Memory frequency

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by Mav3rik, Jul 10, 2006.

  1. Mav3rik

    Mav3rik Private E-2

    Hello,

    Maybe somebody here can help me with this.
    I've got four PC-3200 200Mhz DDR dimms installed but they seem to be working as PC-2700 160 Mhz. and I can't figure out why. :mad:

    You can check out my CPU-z report. It shows all four DDR memory slots are pc-3200 200Mhz dimms, but the current memory frequency is 160.6 Mhz. And during pre-boot system check it displays memory as "PC-2700 Interleaved Dual Channel".

    My motherboard supports pc-3200. Or that's what I thought. :confused:

    Here are the specs on the ASUS P5GDC-Deluxe I'm using.

    Any help will be much appreciated. ;)

    /Mav
     
  2. Plaphon

    Plaphon Specialist

    have you checked your BIOS settings? when you install RAM bios automatically set up the minimum of required settings to your software. There is an option to change in Advanced Settings in bios.
     
  3. Wyatt_Earp

    Wyatt_Earp MajorGeek

    Yeah, the setting you'll want to change is the FSB : DRAM ratio. It should be 1:1 instead of 5:4.
     
  4. Bold Eagle

    Bold Eagle MajorGeek

    Have to agree it will be one of these settings. Within the advanced chipset options in BIOS there may also be settings under "DRAM Clock/Timing Control" which can be set to [166MHz] [200MHz] or [SPD] set this to either 200 or SPD (which will take it to 200 the rated freq of the modules). I think wyapp has it though your FSB DRAM ratio is at 5:4.
     
  5. Mav3rik

    Mav3rik Private E-2

    I don't have the "FSB : DRAM ratio" setting.
    What I have is SRAM timing configured by SPD. I can set that to manual and set the ram frequency to 200 Mhz, but it still works as pc-2700 after booting.

    I think the problem is that the 4 DIMMS are not all of the same brand, and not entirely compatible.-
    Although all are pc-3200. They are 2 Kingston and 2 generic. 2 kingstons in one channel and generics in the other.
    Checking CPU-z information more in detail I've noticed a difference in CAS# Latency setting between the Kingston DIMMs and the generic ones, for the same frequency.

    I'll remove 2 of them and see.
     
  6. Bold Eagle

    Bold Eagle MajorGeek

    Well can you change the "timings" from SPD to manual and then modify the 2 generic modules to the same timing and see if that works. I'll assume the 2 kingston modules are same model and revision.
     
  7. Mav3rik

    Mav3rik Private E-2

    Nope, I can't modify DRAM timings for each module.
    But definitely it seems the problem is just a non-compatibility issue between the two pairs of dimms.

    Generic ones show this timings table for 200 Mhz in cpu-z program:
    CAS# Latency: 2.5
    RAS# to CAS#: 3
    RAS# Precharge: 3
    TRAS: 8

    Kingstons show:
    CAS# Latency: 3.0
    RAS# to CAS#: 3
    RAS# Precharge: 3
    TRAS: 8

    And current running memory timings as a whole show:
    Frequency: 160.6 Mhz
    FSB : DRAM 5.4
    CAS# Latency: 2.5 clocks
    RAS# to CAS# delay: 4 clocks
    RAS# Precharge: 4 clocks
    Cycle time (Tras): 8 clocks

    I CAN force CAS# Latency to 3 in bios setup but then system does not start, because apparently the generics dimms can't handle it and they are forcing the kingstons to "downgrade", to work together.
    The generics or the kingstons both work as pc-3200 at 200 Mhz FSB when alone, and the FSB:DRAM ratio becomes 1:1.
    So I'd say the only solution would be to get new dimms...?
    Because I don't think there's any way to make these 4 work together well, is there? ;)

    /Regards
     
  8. Rikky

    Rikky Wile E. Coyote - One of a kind

    Are all these memory modules double sided:confused: If so you wont be able to run all four at ddr400,this may not be a specific memory incompatibility problem but a general memory support problem many boards can only run 2 sticks of double sided memory,check the dimms if they both have 8 banks on each dimm its double sided

    Yeh just checked, your board only supports 2 double sided memory modules running at 400mhz
     
  9. Bold Eagle

    Bold Eagle MajorGeek

    Interesting point Rikky so are you saying that although the mobo states 4*184 pin DDR400 it can only run 2 simultaneously within dual channel mode?!??!? I'm looking at buying a new mobo so any refrences on this point can you please point out?
     
  10. Mav3rik

    Mav3rik Private E-2

    All four dimms are "single sided", and I sincerely don't think that has anything to do with this. (?)

    Where did you get this info from?

    Later
    /Mav
     
  11. Wyatt_Earp

    Wyatt_Earp MajorGeek

    I have seen motherboards (which support DDR400) that will only run 333Mhz if you fill up all 4 memory slots.

    Try taking out one of the Kingston and one of the Generic modules and see if they run in DDR 400 dual-channel.
     
  12. Bold Eagle

    Bold Eagle MajorGeek

    I will assume you have tried to take cas to 4 and other variations so I would start looking for more Kingston (get the model and REVISION!!! numberso of your current chips) then check the net and you may find the matching pair.
     
  13. theefool

    theefool Geekified

    This is actually an error (though AMD won't admit this) with non AMD Venice (AMD upgraded the core to allow all 4 slots running at 400mhz) core CPUs. Venice fixed the issue with all FOUR memory slots filled up.
     
  14. Mav3rik

    Mav3rik Private E-2

    Can't set CAS# Latency to 4 because it has only 3 options, 2, 2.5 and 3. ;)
    Yep, I have the model and revision, will try to get 2 more kingstons.

    Regards.
     

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