Overclocking question...concerning RAM

[ugp]

Is it possible that an overclock can be unstable because of RAM overheating and that is why it is rebooting...

When I overclock to 220x10.0 my RAM runs 220 as well...I have no control over that unless to run the ram at DDR333 and I do not want to do that.

It will run for about 10-15 minutes and then reboot...

Or is there just so many different reasons why an overclock can be unstable...I know it isn't the CPU....just look in my signature..I have the same CPU used to break the record...same steppings and all....

Any help would be great...

I do now have heatspreaders on my RAM, I am wondering if that would help at all...

[thephenom]

Buy some better ram if your ram can't OC that high? Lower the timings, pump the voltage, see how far that goes...... otherwise, ur stuck at running with divider.

[ugp]

Well I preordered the DFI board so I hope to get alittle bit better from the RAM

[lalPOOO]

Put your case on its side and sit a fan on the ram. The results should answer your question.
The heatspreaders are causing you problems, take em off.

[ugp]

I just put them on....I dont know yet...

[lalPOOO]

Did you use thermal paste?

[ugp]

They have this thermal tape on them...it didnt say to use any...so I didn't

[lalPOOO]

Well, just for testing, if you were to put a fan ontop it'd probably 'do the job'. I doubt you're getting heat problems at 215mhz@2.7v though...

[ugp]

No it is at 220 at 2.8-Volts...I run 215 at 2.70-Volts just fine and stable...

[bh2k]

Loosening timmings help at all?

[ugp]

2.5-3-3-8 and I tried at 2.5-3-3-10 and 11 as well...still the same thing...I wonder if it is the board I am using...

[Karnivore]

Originally posted by lalPOOO
Well, just for testing, if you were to put a fan ontop it'd probably 'do the job'. I doubt you're getting heat problems at 215mhz@2.7v though...

I agree with lalPOOO.. Heat is definately an enemy when it comes to electronics.. What kind of case temps are you getting, perhaps an open side, or more airflow would help... If your stable initially it could very well be a heat issue, not necessarily memory though..


what does memtest do? error right away, or start errors later? have you tried memtest?

[ugp]

The side is open and I have an AC vent on it so when the air comes on its nice and cool...

I also have a little Turbo fan blowing in on it as well. The CPU temp is always running fine even at overclocked...

[spaceman]

Chipset cooled? And did you raise voltage a bit to the chipset? I know this isn't exactly the same, since you're on A64 there, but I wrestled my AN7 for a few hours today, and I'm 90% sure it just needs more voltage to the Northy. Max in BIOS is 1.75v, and I can't get past 135FSB.

[ugp]

I cant change the voltage to my chipset with this board...

This MB doesnt have many options...thats why I cant wait to recieve my new DFI board...

[ugp]

Originally posted by Karnivore
I agree with lalPOOO.. Heat is definately an enemy when it comes to electronics.. What kind of case temps are you getting, perhaps an open side, or more airflow would help... If your stable initially it could very well be a heat issue, not necessarily memory though..


what does memtest do? error right away, or start errors later? have you tried memtest?

I havent tried memstat yet....

Where do I download it? If you know the link off the top of your head please post or I will find it otherwise later...at the moment I can't look for it lol...I am about to leave for work.

[Karnivore]

Here you go...

http://www.memtest86.com/

[ugp]

Ok now that I am at work I will download it later....

With this program what do I want to look for? What errors and what not?

[Karnivore]

Download the bootable CD image .iso burn with your favorite prog, nero, or whatever. set bios to boot from CD, put it in, and let it run.. No errors at all is what you want, and if its not what you get it isn't stable, and if it errors at all at spec speed then most likely your memory isn't worth

[ugp]

Oh awesome...it is something that doesnt run in windows...cool...ill do that
I know the memory isnt that great. I am going to get me some OCZ EB PC500 512x2 Set soon...

[ugp]

Ok I ran memtest86 and I got 12 total errors...

During Test #5 I got 2 errors...
During Test #6 I got 10 errors.

What does that say? lol

[texuspete00]

Means your memory subsytem is making mistakes. It's a good test because with a crap load of errors we're talking about possibly screwing up your windows install. Since this test runs in DOS before the OS attempts to load you are in the clear.

It's usually memory related but I've had problems where the board couldn't hang. On my AXP setup though, the NB is partly responsible for memory throughput so it can in fact screw the results on its own. Likewise, incompatibilities have caused me errors on say a board that hates my BH5.

You can form a hypothesis as to what might be the problem say by laxing memory timings to see if it helps. In which case it would notably be the ram. It indeed is a great time where an extra set of sticks to try would be a very good thing... or testing your sticks in another board.

The sticks are running overclocked and 2.7vdimm (per sig) really isnt a lot at all. If you got bum sticks that couldnt go much above stock at 2.5v, it's pretty conceivable they would need more for an extra 15MHz. A little extra could easily do it. It's not uncommon to have hundreds or thousands of errors in memtest sometimes when going for broke. You seem to be almost there. Maybe try Cas 3 first since it would hurt your bandwidth very little. Well, actually go for more volts instead.

[ugp]

Well with 12 errors I was clocked at 2.5-3-3-11 at 2.85-Volts and on test 5 there was only 2 errors.

I loosen the timings at 2.5-3-3-12 and I got more errors in test 5 alone so I aborted the test...

Any recommendations...

[ugp]

I honestly think it is my motherboard that is causing the problems...and I can't figure out why....I have plenty of voltage running to everything...

CPU is at 1.525 and the RAM is at 2.85

[dcpusher]

test your memory at its recomended speed and see if it errors, and work up from there.