well, my friend has 38s at 2.6GHz on his barton, is this a bad or good number

Max async latency of 5ns is very good.

If you want a 30 sec superpi score, you'll need approx 2766 MHz (11x251) from a S754 1Mb chip. Thats a tough ask on air.

[Ragnarok]

Is it really necessary to reinvent the wheel?

[ahfung]

Max async latency of 5ns is very good.

If you want a 30 sec superpi score, you'll need approx 2766 MHz (11x251) from a S754 1Mb chip. Thats a tough ask on air.

Max async has quite some impact on performance, but there are two cases it has to relax:

1. Running more than 1 stick
2. Running at async

In my case my Hynix DT D43 can set max async to 7ns at 265MHz 2.5-3-3 for best performance. However once running 2 sticks, 8ns is a must for stability, and Vdimm won't help at all.

And at any non 1:1 ratio, 7ns is no go.

With only 1 stick, setting to 8ns won't let me go any higher.
Setting Max async to Auto in Lanparty BIOS is equal to 7ns in my case, for both 1 or 2 sticks.

Refresh rate (Tref) will have a healthy boost when set to 166 MHz 1.95us, but it might not apply to all memory.

My $0.04

[bias_hjorth]

geforceti4200
As codered said you probally need around that speed on a 1mb.. But it has to be on 1:1 - Otherwise there´s no chance..
so: 238x11=2.62GHz would not get you anyway near 30sec.. more likely 34 or 33

And you friends barton is a bit slow -- I guess he´s using a fsb around 230 to get that result

[Geforce4ti4200]

"Refresh rate (Tref) will have a healthy boost when set to 166 MHz 1.95us, but it might not apply to all memory."


it says reserved value to me, does this mean unavailable or something? I also have the option to set ras-cas delay to 1, but im too chicken to try, should I? its also a reserve value and if it doesnt freeze will this help any?

[CodeRed]

Max async has quite some impact on performance, but there are two cases it has to relax:

1. Running more than 1 stick
2. Running at async

In my case my Hynix DT D43 can set max async to 7ns at 265MHz 2.5-3-3 for best performance. However once running 2 sticks, 8ns is a must for stability, and Vdimm won't help at all.

And at any non 1:1 ratio, 7ns is no go.

With only 1 stick, setting to 8ns won't let me go any higher.
Setting Max async to Auto in Lanparty BIOS is equal to 7ns in my case, for both 1 or 2 sticks.

Refresh rate (Tref) will have a healthy boost when set to 166 MHz 1.95us, but it might not apply to all memory.

My $0.04

On my (now dead) AN50R / 3400+ running async didnt affect my mem timings. I could run max async = 5ns up to 250 MHz and 6ns up to 276 Mhz. Although I did get the same problems with two sticks @ 6ns. For stability with two sticks I needed to use 7ns.

I have never observed any significant performance boost by changing Tref.

[eagle101]

Gents,

I've just found a way to really boost your A64 performance using WPCREDIT.

The A64 mem controller registers can be accessed using WPCREDIT using Bus #0, Device #24, Function #2. There are 4 main registers that I have been playing with:

0x88 DRAM Timing Low
0x8C DRAM Timing High
0x90 DRAM Configuration Low
0x94 DRAM Configuration High

The timings registers set all the DRAM timings params (as you'd expect), but there are many more than most BIOSes will show you. The best performance is obtained using:

Column Address Strobe # (CAS) = 2.0
Row Cycle Time (Trc) = 8
Row Refresh Cycle Time (Trfc) = 12
RAS# to CAS# delay (Trcd) = 2
Row to Row delay (Trrd) = 2
Min RAS Active Time (Tras) = 5
Row Precharge Time (Trp) = 2
Write Recovery Time (Twr) = 2
Write to Read Delay (Twtr) = 1
Read to Write Delay (Trtw) = 1

I normally write this as 2-8-12-2-2-5-2-2-1-1 for convenience ... not that rememering all those values is easy.

To set the mem timings to the above values change the registers as follows:
reg 0x88 to 0x02522311
reg 0x8C to 0x00000B00
(use 32 bit mode in WPCREDIT)

I have only begun to experiment with the Config registers but some of the things I have tried are setting the Asynchronous Latency Value (controlled by reg 0x94). Normally my BIOS sets this to 7ns, but when I dropped it to 4ns there was a healthy boost to my memory performance. To do this set bits 0-3 of reg 0x94 to 0100 (binary) (4 for those who cant read binary).

Just to make things more interesting, bits 22-20 of reg 0x94 control the DRAM speed (200, 166, 133, 100 Mhz). There are several reserved values, and I decided to try 110. Surprisingly this gave me a mem speed somewhere inbetween 200 and 166 MHz. This may be a 183 Mhz mem option I need to test some more to confirm these results.

Oh, 2T is also easy to disable

We no longer have to worry about BIOS updates, its all there in the DRAM registers. Over time I may write a simple windows app to set all this up in a user friendly fashion ... just need to find the time.

Only thing I cant do is set the bank interleave. Doing so would reorder the physical memory locations ... not something I think windoze would be happy with

Try it and compare your before and after benchies with something like pifast or superpi and you'll see the boost.

============================================

V0.31 of A64 tweaker is now ready (win 64 bit compatible now)
jump to this post
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...345#post505345

or just download :a64tweaker_V031.zip

do i have to be running w64 or can i do the tweek with wxp?

[CodeRed]

do i have to be running w64 or can i do the tweek with wxp?

A64 Tweaker works in Win2k, XP, XP-64, 2003, and 2003-64

[Samael]

I searched around for quite long and i didnt find anything regarding the Corsair Pc4400 (hynix -d5 IC's) and the setting we should use on them.
Τhe question is how to tweak them to get a really high fsb OR get a really good score with tight timmings.
My MOBO is a DFI Nf3 UT and i have a CO a64,so 1T only
Any help would be greatly apreciated

[eagle101]

A64 Tweaker works in Win2k, XP, XP-64, 2003, and 2003-64

codered i was using the ati driver:6.14.10.6490,things were going way good
due to zip drive problem i reformated,now the drivers are not on the sites the 6490?
i didnt save it anywhere is there any magic you can due....

[CodeRed]

codered i was using the ati driver:6.14.10.6490,things were going way good
due to zip drive problem i reformated,now the drivers are not on the sites the 6490?
i didnt save it anywhere is there any magic you can due....

Just ask around or search the standard mirrors. I am sure someone around here has a copy ... I could do with a copy too

[eagle101]

Just ask around or search the standard mirrors. I am sure someone around here has a copy ... I could do with a copy too

thanks