GA-P35-DS4 and Corsair Dominator DDR2 1066 Question

[xarxas]

Hi Guys,

I just need someone to check my work here. I just built a system with the Gigabyte GA-P35-DS4 rev 2.0 board, and I bought some Corsair Dominator 2x1GB DDR2 1066Mhz RAM; the part number is TWIN2X2048-8500C5D.

I read the threads here and did some research. I did the CTRL-F1 thing at the Bios and set my RAM timings to 5-5-5-15 and I raised the DDR2 Overvoltage control setting to +0.3V, as Corsair datasheet said 2.1V (and I believe the mobo's default is 1.8V).

Here is what CPUZ says...is the Frequency right? Should it be 1066 or is it because they are operating as a pair it is cut in half?

http://picasaweb.google.com/bgneal/PCUpgradeNov2007/photo#5136872427186837378

But it bothers me on this CPUZ SPD tab that it says the max bandwidth is PC2-6400 instead of PC2-8500:

http://picasaweb.google.com/bgneal/PCUpgradeNov2007/photo#5136872435776771986

I have yet to do a memtest or any gaming with these settings.

Thoughts? Thank you!

 

[itotallybelieveyou]

Links don't work. Does CPUZ should your ram at 533? It's DDR it's normal.

 

[xarxas]

Sorry, the links should work now.

 

[The_OGS]

Hi xarxas,
That memory is indeed running @ 533MHz (1066DDR).
PC2-8500 is a 'Corsair Spec' if you will, because officially PC2-6400 is the standard (Intel-supported) spec.
You can see from SPD though, that it will run @ 1066DDR with 2.2v (+0.4) and the 5-5-5-15 timings.
Apparently you are running 333MHz (FSB 1333) CPU because you can see your 5:8 FSB:memory ratio.
Memory bandwidth beyond that of the CPU is not overly useful, and your rig would run fine with 667DDR memory.
You could run your memory at this synchronous (1:1) speed, with ~4-4-4-12 timings and less voltage.
But it does seem to be running fine @ 5:8, everything normal.
Regards

 

[jedimasterben]

Yes, that's correct. CPU-Z reports your RAM is 533MHz, which is 1066 (effective).

So don't worry about it.

Edit: the_ogs beat me to it!

 

[xarxas]

Hi guys. Yes I have a E6850 CPU. Thanks for looking it over and educating me on the RAM.

Before I tweaked everything the bios had me running at 5-7-7-24. Should I go back to that, stay with this setting, or try the 4-4-4-12 you suggested? Will it make a difference I guess, for casual (non-overclock) use?

Thanks again!

 

[The_OGS]

Intel CPU does not benefit from really 'tight' (low) timings as much as AMD CPU will.
5-7-7-24 @ 1.8v is in your SPD for guaranteed-boot (ie. fail-safe) performance. Look in your SPD using CPU-Z and see what lower timings are listed at what speed and voltage. Ah yes - you posted it already!
That memory, I believe, is all about speed and does not offer extraordinary timings at any lower speed...
My Corsair PC2-5400 actually offers tighter timings!
Anyway: I would go maybe 5-5-5-15 @ 2.2v, or supposedly you could get those same timings at a reduced speed with only 1.8v,
L8R

 

[ljw]

I have the GA-P35-DS4 version 2.0 with BIOS revision F8 (the latest available from Gigabyte's website).

Here are the other system specs:

RAM: Corsair TWIN2X2048-8500C5 G times two (4 1Gig DDR2 DIMMS)
CPU: Intel Core2 Duo E6850 3Ghz
Power Supply: ULTRA DUAL RAIL TECHNOLOGY SERIES 600Watt
Video Card: MSI Nx8800 ultra T20768E

This mainboard has 4 ram slots. Placing 1 set (2 DIMMs in bank 0 - slot 1 and 3 respectively, the machine will POST with bios auto-settings) Doing the same with the 2nd set except placing in bank 1 (slot 2 and 4) will allow for POST with bios auto-settings. Placing all 4 DIMMs in at the same time, the machine won't POST, but will power on for approximately 3 seconds then "reset" until I use power softswitch to turn off or use power supply analog switch to cut power. I've also tried all information in the www.asktheramguy.com forums (Corsair's website) that relates to this mainboard and this RAM (manually setting RAM timings 4-4-4-12 and setting ram bus speed to 800 versus 1066)

The Corsair RAM indicates on it, that it should be set to 5-5-5-15.

Any suggestions, setting changes, etc. would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[The_OGS]

Hi ljw,
Start your rig with only 2 memchips and go into BIOS, check memory voltage - is it standard (1.8v)?
You may need ~2.0v to run that type of memory, and ~2.1 or 2.2v to run all four of your sticks.
Anyway check it out, if it's that it's simple
Also set RAM to 667DDR at first, for now, and timings to Auto/default/SPD, everything stock until we get all 4 sticks running (in other words we're happy with 5-5-5-15 for now).
I believe @ 2.2v @ 667DDR @ 5-5-5-15 all four sticks will work.
It might even offer you 4-4-4-12 at that speed, heheh...
Once you get all 4 running, we could increase your memory speed to 800DDR or more (though you don't really need it).
Regards

 

[daleyboy]

I have the GA-P35-DS4 version 2.0 with BIOS revision F8 (the latest available from Gigabyte's website).

Here are the other system specs:

RAM: Corsair TWIN2X2048-8500C5 G times two (4 1Gig DDR2 DIMMS)
CPU: Intel Core2 Duo E6850 3Ghz
Power Supply: ULTRA DUAL RAIL TECHNOLOGY SERIES 600Watt
Video Card: MSI Nx8800 ultra T20768E

This mainboard has 4 ram slots. Placing 1 set (2 DIMMs in bank 0 - slot 1 and 3 respectively, the machine will POST with bios auto-settings) Doing the same with the 2nd set except placing in bank 1 (slot 2 and 4) will allow for POST with bios auto-settings. Placing all 4 DIMMs in at the same time, the machine won't POST, but will power on for approximately 3 seconds then "reset" until I use power softswitch to turn off or use power supply analog switch to cut power. I've also tried all information in the www.asktheramguy.com forums (Corsair's website) that relates to this mainboard and this RAM (manually setting RAM timings 4-4-4-12 and setting ram bus speed to 800 versus 1066)

The Corsair RAM indicates on it, that it should be set to 5-5-5-15.

Any suggestions, setting changes, etc. would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Gday mate ive got a similiar setup and issue .. basically my machine wont boot up with 4x1GB since i installed daemon tools. I've read that there is an issue with Vista 64 with 4GB and a lot of programs .. apparently the 1st service Pack for Vista (out now in beta) fixes these issues ... so basically ive just pulled out my two sticks and left it with 2GB until the official SP1 comes out.

PS - I've tried running the 4GB at default speeds but still wouldnt boot

 

[The_OGS]

Hi Daleyboy,

...ive got a similiar setup and issue .. basically my machine wont boot up with 4x1GB since i installed daemon tools. I've read that there is an issue with Vista 64 with 4GB and a lot of programs .. apparently the 1st service Pack for Vista (out now in beta) fixes these issues ... so basically ive just pulled out my two sticks and left it with 2GB until the official SP1 comes out.

This is good info, interesting stuff.
But our friend ljw has a different problem - his rig wasn't POSTing with the 4GB.
There's no Service Pack to help him with that; his answers are in his BIOS.
Maybe yours too,
L8R

 

[arspecious]

I have the GA-P35-DS4 version 2.0 with BIOS revision F8 (the latest available from Gigabyte's website).

Here are the other system specs:

RAM: Corsair TWIN2X2048-8500C5 G times two (4 1Gig DDR2 DIMMS)
CPU: Intel Core2 Duo E6850 3Ghz

...the machine won't POST, but will power on for approximately 3 seconds then "reset" until I use power softswitch to turn off or use power supply analog switch to cut power...

Hello. I have almost exactly the same mobo/CPU/memory configuration as ljw above (I have BIOS F7), and I am experiencing exactly the same failure to POST as he describes, except that it occurs with my system on adding the second of my two memory modules (going from single channel 1Gb to dual channel 2Gb). The board runs fine with the 1Gb config, but I really want to run both modules in dual channel. I am not well experienced with troubleshooting this. Would anyone offer some pointers to get it re-configured? Thanks!!

 

[The_OGS]

Hi arspecious,
The single most important thing to check first is the memory voltage. Typically you will run four sticks of that high-performance memory at two-point-something volts, in excess of the standard 1.8v.
You must install only 1 piece of memory in the slot farthest from the CPU, then enter BIOS and set memory voltage to ~2.2v.
Later, if everything runs okay, you might sneak that back to ~2.1v or whatever. But for now, smack it into life with adequate voltage for sure! You want to remove voltage as an issue right away, step #1.
L8R

 

[arspecious]

To the_ogs,

THANK YOU!! Sorry for the late reply (been out of town). But your instructions worked! I put a single module in, which allowed me to get as far as the BIOS setup, where I increased the DDR2 voltage by 0.4v, which should be 2.2v total. Put the other memory module in (now in banks 1 & 3). Went back to the BIOS where I now had options to set the actual timings. It had chosen 5-5-5-18, so I just changed the last number to 15, which matches what is written all over the memory modules. Still good. Boots up and no hangs since. Interestingly, this Gigabyte BIOS seems to have a mind of its own, and the next check of the BIOS setup showed all settings back at AUTO except the voltage boost, and the memory frequency at 800 in both moules. This was a bit disappointing, since it is rated at 1066, but I don't care... the thing runs. Is there a good memory diagnostic to run from the OS (Vista32)?
Any other advice would be just great!!

Thanks again for all your help.