SCARED NOOB - - Ram Frying?

[squatpuke]

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ok, so I've spent the past 3 hours of my (well deserved) weekend reading disturbing and confusing threads about the 680i frying RAM. or poorly built RAM whose silicon can't handle sustained 2.Xv for extended periods, blah...blah...blah...still not sure if the problem is RAM or mobos....hehe.

I don't OC (don't even know how), but thought it might be interesting to try OC'ing out some day. That said, I was intending to buy a top-o-the-line 680i board in-case I ever wanted too. (was leaning towards the EVGA 680i - NF68-A1)

I'm a simply gamer and REALLY desire a stable system...but I have to admit this RAM frying thing has really made my anal pucker and left me questioning any current mobo purchases. (Do I still get a 680i...650i...or go Intel?)

I have yet to purchase a mobo for my current build...alas, I did find and purchase some (good, high quality??) RAM on the cheap. I HAVE ALREADY purchased 4GB...here it is:

Crucial Ballistix
BL2KIT12864AA804
800MHz DDR2-800/PC2-6400
4-4-4-12 2.2V

(also have purchased the Antec900 case and Corsair HX620 psu)

So please...will any of you tech-studs please take me under your wing and answer a few Q's for me? (I was considering getting a E6600 and OC'ing at least to E6700 levels at some point in my new build's lifetime, obviously I need to learn how to first.)

1) Since I don't know OC'ing, I don't know what to expect when I put in my RAM and start up my box. Will the RAM/mobo default settings to 2.2v or is this label just a spec stating what the max warrantied conditions for the RAM actually are?

2) Is the RAM frying issue ONLY a problem if you overclock? (since, if I'm not mistaken, you OC both chip and RAM concurrently??) appears most users in those threads are bad-ass overclockers pushing things to the limit...that won't be me.

3) To be safe, should I consider a different mobo chipset?

4) Is the RAM I purchased in danger since it is 2.2v (again, I think that might just be a "rating")?? How can I prevent it from being damaged and run stable? Should I "underclock"..or try to underclock?

 

[badge]

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ok, so I've spent the past 3 hours of my (well deserved) weekend reading disturbing and confusing threads about the 680i frying RAM. or poorly built RAM whose silicon can't handle sustained 2.Xv for extended periods, blah...blah...blah...still not sure if the problem is RAM or mobos....hehe.

I don't OC (don't even know how), but thought it might be interesting to try OC'ing out some day. That said, I was intending to buy a top-o-the-line 680i board in-case I ever wanted too. (was leaning towards the EVGA 680i - NF68-A1)

I'm a simply gamer and REALLY desire a stable system...but I have to admit this RAM frying thing has really made my anal pucker and left me questioning any current mobo purchases. (Do I still get a 680i...650i...or go Intel?)

I have yet to purchase a mobo for my current build...alas, I did find and purchase some (good, high quality??) RAM on the cheap. I HAVE ALREADY purchased 4GB...here it is:

Crucial Ballistix
BL2KIT12864AA804
800MHz DDR2-800/PC2-6400
4-4-4-12 2.2V

(also have purchased the Antec900 case and Corsair HX620 psu)

So please...will any of you tech-studs please take me under your wing and answer a few Q's for me? (I was considering getting a E6600 and OC'ing at least to E6700 levels at some point in my new build's lifetime, obviously I need to learn how to first.)

1) Since I don't know OC'ing, I don't know what to expect when I put in my RAM and start up my box. Will the RAM/mobo default settings to 2.2v or is this label just a spec stating what the max warrantied conditions for the RAM actually are?

2) Is the RAM frying issue ONLY a problem if you overclock? (since, if I'm not mistaken, you OC both chip and RAM concurrently??) appears most users in those threads are bad-ass overclockers pushing things to the limit...that won't be me.

3) To be safe, should I consider a different mobo chipset?

4) Is the RAM I purchased in danger since it is 2.2v (again, I think that might just be a "rating")?? How can I prevent it from being damaged and run stable? Should I "underclock"..or try to underclock?

@'puke

So please...will any of you tech-studs please take me under your wing and answer a few Q's for me?

I suggest you log onto the Lounge over at Anandtech.com and see if anyone hits you up.

1) Since I don't know OC'ing, I don't know what to expect when I put in my RAM and start up my box. Will the RAM/mobo default settings to 2.2v or is this label just a spec stating what the max warrantied conditions for the RAM actually are?

Use one DIMM in slot one and boot into BIOS. Set your Memory voltage to Mfg. specs save and exit. Install the other three DIMMS and boot into BIOS and set the timings that the Mfg. specs states (4-4-4-12 at 2.2 volts.

2) Is the RAM frying issue ONLY a problem if you overclock? (since, if I'm not mistaken, you OC both chip and RAM concurrently??) appears most users in those threads are bad-ass overclockers pushing things to the limit...that won't be me.

Not familiar with the specific problem with the EVGA 680i chipset. Overvolting any RAM can cause it to fail. Just try and get your e6600/680i system running properly with what you have. Overclocking the processor and RAM involve deeper knowledege of what you have running in front of you. A lot of those 'bad-Ass' overclockers have burned many a processor, MB and RAM in their overclocking world. The group in the Anandtech lounge is known for that special ability.

3) To be safe, should I consider a different mobo chipset?

BIOS updates have solved the Frying The RAM problem I have seen around the forums. You would have to update the BIOS on your EVGA 680i and you should be OK.

4) Is the RAM I purchased in danger since it is 2.2v (again, I think that might just be a "rating")?? How can I prevent it from being damaged and run stable? Should I "underclock"..or try to underclock?

The RAM is rated to run at 4-4-4-12 at 2.2 volts. You would have to set the RAM to these specs in BIOS. No shouldn't Fry or anything like that.