How do 4 x 1GB sticks run on AM2 boards?

[Sumanji]

Hey,

Just wondering if any of you guys are running 4 x 1GB sticks of DDR2 with socket AM2 CPU's? Is there any speed limit penalties or disabled command control like there was with the 939 CPU's?

I'm looking at getting 4 x 1GB sticks of OCZ Titanium Alpha VX2 PC2-8000 for use on an AM2+ board, so I'm trying to figure out if it will have a big effect on overclocking. I'm aware it's always much better to run 2 sticks rather than 4, but most of the 2 x 2GB kits run at 5-5-5-18, which is disgusting

Cheers,

Suman

[nn_step]

they run rather well

[Sumanji]

lol ok... could you elaborate?

Does it hamper max FSB/HTT when overclocking? Can you run at full rated speed? Can you run 1T? etc. etc.

Cheers,

Suman

[nn_step]

You run at T2 but I haven't seem any hampering with overclocks for the CPU but as always the Ram can only run as fast as the slowest stick

[Lightman]

lol ok... could you elaborate?

Does it hamper max FSB/HTT when overclocking? Can you run at full rated speed? Can you run 1T? etc. etc.

Cheers,

Suman

I think this will help you...

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...3&postcount=40

BTW this was memory clock limit of my MSI mobo ...

[roadie]

I have on my desk a Brisbane 3600, an ABIT KN9 Ultra and 4x1Gb of Geil Ultra PC6400. I will definitely let you know how that performs when it's built up.

Just found out it's not a Brisbane but is a Windsor so it will be going back. Testing will have to wait a few days.

[Lightman]

I have on my desk a Brisbane 3600, an ABIT KN9 Ultra and 4x1Gb of Geil Ultra PC6400. I will definitely let you know how that performs when it's built up.

Just found out it's not a Brisbane but is a Windsor so it will be going back. Testing will have to wait a few days.

I'm getting Brisbane X2 4400+ today and new MSI based on AMD690G so I can put 4x1GB Crucial there as well... Anyone interested??

[dng]

just want to add my $.02 here. Just got another kit of 2x1gb crucial ballistix. i'm running 4 sticks of ballistix on a foxconn c51 and a 3600+ brisbane. the memories are running at 489Mhz at 5-5-5-12 2T. it's been pretty stable so far. 5+ hours of memtest and no errors. i think i can push the mem speed higher, but the 3600+ doesn't like it. how do you calculate the correct bus speed on a brisbane with the odd multi of 9.5? when i boot up the c51, i see current memory speed of 977, is that correct? thanks.

[Lightman]

just want to add my $.02 here. Just got another kit of 2x1gb crucial ballistix. i'm running 4 sticks of ballistix on a foxconn c51 and a 3600+ brisbane. the memories are running at 489Mhz at 5-5-5-12 2T. it's been pretty stable so far. 5+ hours of memtest and no errors. i think i can push the mem speed higher, but the 3600+ doesn't like it. how do you calculate the correct bus speed on a brisbane with the odd multi of 9.5? when i boot up the c51, i see current memory speed of 977, is that correct? thanks.

If your sticks are based on D9GMH then go straight to 4-4-4-12-15 2T. At 2.1V it's easy when clocked 489MHz .

To calculate real memory frequency you can look here: http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets...px?i=2762&p=10

It is same with 65nm Brisbanes, just take your base freq. for example 10.5x200=2100MHz and when memory is set to 800MHz try to find closest integer divider which will result in 800MHz or belove freq.
For X2 4000+ 2100MHz it will be 2100/6=350 (700MHz effective), then when you OC HTT to 250 it will give you 2625MHz core and 437.5MHz memory (875MHz effective).

[dng]

Thanks for the advice. unfortunately my ballistix memories can't do 4-4-4-12-15. it's rated at 2.2v at default, but i have no idea what chips are used. right now i have to set vdimm to 2.3v and i hope that's not too high of a voltage. back to 4-4-4-12-15, i know that the first 4 is CAS latency. The second 4 is RAS to CAS right? what's the third 4? the 15 is TLC correct? I always get confused when i see it written this way . i'll try again to see if i can improve the memory settings in the bios.

[Lightman]

Thanks for the advice. unfortunately my ballistix memories can't do 4-4-4-12-15. it's rated at 2.2v at default, but i have no idea what chips are used. right now i have to set vdimm to 2.3v and i hope that's not too high of a voltage. back to 4-4-4-12-15, i know that the first 4 is CAS latency. The second 4 is RAS to CAS right? what's the third 4? the 15 is TLC correct? I always get confused when i see it written this way . i'll try again to see if i can improve the memory settings in the bios.

Everything is on my screenshot regarding Cas settings

If your dimm default voltage is 2.2V then I think 2.4V/2.5V shouldn't be a problem... Good luck with finding best settings!

[Quintero]

I guess you already got the answers you sought, but better to much than too little, right?

In my experience, AM2 platforms work really great with four sticks. I only had to compromise a few MHz, and the extra interleave and capacity compensate for the insignificant frequency drop. I think the biggest drawback to using four sticks is that the tweaking takes more time.

My 4x1 GB Crucial PC5300 CL5 are stable @ DDR2-1188 @ 2.27 v, and DDR2-1152 @ 2.1 v.

[Lightman]

I guess you already got the answers you sought, but better to much than too little, right?

In my experience, AM2 platforms work really great with four sticks. I only had to compromise a few MHz, and the extra interleave and capacity compensate for the insignificant frequency drop. I think the biggest drawback to using four sticks is that the tweaking takes more time.

My 4x1 GB Crucial PC5300 CL5 are stable @ DDR2-1188 @ 2.27 v, and DDR2-1152 @ 2.1 v.

WOW! Good results

On what mobo you are running and which Crucial PC5300 you have (Value D9GMH?)??

[Quintero]

WOW! Good results

On what mobo you are running and which Crucial PC5300 you have (Value D9GMH?)??

My mobo is the Asus Crosshair - a tweaker's wet dream.

Yes, the memory sticks are PC5300 Value D9GMH that only cost me about $340, and that was several months ago. So far the value RAM actually OC higher than my Ballistix PC8000, though the latter have the upper hand @ CAS 4. Anyway, I think the Value RAM was quite a bargain! I'm still struggling to get it dual Superpi-stable, though

[uwackme]

Quin, can you give us a screenie of the Systool AM2 memory settings/AM2 memory fine settings?

The Crossfire performs lightyears better than all the other 590SLI based boards. Ugh. Anyone want a Foxconn 590SLI board?

I really want to get the most out of my CPU/ram and the current board isn't cutting it.

[Quintero]

Quin, can you give us a screenie of the Systool AM2 memory settings/AM2 memory fine settings?

Sure. I don't think I took a SC of the Systool settings when testing @ 594 MHz, I only wrote down the BIOS settings. But the fine delays should be at least very close to those shown below, and the drive strengths are exactly the same.

As you can see, these settings were not completely stable, but not because of the fine delays. I eventually set tRDRD to 3, which helped stability a lot. Reducing the Data + DQS drive strength to 0.75 should also be worth a try. Max async latency is unstable at any setting but 7. IIRC, all other settings are similar, but I think some of them could be reduced without hurting stability.

[uwackme]

I went to "auto" on alot of stuff and it helped, gets 250Mhz happy now.

But I still cant touch the speeds you have achieved... 597Mhz!!! and with 4 sticks too boot. Wow.

I have no way in the bios to alter Trdrd. It defaults to 2.

Any chance you could send me the BIOS settings you use? Thanks for the screenies, help alot. Very little AM2 info out there.

[Quintero]

I went to "auto" on alot of stuff and it helped, gets 250Mhz happy now.

But I still cant touch the speeds you have achieved... 597Mhz!!! and with 4 sticks too boot. Wow.

Oh, you're using two sticks!! How come I didn't notice

In that case I don't recommend increasing the Addr/CMD drive strengths to 1.5, which is what I'm using. With all slots populated, the current gets evenly distributed accross the modules, so in a sense they "save" each other from electromigration. The controller only features one address/command unit which must be able to build up enough charge on the modules' input receivers that they switch in time. It's kinda comparable to the command rate, only 2T provides more time for the switching, while higher Addr drive strength makes the switching occur faster. This is necessary to compensate for capacitive loading when using four sticks.

But as you're only using two sticks I recommend you start with 1.0 and work your way from there. But naturally, the drive strength settings relate to vDIMM, so I think 1.25 should be on the safe side unless you apply insane voltages.

I have no way in the bios to alter Trdrd. It defaults to 2.

I find that rather surprising. This *could* be a huge obstacle. If I were you I'd email Foxcon and beg them to fix that issue.

Any chance you could send me the BIOS settings you use? Thanks for the screenies, help alot. Very little AM2 info out there.

I'm at work atm, but I'm nearly convinced that they were the same as those shown in the first SS, except tRDRD and tRRD which were 3. And it could be that tWRWR was 4 - I don't really remember.

Yeah, too bad there are so few people who tweak AMD rigs atm. But it shouldn't be too long before K10 changes that. And good luck with your tweaking

[uwackme]

Thanks Quin, if Foxconn cant come to the rescue, Ill prolly have to go for the Crosshair like you. I wan to achieve 3.5Ghz and max ram 24/7, so Ill do what I have to.

[ea6gka]

@ quintero

can you tell me what kind of cooling do you use for your crosshair?

[freakBYnature]

Thanks for the advice. unfortunately my ballistix memories can't do 4-4-4-12-15. it's rated at 2.2v at default, but i have no idea what chips are used. right now i have to set vdimm to 2.3v and i hope that's not too high of a voltage. back to 4-4-4-12-15, i know that the first 4 is CAS latency. The second 4 is RAS to CAS right? what's the third 4? the 15 is TLC correct? I always get confused when i see it written this way . i'll try again to see if i can improve the memory settings in the bios.

All Crucial Ballistic PC6400 are supposedly based on D9GMH chips And they need 2.1~2.2V to do 4-4-4-12-15 2T.

Unlike socket A and somewhat socket 754 and socket 939, 2T doesn't make that big of a difference on AM2. If you have trouble booting on these timings try changing the LAST timing to 19 and see Like this; 4-4-4-12-19 2T
That particulour timing doesn't affect performance that much, but will help stability.

Try these timings... all at 2.1V
In this order:

1: 4-4-4-12-15 2T
2: 4-4-4-12-19 2T
3: 4-4-4-15-15 2T
4: 4-4-4-15-19 2T
5: 4-4-5-15-19 2T
6: 4-5-4-15-19 2T
7: 4-5-5-15-19 2T
8: 5-4-4-12-15 2T
9: 5-4-5-12-15 2T
10: 5-4-5-15-19 2T
11: 5-5-5-15-19 2T

Or any other combinations that I havent written.... it's just a start, but trying all sorts of combinations is THE ONLY WAY to find out what timings your chips like!

[ea6gka]

i have the same setup as quintero but mine memory is ballistix 5300. it shuts down after a couple of minutes , the heatpipes are about to melt . i think crosshair needs improved cooling.

[Quintero]

@ quintero

can you tell me what kind of cooling do you use for your crosshair?

I use the Thermalright XP-90, which seems to be a perfect match. I prefer to have the fan blow away from the board - that way it sucks a lot of heat from the heatpipes. Part of the heatsink makes a "shelf" that hangs directly above the mobo's HS (close to the I/O panel). In addition, the orientation of the TR's fins ensures fairly good airflow from the "upper" and "lower" heatpipes. But you might need an additional fan if quiet operation is a priority.