Memory Timings / CPU Temperature

[Starburn]

Ok two questions

I originally thought that scan had sent me the wrong memory (they stock Corsair TwinX in both 2-3-3-6 and 3-3-3-8) as my motherboard is picking up the timings of the RAM as 3-3-3-8.
Checking the ram packaging though it says "TwinX2048-3200C2Pro" .. so is it more likely that my motherboard is incorrectly picking up the timings (and thus I should set them manually), or that Corsair has packaged the wrong RAM?


Second question is regarding Cool & Quiet; my 9NPA+ picks up my CPU temperature as 15-20c (latest bios).. which I find odd. The heatsink is cool to the touch and my room is cold so it is possible, but I'm doubtfull. If it is picking it up incorrectly, are fan speeds based on CPU temperature? (could be dangerous if it is). I haven't really stress tested it yet to see if it rises; may run prime95 tonight for a while.
It bothers me because if it is incorrect, I can't see the true temperature of my CPU

[Starburn]

No one?

Got this posted in an epox forum & over at nvidia too.. still haven't had any responses lol :|

[Hottentot]

Use CPU-z to read the memory timing table of your memory.
CPU could be at 20 degrees briefly but should be about 30-40 under moderate load

[Starburn]

Yeah I did that, CPU-z comes up with the same timings.

Though then again, I've changed the timings in bios before today and CPU-z has read the timings from the bios rather than the default memory timings....

[Hottentot]

Are you using the latest version of CPU-z ? It has a tab labelled SPD which reads the memory timing table (SPD) built into your stick of memory. This is independent of the timings set in your BIOS.

[Kaizen]

Ok two questions

I originally thought that scan had sent me the wrong memory (they stock Corsair TwinX in both 2-3-3-6 and 3-3-3-8) as my motherboard is picking up the timings of the RAM as 3-3-3-8.
Checking the ram packaging though it says "TwinX2048-3200C2Pro" .. so is it more likely that my motherboard is incorrectly picking up the timings (and thus I should set them manually), or that Corsair has packaged the wrong RAM?

I thought the same thing when I ordered mine. Having read an article on the Corsair site, though, it implied that their memory defaults to loose timings and it's up to us to tighten them in the BIOS.

Having run 3DMark 2005 a number of times myself, though, changing from 3-3-3-8 to 2-3-3-6 made statistically no difference on my ASUS A8N-SLi Premium. Strangely, the Corsair article found that changing the last timing figure from 8 down to 6 actually slowed things a bit, but what did make a difference (to the CPU Mark, at least, and SiSoft SANDRA memory benchmarks) was reducing the memory from 2T to 1T. So now I run mine at 2-3-3-8-1T.

However, if I'd known before what I know now, I'd have bought the regular 3-3-3-8 sticks, saved myself £60 and used that money for something else.

Second question is regarding Cool & Quiet; my 9NPA+ picks up my CPU temperature as 15-20c (latest bios).. which I find odd. The heatsink is cool to the touch and my room is cold so it is possible, but I'm doubtfull. If it is picking it up incorrectly, are fan speeds based on CPU temperature? (could be dangerous if it is). I haven't really stress tested it yet to see if it rises; may run prime95 tonight for a while.
It bothers me because if it is incorrect, I can't see the true temperature of my CPU

With Cool & Quiet on, my idle temps are around 34 degrees for both CPU & MB, and 29 degrees with it off. Starting up in the morning when it's cold, though, they're in the low to mid 20s, but then gradually rise.

As for fan speeds, my understanding is that they're based on temperature, but I've not looked into it in any detail to give a definitive answer.

[Starburn]

Thank you Kaizen.

I have tightened my timings to 2-3-3-6 at 1T and the memory seems to work fine
Grabbed me an exta 90 points in 3dMark05 to get me up to 9003 so I'm happy

As for cool and quiet I have it off anyway, but it is concerning that the temperature is being reported incorrectly