Now that I'm done, anything I should keep an eye on?

[shortstuff_mt]

Nope, triple channel doesn't mean you multiply the speed by 3.

 

[dragnalus]

Yes, the DRAM Frequency is where you set the RAM speed (1600MHz). DRAM Timing Control is where you set the RAM timings (8-8-8-21). DRAM Core Voltage is where you set the RAM voltage (1.65v). The motherboard owners manual should step you through it.

Ok Last night I began making the changes in the bios, but then as I did so, new questions arose and rather than tackling them then and there I decided to go get margaritas. So I haven't done anything yet. My motherboard manual is kinda cryptic. But I have a few more uncertainties you might be able to address (you guys --shortstuff, foolycooly-- have been a huge help --thanks).

First, I found where to change the RAM speed and RAM voltage. Seems clear.

1) In the Timing control, my bios has many more options than I expected to see. I think I only need to change one thing, the tRAS from Auto (where it comes up in CPU-Z as 8-8-8-20, to 21. I think my mobo manual lists the tRAS as "DRAM RAS# ACT Time"... same thing right?

Main questions:
2) Do I leave all other timings as-is? There are 6 more timings (all on Auto) after the basic first four. (8-8-8-21-#-#-#-#-#-#). These 10 digits are referred to in my mobo guide as "1st Information". There are also timing sections in the bios labeled "2nd Information" and "3rd Information". Leave those all on Auto?

3) Do I leave the first 3 memory timings on "Auto" since they're coming up okay in CPU-Z? Or do I need to take them off Auto, and explicitly change them to 8?

Thanks again. I can list the additional timings and labels for each if it would be helpful. I'm sorry if this seems like extreme hand holding.

 

[foolycooly]

I would explicitly change all of the timings. And yes, you just want to mess w/ the first four timings. Manually set them to 8-8-8-21 and you're good to go.

 

[dragnalus]

Hmm... I tried setting the timings and had a "bad overclock". I switched the RAM speed to 1600MHz and the voltage to 1.65v. (Something in my bios mentions that the RAM speed on "locked" CPUs may have limited options??)

Anyway, I couldn't get into windows after making the changes, so I changed things back. In addition to the voltage and speed, I changed the below timings from [Auto] to:

DRAM CAS# Latency -- 8
DRAM RAS# to CAS# Delay -- 8
DRAM RAS# PRE Time -- 8
DRAM RAS# ACT Time -- 21

That's 8-8-8-21 correct?

The following timings I left alone, on Auto:

DRAM RAS# to RAS# Delay
DRAM REF Cycle Time
DRAM WRITE REcovery Time
DRAM READ to PRE Time
DRAM FOUR ACT WIN Time
DRAM Back-To-Back CAS# Delay

What went wrong? Is it a "locked CPU" preventing those settings?

Thanks!

 

[kubes]

Nope, triple channel doesn't mean you multiply the speed by 3.

Opps, Well I clearly need to go do some homework. Sorry OP for bad data.

 

[dragnalus]

Any idea what I did wrong? Is the i7 "Locked"?

 

[kubes]

The multiplier on the i7 is locked at x20 (x21 for turbo mode on one core). The extreme i7 is the only one that doesn't have a locked multiplier.

For your case I think you just need to reset your cmos.

 

[dragnalus]

The multiplier on the i7 is locked at x20 (x21 for turbo mode on one core). The extreme i7 is the only one that doesn't have a locked multiplier.

For your case I think you just need to reset your cmos.

I got things working again quickly but going back into the bios and changing things back. But does this mean I can't set my RAM to spec?

 

[sassan]

don't change the voltage, leave it at auto.

 

[dragnalus]

So leave the voltage alone, and set RAM speed to 1600MHz, and
DRAM CAS# Latency -- 8
DRAM RAS# to CAS# Delay -- 8
DRAM RAS# PRE Time -- 8
DRAM RAS# ACT Time -- 21

correct?

 

[sassan]

that's correct there is also one more thing to change based on the 1600MHZ it's on bottom of it. you should set it to 3200mhz it's for the cpu I belive.

Once you done that it should run at advertised speeds of 1600mhz at those timings.

Also your temperatures should increase ,since the ram controllers are built into the cpu. Nothing to worry about since you have a good cooler.

 

[dragnalus]

Well, I think I'm all done tweaking. I finally got the memory timings right by simply using the XMP option in the bios.

This forum was where I got 99% my info about what to purchase, so I wanted to post some final pics:


Interior

bios settings:

CPU: i7 920
mobo: ASUS P6T
RAM: G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) DDR3 1600
VGA: EVGA GeForce GTX 285
Case: COOLER MASTER HAF 932
Cooling: XIGMATEK Dark Knight-S1283V 1x 120mm
PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W
HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA
OS- Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit

 

[sassan]

It's beautiful. congratz