Results 1 to 6 of 6

Thread: RAM: Stable 4x1GB DDR2 at 1066MHz on Rampage Formula?

  1. #1
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Posts
    61
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked
    2 times in 2 posts
    • philpem's system
      • Motherboard:
      • ASUS P5N72-T Premium
      • CPU:
      • Intel Q6600 @ 3GHz
      • Memory:
      • 4GB Corsair Dominator DDR2-1066
      • Storage:
      • 2x500GB RAID1 + 2x500GB externals
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 896MB EVGA GeForce GTX260
      • PSU:
      • Corsair HX620W
      • Case:
      • Antec Three Hundred
      • Operating System:
      • Windows XP Pro SP3 (32bit)
      • Monitor(s):
      • Viewsonic VX922 19" TFT
      • Internet:
      • 10Mbit ADSL2+

    RAM: Stable 4x1GB DDR2 at 1066MHz on Rampage Formula?

    Hi,
    I'm trying to get an ASUS Rampage Formula (Intel X38/X48 chipset, BIOS lists the chipset as "Bearlake") to run stably with a full set of four Corsair 1GB kits (P/N CM2X1024-8500C5D). I can get this to work fine at 800MHz memory clock and 1.8V Vdram, but if I switch the RAM timings over to manual and use the ones from the SPD/EPP data (as shown by CPU-Z), the machine either crashes before finishing POST or fails Memcheck badly. On rare occasions it's gotten to the start of the Linux kernel load process and then barfed with a Kernel Panic.

    I've tried:
    - 800MHz, all settings on auto, 1.8V. Works fine, stable config.
    - 1066MHz, all settings on auto, 2.1V. Won't finish POST (had to hit Clear CMOS)
    - 1066MHz, manual timings (from CPU-Z data -- 5:5:5:15, 2T, 2.1V; couldn't see anywhere to enter Trc=22 though). Won't POST.
    - Increased Northbridge voltage slightly, up to various voltages from 1.35V to 1.49V (the default is 1.35V). Best I got was being able to start Memcheck86+ and have it crash within a few seconds.
    - Increased Vdram from 2.1V to 2.14V and then 2.19V. Might have helped a little, but not much.

    Things I haven't tried:
    - Playing with the "DRAM Voltage Ref" voltage. This is currently on Auto, which seems to mean "1.0V and some change".


    Can anyone suggest a way I might be able to get this machine to run stable at 1066MHz Fdram, or am I stuck with the not especially appealing options of pulling two of the four sticks, or replacing the whole lot with a 2-stick 4GB kit?

    I should note that all four sticks worked fine at 1066MHz on my previous board (ASUS P5N72T Deluxe, nForce 780i chipset). I don't think I even had to change the voltages (aside from the DRAM supply voltage)...

    Thanks,
    Phil.

  2. #2
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Posts
    289
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked
    20 times in 20 posts
    • LegacyOne's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte GA-P55-UD4
      • CPU:
      • Intel® Core™ i7 860
      • Memory:
      • 4GB (2x2GB) Corsair XMS3 DDR3 1600MHz CAS 9-9-9-24 XMP
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Gainward GTX 295 V2 1792MB
      • PSU:
      • Thermaltake Toughpower 650W
      • Case:
      • Cooler Master WaveMaster

    Re: RAM: Stable 4x1GB DDR2 at 1066MHz on Rampage Formula?

    The nForce chips could unlock the FSB from the RAM clock speed so on a Intel chip its locked so that if the ram is set to 1066MHz but you increased the FSB the ram speed will increase regardless.

    Apart from that BIOS update?

  3. #3
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Posts
    61
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked
    2 times in 2 posts
    • philpem's system
      • Motherboard:
      • ASUS P5N72-T Premium
      • CPU:
      • Intel Q6600 @ 3GHz
      • Memory:
      • 4GB Corsair Dominator DDR2-1066
      • Storage:
      • 2x500GB RAID1 + 2x500GB externals
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 896MB EVGA GeForce GTX260
      • PSU:
      • Corsair HX620W
      • Case:
      • Antec Three Hundred
      • Operating System:
      • Windows XP Pro SP3 (32bit)
      • Monitor(s):
      • Viewsonic VX922 19" TFT
      • Internet:
      • 10Mbit ADSL2+

    Re: RAM: Stable 4x1GB DDR2 at 1066MHz on Rampage Formula?

    Quote Originally Posted by LegacyOne View Post
    The nForce chips could unlock the FSB from the RAM clock speed so on a Intel chip its locked so that if the ram is set to 1066MHz but you increased the FSB the ram speed will increase regardless.
    So what do I need to do, find a RAM speed that's an integer multiple of the FSB (or very close)?

    I did try F_dram = 1002MHz, but didn't get anywhere with that either. The machine got into Memcheck, but spewed out a ton of errors.


    Quote Originally Posted by LegacyOne View Post
    Apart from that BIOS update?
    The board came with the latest BIOS -- 0902...

    Thanks,
    Phil.

  4. #4
    YUKIKAZE arthurleung's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Aberdeen
    Posts
    3,280
    Thanks
    8
    Thanked
    88 times in 83 posts
    • arthurleung's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P5E (Rampage Formula 0902)
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core2Quad Q9550 3.6Ghz 1.2V
      • Memory:
      • A-Data DDR2-800 2x2GB CL4
      • Storage:
      • 4x1TB WD1000FYPS @ RAID5 3Ware 9500S-8 / 3x 1TB Samsung Ecogreen F2
      • Graphics card(s):
      • GeCube HD4870 512MB
      • PSU:
      • Corsair VX450
      • Case:
      • Antec P180
      • Operating System:
      • Windows Server 2008 Standard
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell Ultrasharp 2709W + 2001FP
      • Internet:
      • Be*Unlimited 20Mbps

    Re: RAM: Stable 4x1GB DDR2 at 1066MHz on Rampage Formula?

    Try increasing the NB voltage to say 1.55V? And may be change Tref to 54 or 60?

    And I would recommend not running more than 2.19V on the ram as the board overvolts the ram by about 0.12V, which makes your current ram voltage to be 2.3V-ish which is definitely not good. You might also need some cooling for your ram.

    I personally find this board terrible with ANY memory, when a quad core is used. None of my 5 pairs of DDR2 (two pairs rated for DDR2-1000) will run above DDR2-880. I guess it is just the crap NB. But then you're only using a Q6600 so the strain should be less with a much lower FSB.
    Last edited by arthurleung; 06-01-2010 at 07:52 PM. Reason: Fixed typo 2.1V -> 2.19V
    Workstation 1: Intel i7 950 @ 3.8Ghz / X58 / 12GB DDR3-1600 / HD4870 512MB / Antec P180
    Workstation 2: Intel C2Q Q9550 @ 3.6Ghz / X38 / 4GB DDR2-800 / 8400GS 512MB / Open Air
    Workstation 3: Intel Xeon X3350 @ 3.2Ghz / P35 / 4GB DDR2-800 / HD4770 512MB / Shuttle SP35P2
    HTPC: AMD Athlon X4 620 @ 2.6Ghz / 780G / 4GB DDR2-1000 / Antec Mini P180 White
    Mobile Workstation: Intel C2D T8300 @ 2.4Ghz / GM965 / 3GB DDR2-667 / DELL Inspiron 1525 / 6+6+9 Cell Battery

    Display (Monitor): DELL Ultrasharp 2709W + DELL Ultrasharp 2001FP
    Display (Projector): Epson TW-3500 1080p
    Speakers: Creative Megaworks THX550 5.1
    Headphones: Etymotic hf2 / Ultimate Ears Triple.fi 10 Pro

    Storage: 8x2TB Hitachi @ DELL PERC 6/i RAID6 / 13TB Non-RAID Across 12 HDDs
    Consoles: PS3 Slim 120GB / Xbox 360 Arcade 20GB / PS2

  5. #5
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Posts
    289
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked
    20 times in 20 posts
    • LegacyOne's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte GA-P55-UD4
      • CPU:
      • Intel® Core™ i7 860
      • Memory:
      • 4GB (2x2GB) Corsair XMS3 DDR3 1600MHz CAS 9-9-9-24 XMP
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Gainward GTX 295 V2 1792MB
      • PSU:
      • Thermaltake Toughpower 650W
      • Case:
      • Cooler Master WaveMaster

    Re: RAM: Stable 4x1GB DDR2 at 1066MHz on Rampage Formula?

    Quote Originally Posted by philpem View Post
    So what do I need to do, find a RAM speed that's an integer multiple of the FSB (or very close)?
    If you run the ram at 800MHz with the 2.1V voltage and set the Sys Clk 355MHz (1420Mhz FSB) this will clock the CPU to 3.2GHz and RAM to 1066MHz.

    Does it work at stock speeds CPU and RAM?

  6. #6
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Posts
    61
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked
    2 times in 2 posts
    • philpem's system
      • Motherboard:
      • ASUS P5N72-T Premium
      • CPU:
      • Intel Q6600 @ 3GHz
      • Memory:
      • 4GB Corsair Dominator DDR2-1066
      • Storage:
      • 2x500GB RAID1 + 2x500GB externals
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 896MB EVGA GeForce GTX260
      • PSU:
      • Corsair HX620W
      • Case:
      • Antec Three Hundred
      • Operating System:
      • Windows XP Pro SP3 (32bit)
      • Monitor(s):
      • Viewsonic VX922 19" TFT
      • Internet:
      • 10Mbit ADSL2+

    Re: RAM: Stable 4x1GB DDR2 at 1066MHz on Rampage Formula?

    It's fine with the RAM speed at stock (800MHz) and the CPU either stock or overclocked to 3GHz.

    Interesting you raise the point about DRAM voltage -- the voltage monitors in the BIOS were all reading around the set points, no noticeable increase/decrease vs the setpoints (no Vdroop or.. whatever the inverse of Vdroop is).

    I'll have a play with the timings again later on tonight (starting from my "this almost worked last time" settings), though I can't see it getting much better. CPU 3.2 and RAM 1066 seems like the most likely working solution though...

    I miss my nf780i (P5N72T), as shaky and finicky as it was

    Though this board does seem (electrically) less noisy. If you plugged a set of headphones into the speaker output on the P5N72T, the shrieking and clicking was almost unbearable. Not so bad on external speakers, but a complete pain in the backside when it's 10 at night and you want to play Portal for a bit... The Rampage is almost silent (there's a short click-click-click burst if you start hammering the LAN, but that's it).

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. C2D Overclocking Guide For Beginners P5K Add-On
    By Clunk in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 638
    Last Post: 28-07-2016, 10:13 AM
  2. HOWTO: Overclock C2D Quads and C2D Duals - A Guide v1.0
    By graysky in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 37
    Last Post: 08-10-2008, 07:44 PM
  3. C2D Overclocking Guide for Beginners
    By Clunk in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 908
    Last Post: 17-06-2008, 07:00 PM
  4. Abit IP35 Pro XE - What RAM and PSU?
    By krille in forum abit.care@HEXUS
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 10-06-2008, 11:14 AM
  5. Overclocking Question
    By planetgong in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 12-12-2005, 09:29 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •