Because I really want this memory...

[fructinhit]

I want to get the Patriot eXtreme Performance 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel memory. I am thinking of getting a Core 2 Duo E6600 and a P965 motherboard. My concern is that the P965 chipset keeps says that you have to have memory with timings of 5-5-5 or 6-6-6 at 1.8V, but the memory I want to use is 4-4-4-12 at 2.2V. Is there any way to set something in the bios to get this to work, or am I better off buying cheap ram with the 5-5-5 timings? Also, what is this about clocking the memory and the processor to a 1:1 ratio? I don't plan on overclocking unless it's needed to make this all work. Thank you!

 

[kitchenshark]

A good quality P965 motherboard will have no trouble running that memory at spec. If you don't want to overclock, you don't have to. It'll work fine. The first boot may set the memory timings at 5-5-5-15 1.8v. But there are indeed manual settings in the BIOS that will allow you to bring your memory back into its intended specifications.

Overclocking the C2D is relatively easy though. Look for the CPU Overclocking forum here in the Forumz and read the C2D Overclocking sticky for enlightenment.

I would recommend the Gigabyte 965P-DS3 or similar. Good board.

 

[billdcat4]

I want to get the Patriot eXtreme Performance 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel memory. I am thinking of getting a Core 2 Duo E6600 and a P965 motherboard. My concern is that the P965 chipset keeps says that you have to have memory with timings of 5-5-5 or 6-6-6 at 1.8V, but the memory I want to use is 4-4-4-12 at 2.2V. Is there any way to set something in the bios to get this to work, or am I better off buying cheap ram with the 5-5-5 timings? Also, what is this about clocking the memory and the processor to a 1:1 ratio? I don't plan on overclocking unless it's needed to make this all work. Thank you!

I dont know if it will work.....

Contact Gigabyte or ASUS or Patriot to find out if the ram will boot up fine. You may have to boot up at the beginning with 1.8v ram.

From what I hear though, the difference btwn DDR2 667 and ddr2 800 isnt that big. I would just go with the Kingston Value ram 2gb 667mhz 1.8v kit for $76 shipped HERE: http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=85023-4&ps=ho3

more deals::
http://forumz.tomshardware.com/hardware/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=1664322#1664322

 

[Mondoman]

...the memory I want to use is 4-4-4-12 at 2.2V. ... I don't plan on overclocking ...

If you don't want to overclock, don't buy that or any other memory with a spec voltage that isn't 1.8V (the DDR2 standard). Higher voltages mean it's a manufacturer-sanctioned overclock. See this post for some more info: http://forumz.tomshardware.com/hardware/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=1249881#1249881

 

[Mondoman]

...
Contact Gigabyte or ASUS or Patriot to find out if the ram will boot up fine.

An excellent suggestion.

...You may have to boot up at the beginning with 1.8v ram.

Only if the RAM is defective; if so, it can be exchanged for non-defective RAM through the vendor or manufacturer. However, that process will take some time and will probably require you to pay postage one way.

...
From what I hear though, the difference btwn DDR2 667 and ddr2 800 isnt that big. I would just go with the Kingston Value ram 2gb 667mhz 1.8v kit for $76 shipped HERE: http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=85023-4&ps=ho3

Another good suggestion. Since you're not going to OC, a pair of DIMMs running at DDR2-533 speed in dual-channel mode is all you really need.

 

[billdcat4]

yea..... but dont get ddr2 533, no reason. Just get 667. amd get Kingston, Ive had only good experiences.

 

[GSTe]

It would be very strange if it didn't work, the P965 chipset is used on some of the best overclocking motherboards available, and memory is one thing they run really well..... 3-3-3-6 timings can be acheived, or 700MHz on the frequency, so I really wouldn't worry too much. An ASUS P5 would be a good choice.

 

[billdcat4]

It would be very strange if it didn't work, the P965 chipset is used on some of the best overclocking motherboards available, and memory is one thing they run really well..... 3-3-3-6 timings can be acheived, or 700MHz on the frequency, so I really wouldn't worry too much. An ASUS P5 would be a good choice.

I would NOT be surprised. This was a VERY common issue when P965 1st came out, and might still be. I dont have a p965 so I dont know, but I did research it as I was about to buy a DS3 recently.

 

[GSTe]

It was very common on early revisions of the DS3 but the latest versions have no problems. Plus the OP was concerned with running at the advertised timings, not getting the board to boot for the first time, which I think is the issue you are referring to.

 

[billdcat4]

It was very common on early revisions of the DS3 but the latest versions have no problems. Plus the OP was concerned with running at the advertised timings, not getting the board to boot for the first time, which I think is the issue you are referring to.

oh, ok...

 

[rwpritchett]

... My concern is that the P965 chipset keeps says that you have to have memory with timings of 5-5-5 or 6-6-6 at 1.8V, but the memory I want to use is 4-4-4-12 at 2.2V.

All P965 motherboards have that same disclaimer, don't pay attention to it. When you get RAM with 4-4-4-12 timings, the SPD on the RAM tell the motherboard to boot up to slower timings like 5-5-5-15. You must go into the BIOS and manually set the timings to the manufacturer specs.

BTW, I'm running Patriot 4-4-4-12 RAM on my P965 chipset with no problems. I have nothing but good things to say about Patriot memory.

 

[fructinhit]

Now I feel better with everyone's help and knowing someone else is using that memory with the P965 chipset. I wasn't sure if I should just go for slightly cheaper ram at 5-5-5 rather than trying the Patriot. My only other question is the 1:1 ratio with the processor and memory. Does this refer to the FSB of the cpu (1066mhz for Core 2 Duo E6600) and the 800 part of DDR2 memory (PC6400)? And if so, does that mean I have to overclock the ram so that there isn't a bottleneck with the system? Thank you!

 

[rwpritchett]

The 1:1 ratio for CPU and RAM goes like this: On P965 boards, there is a base FSB and on C2D’s that base FSB is 266MHz. For the processor, the base FSB gets quad-pumped to an effective 1066MHz. For the RAM, the base FSB gets doubled (it’s DDR after all) to an effective 533MHz. Is that clear enough?

OK, most motherboards allow you to adjust the 1:1 ratio so you can run the RAM faster without increasing the base FSB. For example, a 5:4 ratio at the same base 266Mhz FSB will run the RAM at 667MHz and a 3:2 ratio will run it at 800MHz while keeping the processor at the same speed [(266*5)/4 and (266*3)/2, respectively and doubled for DDR].

Now, if you play around with the base FSB, it affects both the processor speed as well as the RAM. So, if you increase the base FSB to 333MHz, the processor is quad-pumped at an effective 1333MHz and the RAM, at 1:1, runs at the doubled 667MHz. At 400MHz base FSB, CPU is at an effective 1600MHz and RAM is at 800MHz at the 1:1 ratio.

So, by playing around with the base FSB and/or RAM ratio (and even the CPU multiplier), you can have a variety of combinations. Most people who overclock keep RAM at 1:1 because it gives more headroom to increase the base FSB without the RAM crapping out. Imagine running a base 400MHz FSB but you forget and leave the RAM ratio at 3:2… that’s a disaster waiting to happen because the RAM would be at (400*3)/2 and doubled for 1200MHz! Your poor little DDR2-800 sticks would probably not take that.

I hope that clears it up for you. In short, you can either run your E6600 at stock and still run your RAM at DDR2-800 speed using a ratio, or you can lower the multiplier of the RAM to 1:1 and overclock the E6600, which in turn raises the RAM speed back up.

 

[Mondoman]

... Most people who overclock keep RAM at 1:1 because it gives more headroom to increase the base FSB without the RAM crapping out. ...

Actually, I think most people use the 1:1 ratio for Core2Duos because that matches the maximum FSB throughput (FSBclock x 4) with the maximum memory bus throughput (memclock x 2 {for DDR/DDR2} x 2 {for dual channel mode}) .

 

[fructinhit]

So if I get a P965 board, an E6600, and DDR2 800 memory at 4-4-4-12, besides having to lower the timings (if the board sets it to 5-5-5 automatically), if I kept the rest the same without trying to get the 1:1 ratio, should my system still perform well, or am I losing out a lot by not getting it to 1:1?

 

[Mondoman]

You'll be fine. This post on timings may prove useful: http://forumz.tomshardware.com/hardware/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=1249881#1249881