Need Help Problems overclockingCrucial Ballistix DDR 2 800

[cappster]

I have a 2 by 1gb set of The Crucial Ballistx DDR 2 800 Dual Channel Ram with default timing of 4-4-4-12 and I am having some problems. I think it may be my motherboard but I need a second opinion.

I have an MSI P965 Platinum (I think that is the problem) with e6400 and the Crucial RAM. The furthest I can push my ram is about 850mhz @ 4-4-4-12 ( I start at the stock bus speed and bump it up from there to get my ram to 850mhz from stock speed of 800mhz). I try switching to the most lax settings I can with this board to try and push it further which is 5-5-5-15 and it won't even boot.

I have my voltage set @ 2.2 and my NB voltage set at 1.51 ( I have tried adjusting the NB voltage using all voltage settings but I couldn't get it to work). For me to have my processor to clock @ 2.8, I have to set my default ram value at 533mhz which effcetively gives me a overall ram speed of 712mhz.

I try setting it at 667mhz and the speed goes to 895mhz but won't boot. I read elsewhere that 900mhz and above should be no problem for this RAM. I also have read other people having some issues with overclocking ram with this board.

Any ideas of what the problem may be? You think it's the motherboard? Do you believe it's the RAM? I need any and all advice!

thanks

Cappster

 

[Mondoman]

.... I read elsewhere that 900mhz and above should be no problem for this RAM. ...

Unless those posts/reviews used RAM modules purchased at roughly the same time as your RAM purchase, there are almost certainly minor to major differences between your modules and the others. Minor changes (e.g. SPD changes) are common and frequent, over time different quality binnings of the RAM chips are not unusual, and the manufacturer may even switch to entirely different chips while keeping the same product numbers (see recent posts about Corsair PC2-6400 modules no longer using Micron chips).
The memory market changes rapidly, and a specific product can go from being the top-of-the-line (and thus probably more OCable) to a midrange product (now using different quality/manufacturer chips) within a few months.
OTOH, it could be your MB or other parts of your system (e.g. PS). You can only really tell by trying your RAM on a different MB and/or different RAM on your MB.

 

[cappster]

thanks for the reply... I know corsair has "sold out" but I checked the part number on the post/review to make sure that the ram I am using was of the same type. I think its the motherboard that is giving me problems. Luckily, I got a $40 rebate on the Crucial ram I bought. I think with a different MB, i will be able to see much higher speeds. I just wish my "Christmas Present" would give me better yields. I still think it has a lot more in it though.

Do you think that bumping the voltage over 2.2 would help stabilize the RAm for higher clock speeds? What is the "safe" limit on voltage for the RAM I have?

 

[Mondoman]

...I know corsair has "sold out"

I wouldn't call it selling out; it's just a normal and reasonable practice in the industry.

... but I checked the part number on the post/review to make sure that the ram I am using was of the same type.

As I was trying to explain, even the same part number doesn't usually mean that minor or major changes haven't been made to the DIMM.

I think its the motherboard that is giving me problems.

Could be...