Is my RAM slowing my Core 2 Duo

[falfa]

Hey,

I'm having trouble with my Conroe E6400. Is not running at the 2.3ghz, instead it is only hitting 1.6ghz. I've checked all the connections and HSF, the power is set to Home/always on and speedstep is disabled.

I'm now considering the RAM, perhaps it is slowing things down as I took a cheap temporary option till after Xmas.

I have two PNY sims with the following specs:

- Component Shop
- 1GB DDR2 Desktop Memory
- 667 mhz Memory Speed
- 240pin Module Configuration
- PC2-5300
- Non ECC

Could this be the source of my problem?

Thanks!

 

[spongebob]

Make sure your Mobo BIOS is up to date. My AB9 pro shipped with an immature BIOS which couldn't properly detect my RAM specs. Once I flashed the BIOS all was well.

 

[chrone]

are you sure you didn't activate the Enhance Intel Speedstep Technology (EIST) in your BIOS, and set the windows power management to Minimal Power Management or Portable/Laptop mode?

the 1.6ghz or so is the minimal clock speed you will get with all current core 2 duo conroe processor (e6300-6800) when the EIST enabled.

 

[Ryan220]

I had this trouble with my E6600 and discovered that one of my heatsink clips was loose.

My CPU temps were sky high.

Re-seating the HSF properly sorted it out

 

[roncpem]

sounds like the "speed step" is on. check your manual & bios

 

[falfa]

Thanks to all for getting back

I'm 90% certain that Speed step is off. I've checked it a number of time and it is disabled, there are three options and I have disabled all three. The HSF is secure and running at 23C, I've had it off an on few times.

According to CPU-Z the multiplier is x8, bus speed is 199.9 Mhz and rated FSB is 799.6

Gonna quadrupal check my speedstep in the bios now.

 

[Guest]

Use Throtle watch
If you`re computer is throttling, there is a heat issue.

Otherwise as stated it`s simply speedstep.
Running two instance of prime95 or Otrhos should put a 100% load and the CPU should kick back at 2.13!

 

[little_scrapper]

According to CPU-Z the multiplier is x8, bus speed is 199.9 Mhz and rated FSB is 799.6

I thought the FSB was supposed to be 266? 266x8 = 2.1GHz. and ram is at 533. Then when you overclock the FSB to 333 x 8 = 2.6Ghz and ram is then running at 667. and if you can get it up to fsb 400 x 8 = 3.2 Ghz. and ram is then at 800. That is of caurse assuming your ratio is set to 1:1. Is this not correct?

 

[Mondoman]

... The HSF is secure and running at 23C, I've had it off an on few times.....

And you cleaned off the old thermal paste and used fresh stuff each time, right?
Also, the OEM Intel "plastic pin" hsf retention mechanism is notoriously easy to not-quite-properly install. If you tried to install it with the MB already mounted in the case, there's a very good chance that one or more of the pins are not quite all the way through their MB holes, and so the hsf is not properly cooling the CPU.

 

[Guest]

That's hwy it`s speedstep or throttling...
The reported FSB is the quad pumped, or the DDR, dual channel number.

That would equal with 1066/1333/1600 in you example.

 

[falfa]

Hi,

Thanks to all for your help. I'm going to try the throttle watch program. Managed to get some time to test the HSF, I removed the artic cooling pro and installed the the stock HSF. Applied new paste and it is still running at 1600. I'm I'm certain it isn't the HSF. Got the Artic cooling back in and still going.

I've used the Easytune Gigabyte includes on their driver CD. It is reporting that the fan is only whirling at 800 - 1100 rpm. I can't get it any higher with the Smart fan function.

Could it be the board, maybe the 4 pin connector is dodgey?

 

[falfa]

Okay, I've run PC Wizard to get somemore info on my problem. Anyone have any ideas why it is still throttling back.

Processor temp is 28C



General Information :
Real Frequency : 1200.13 MHz
Multiplier : 6x
Low/High Multiplier : 6x / 8x
Multiplier Locked : Yes
Marketing Frequency : 2128 MHz

Front Side Bus Information :
Bus Speed : 200 MHz
FSB Frequency : 800.1 MHz (QDR)

Initial Frequencies :
Frequency : 2133 MHz
FSB Frequency : 266 MHz
Multiplier : 8x

Control Clock Frequency :
Type : Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)
EIST Enabled : No
C1E - Enhanced Halt Mode : No

Thermal Information :
Thermal Design Power : 65 W
Core Power : 36.57 W (estimated)
Resistance : 0.16 °C/W (estimated)
Thermal control TM1 : Yes
Thermal control TM2 : Yes
Thermal Control Circuit : No
Digital Thermal Sensor : Yes
TM2 Enabled : No
ODCM Enabled : No
Thermal Status : Normal

Processor Performance Information :
Throttle Mode AC : None
Throttle Mode DC : Adaptive
Current Configuration : None
Throttle : 1600 MHz

 

[little_scrapper]

Initial Frequencies :
Frequency : 2133 MHz
FSB Frequency : 266 MHz
Multiplier : 8x

That is what an E6400 is supposed to run at. Not 2.3Ghz. So if your CPU is running at that speed then it is corrrect

 

[yas]

Why dont you just try increasing the FSB by yourself and see what happens??

 

[chrone]

pardon me, what motherboard are you using right now?

it seems to me that your motherboard doesn't support fsb 1066mhz so it always runs at 800mhz.

 

[falfa]

I bought a combo deal with the processor. I got the Gigabyte 945PL-S3, it was also recommended to me by a techie friend fo mine.

But running a disgonistic on it I find this:

Architecture : Direct Media Interface (DMI)
Manufacturer : Intel (Giga-Byte Technology)
Codename : Lakeport
Revision : A2
Bus Speed : 200 MHz
FSB Frequency : 800.1 MHz (QDR)
FSB max. Support : 800 MHz
RAM max. Support : DDR2 (667 MHz)

FSB Max Support appears to be 800 mhz. I would have to get a motherboard that supports 1066mhz? this motherboard is not totally appropiate for this chip then?

 

[yas]

wow thats wierd. Id have thought the cpu wouldnt have worked on a board that only supports 800mhz :!:

 

[MadHacker]

your front side bus(fsb) running at 200 (x4 is 800) can be overclocked...
try changing your fsb to 233 and see how well it runs... then increase it to 266. you will be verclocking your mother board but it may be able to handle it without any problems...
only issue you will have is weather your PCI bus and AGP/PCIE will be able to handle the speed increase. it may be possible to lock it in the bios to a specified frequency...

my 2¢

 

[TabrisDarkPeace]

Att 233 and 266 the PCI divider rises, so it should be exactly 33.333 MHz

This is assuming the boards chipset supports up to 266 FSB though.

 

[chrone]

voila! that's what holding you back.

the 945chipset can run 1066 with BIOS update in some cases. so try to update your BIOS to the latest one from gigabyte download/support site and see what will happen.

good luck.

 

[falfa]

I tried the Easytune method iof changing it to 233 mhz and the computer locked up when I hit GO! I'll try again today but I was a bit miffed as the function claims that if can work but it locks up.

 

[falfa]

Okay I just tried it again, i've go it up to 233 by doing it in 5 mhz installements. It didn't crash, however there is a warning that the fan is only going at 1000 rpm. I've tried speeding up the fan with the utility but if won't spin faster.

 

[chrone]

try set your ram (ddr2 533/667) to ddr2 400 and then slowly overclock the fsb up to 266 so that your ram will run at ddr2 533 speed (normal speed of the ram).

perhaps your motherboard only supports core 2 duo processor @ 800mhz and that's it. try to update the motherboard BIOS to the latest one which really supports core 2 duo processor @ 1066mhz fsb.

 

[chrone]

I bought a combo deal with the processor. I got the Gigabyte 945PL-S3, it was also recommended to me by a techie friend fo mine.

But running a disgonistic on it I find this:

Architecture : Direct Media Interface (DMI)
Manufacturer : Intel (Giga-Byte Technology)
Codename : Lakeport
Revision : A2
Bus Speed : 200 MHz
FSB Frequency : 800.1 MHz (QDR)
FSB max. Support : 800 MHz
RAM max. Support : DDR2 (667 MHz)

FSB Max Support appears to be 800 mhz. I would have to get a motherboard that supports 1066mhz? this motherboard is not totally appropiate for this chip then?

take a look at their site:
http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products...ew.aspx?ProductID=2409&ModelName=GA-945PL-DS3

*Due to 945PL express chipset specification, 945PL-DS3 (rev .2.0) can only support up to FSB800MHz.

problem solved!

 

[falfa]

Thanks very much for your efforts. I'm feeling a little better now that I know the source of the problem.

I think after Xmas I'll either get the 965 gigabyte board or one of the Asus P5W DH Deluxe WiFi boards. They get some nice reviews, I was merely cutting corners with the 945 board when I got it.

Thanks again.