Some advice please....G.Skill and Asrock mobo..

[jlmc1978]

I recently built my system, and I have a couple of questions about it...I'm not up-to-date or very well-versed in messing around in BIOS's and setting up memory timings, but I have this motherboard:

Asrock M3A770DE

AMD Phenom x6 1055T 125W processor

G.Skill 2 GB DDR3-1333 DDR3 SDRAM (9-9-9-24 @ 666 MHz) (8-8-8-22 @ 592 MHz) (7-7-7-19 @ 518 MHz) (6-6-6-16 @ 444 MHz)

My question, according to the snips below from CPU-Z, does it look as if the memory needs to be tweaked in the BIOS or is it running like it should?

 

[tecmo34]

No, your RAM is not running at posted speeds. You are running at 9-12-12-30 versus 9-9-9-24, as spec'd by your RAM. At those timings, I would say you are okay with not adjusting, specially if you aren't familiar with BIOS. You won't see much difference, if any, between the two timings.

 

[jlmc1978]

What would be just one step from what I'm at currently? With this 6-core processor, I still see some delay ..SOME..with certain things, and from what I've read, the memory I have (G.SKill) would run even cooler (or better) at a higher voltage than it is running at current stock speed in Auto mode.

There are plenty of settings for the memory in this Asrock Bios..I just need to know which ones I should change (I have 2-80mm fans on the side of the case pulling air / acting as intake..and I can add another 80mm inside if I need to until I can get a ram cooler or bigger fan for my internals.

If turning the ram up a bit will help on the heat generation, then I'd rather try that than to have current heat that's generated. My system isn't hot at all, the processor is running at 102F, the Mboard is at 93F, and I turned the CPU fan down to 8 (out of 10) to reduce some of the sound. I'm holding steady at 102F on the CPU.

I'm just wanting to get what I can from the 8 gigs of DDR3 1333(PC10600) that I know is capable of running faster -- not really wanting overclock the ram, but just get to it's potential.

 

[tecmo34]

What applications are you having issues (lag with)? It maybe more total system than RAM related.

 

[jlmc1978]

Running 64-bit Win 7...and it's just average load times...like firefox opening initially...MS word and office apps are pretty quick..but I do notice some wait times that I think would be obsolete if the ram was running at it's potential speed...
As I said..I just wanna get what I can from the total system.

 

[tecmo34]

Here is what you want to do...

1) Set your DRAM Voltage to match your specified voltage on your sticks (Page 47 of Manual)

2) Set your Memory Clock to match your MHz [DDR3 1333 / 2 = 667 MHz] (Page 43 of Manual)

3) Set your timings to match your specified timings [latency] on your sticks (Page 43 & 44 of Manual)
■CAS Latency (CL) (Page 43)
■TRCD (Page 43)
■TRP (Page 43)
■TRAS (Page 43)
■MA Timing (Page 44)

Your manual for reference (if needed)... ftp://174.142.97.10/manual/M3A770DE.pdf

 

[jaquith]

^ Interesting observation is that G.SKILL doesn't recognize {F3-10666CL9-2GBRL} as a valid part-number, and upon Googl'ing there's a wide assortment of CAS #'s

@jlmc1978 - How did you determine that {G.Skill 2 GB DDR3-1333 DDR3 SDRAM (9-9-9-24 @ 666 MHz) (8-8-8-22 @ 592 MHz) (7-7-7-19 @ 518 MHz) (6-6-6-16 @ 444 MHz)} is correct, and perhaps most import is to verify that your DDR3 is Certified or Tested with your Asrock M3A770DE MOBO?

Just an observation in the part 1 details...

BTW - I "appreciate" CPUz but I occasionally find it incorrect especially with RAM recognition. {search cpuz +incorrect}

 

[jlmc1978]

Is there a correct besides CPU-Z? I used EVEREST to give me the above details though, CPU-Z was used in conjunction with Everest.

Also, I looked at the ram directly from newegg and tech details on it...here's the specs on my ram:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231274

4GB (2 x 2GB) BUT ...I have 2 sets of this..so EIGHT GIGS of the same exact ram!!

DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666)
Cas Latency 9
Timing 9-9-9-24
Voltage 1.5V
ECC No
Buffered/Registered Unbuffered
Multi-channel Kit Dual Channel Kit

Features:
Compatible with Dual Channel Intel Core i5 CPU for P55 chipset motherboard, Dual Channel Core i7 CPU for P55 chipset motherboard, and AMD AM3 Platform.

I think everest is pretty well-known to be accurate, correct?

 

[jaquith]

GSKILL = http://gskill.com/products.php?index=225
DDR3-1333 PC3 10666 4GB(2GB x 2) / 8GB(2GB x 4) CL 9-9-9-24-2N 1.5 Volts

Most important your Asrock M3A770DE is not listed as being supported with that DDR. GSKILL {supported} http://gskill.com/products.php?index=225&c1=&c2=&search=RjMtMTA2NjZDTDlELTRHQlJM
However, GSKILL has no Tested configurations data for your MOBO - period; meaning it's a crap shoot to eliminate "issues" and/or odd behavior.

Link = F3-10666CL9D-4GBRL ≠ CPUz = F3-10666CL9-2GBRL

Perhaps not what you want to see posted, but it is what it is and probably explains your concerns.

My best practice advice is to either purchase Certified or Tested DDR with any MOBO.

Asrock M3A770DE Certified - http://www.asrock.com/mb/memory/M3A770DE.pdf and your current {F3-10666CL9D-4GBRL} is not listed in either place.

Asrock M3A770DE Certified GSKILL:
1600 MHz
1GB G.SKILL F3-12800CL7D-2GBHZ
2G G.SKILL F3-12800CL7D-4GBBHZ
2GB G.SKILL F3-12800CL7D-4GBPI
2GB G.SKILL F3-12800CL9D-4GBNQ
2GB G.SKILL F3-12800CL9D-4GBECO
1333 MHz
1G G.SKILL F3-10600CL9D-2GBNQ SS V
1GB G.SKILL F3-10600CL7D-2GBPI SS V
1GB G.SKILL F3-10600CL8D-2GBHK SS V
1GB G.SKILL F3-10600CL9D-2GBPK SS V
2GB G.SKILL F3-10666CL9D-4GBPK DS V

Good Luck and hope that solve the mystery.

 

[jlmc1978]

I've already got it timed properly..but the ram is qualified to run with my particular motherboard, although it may not be listed...it's supported for AM3 boards, and other ATI 770 Chipsets are supported by that G.Skill Ram, even though it may not specifically list the AsRock ATI 770 ..

I went into the MANY timings on the Asrock board and set the timing to 9-9-9-24, and the Command Rate to 1T from 2T..and I'm running stable with CPU-Z showing this:

 

[jlmc1978]

Also, I would like to know about the FSB. My motherboard supports the FSB 2600 MHz (5.2 GT/s)....and I'm wondering where I get that from. The CPU is running the speeds posted below, but I have the IES (power saving settings) and OCTuner installed..so I can play with settings inside windows, then reboot to save them. I just need to know what I should do to hit the 2600MHz...I don't think I'm running that right now..if someone could tell me for sure by the CPU-Z display below:

 

[Onus]

If you're having load time issues, any problem is more likely with your hard drive than your RAM. If you've got a couple hundred $$, a 64GB SSD will make that problem absolutely go away.

 

[jlmc1978]

I'm more interested in the data rate once it's booted. My AsRock motherboard has that Instant Boot feature, where I can be on the desktop in 3 seconds or so, so if I need the speed that quick from Off ------->Ready to navigate Win 7 64, I can always instant boot it.

How bout that FSB where it should be...the proc and mobo both are supportive of it, I just don't know if I'm hitting it like the board says it can do. Trying to figure it all out right now and where I stand.

Would me running a small benchmark test or scoring software help any? I can download and run something that scores / or lists my components, what they are currently doing, and what they are capable of doing..if there is such a software.

 

[jaquith]

^ Set {Command Rate = 2N}

Instant Boot {S3 mode} seems to be another acronym for a hybrid-Sleep state. An OS supported "clean read" requires ~ 1GB or 5-7 seconds on a fast SSD. Also if you H/W is not fully supported will cause unnecessary problems.

 

[jlmc1978]

By command rate, you mean on my memory timing...I should set it from 1T back up to 2T? It's running 1T right now, what's the difference in the 2 settings?


This "Instant Boot" doesn't call for a SSD I don't believe, but I've not investigated it to the fullest and haven't implemented it yet. I'm doing a partial Instant Boot..but not fully enabled until I check and make sure my hardware is compatible

 

[jaquith]

This is your spec - DDR3-1333 PC3 10666 4GB(2GB x 2) / 8GB(2GB x 4) CL 9-9-9-24-2N 1.5 Volts from G.SKILL.

RE: Instant Boot - I was contrasting the difference between you {S3 "state"} and a OS supported Clean Boot.

 

[jlmc1978]

Yeah, that's my memory...but you said Set{Command Rate =2N}...

I'm drawing a blank on 2N...did you mean with 4 sticks of 2gb DDR3 that I should set it to 1T in the BIOS?

Currently, I'm running (set in bios) my ram at 9-9-9-24, changed from the 9-12-12-30 that the auto-detect set for me. But I have not touched the voltage on the memory at all. I read that it runs better if voltaged at 1.6v instead of 1.5v and also works better when Oc'd..but I havent tried. I just want to hit 9-9-9-24 properly.

 

[jaquith]

Yeah, that's my memory...but you said Set{Command Rate =2N}...

Currently, I'm running (set in bios) my ram at 9-9-9-24, changed from the 9-12-12-30 that the auto-detect set for me. But I have not touched the voltage on the memory at all. I read that it runs better if voltaged at 1.6v instead of 1.5v and also works better when Oc'd..but I havent tried. I just want to hit 9-9-9-24 properly.

I'm guessing no more assuming that you cannot set the correct DDR settings in the BIOS probably because of my first post "Test/Certified" with your MOBO. If it requires additional Voltage to Make it run stable my that too should tell you something.

My preaching is done...

 

[jlmc1978]

I just said I hadn't touched the voltage and it's RIGHT NOW running 9-9-9-24 at 1T.

You said this, not me:

^ Set {Command Rate = 2N}

I simply asked what you meant by that. The command rate WAS 2T, but I set it back to 1T and it's fine. I thought I had already said that a couple of times...and to clarify

BEFORE:

9-12-12-30 @ 2T

RIGHT NOW, RUNNING THIS:

9-9-9-24 @ 1T

Here's what I changed:
9 ==== 9 (no change)
12 ====9 (changed)
12 ====9 (changed)
30 ===24 (changed)
2T ===1T (changed)

Thats ALL I changed. NO VOLTAGES, NO OTHER MEM SETTINGS.

I don't know what you're saying other than my memory wasn't "tested" by some technician. Spec-wise, my memory is working fine, whether or not someone else tried it and reported to G.SKILL that it worked or not...i'm saying that I'm running at the 9-9-9-24 speed RIGHT NOW, and Command Rate set to ONE-T.

I've been running my ram at that speed since before you told me my ram wasn't "qualified" to run it....I set it probably as you were posting when I found the How-To on it.

Its been running stable for 3-4 hours at 9-9-9-24 & 1T without the first glitch, error, hangup or otherwise peculiar behavior.
Dunno what you were preaching about or how you missed that I've been running my ram at those timings the whole time you've been telling me that it wasn't tested...I thought we already had that established and I was trying to ask other questions.

 

[Onus]

If you are still having issues with application load times, I'll stand by my earlier remark that a SSD will make more difference than fiddling with RAM timing ever will. The benchmarks I've seen only show maybe a 2%-4% difference on performance metrics based on RAM timings.

 

[jlmc1978]

I'm probably just being picky...I mean, lets take for instance my load time opening Microsoft Word 2007...This is literal since I don't have a stopwatch that does smaller than 1-second intervals....

The literal timing of opening a CLEAN, new instance of MS Office Word 2007 -- with no prior instance running, so a fresh, clean start of the program from idle -- is this:

Click the icon. Count to 1. I'm ready to type.

Loading a blank, non-template page and all programs and tie-in's to MS Office 07 are located all on the same C: drive, my primary drive.

Same time goes for everything else in Office 07.

Click on Powerpoint 2007...count to 1, and it's ready.
Click Access 2007, count to 1, it's ready.
Excel, EVEN Outlook is 1 second and ready to navigate mail. And Outlook has to load previous message because it starts up with "Inbox" as my start-folder. So Outlook has to load images and email fonts, etc when it opens, but it's the same...opening a clean instance from idle of Outlook 2007 is 1 second.

Only programs I really notice a difference in are the ones that run under *86. Office and the ones I can get in x64 run and open more smoothly, I'm guessing because they utilize the memory better than x86 applications do.

I just can't seem to find where Mozilla has a *64-bit edition of Firefox...sure would like to find it though...I can even see a big speed difference in opening 32-bit firefox and page-load times since I tweaked the About:config in firefox and messed with the ng.initialpaint.delay or whatever. I did several things I have saved in a text file that speeds up firefox's time to load pages...along with running 64-bit windows 7 and having 8 gigs of ram on this 6-core processor....I'm probably just being nitpicky. Keep in mind I'm upgrading from a P4 3.06ghz with 1.5gb of ram, running single mode...and IDE drives instead of SATA. So everything I'm seeing is MUCH faster..and I do mean MUCH FASTER than my old P4 3.06ghz. And it was a single core rig, and built over 4 years ago. Talk about MAJOR upgrade!!

 

[jaquith]

^ Set {Command Rate = 2N}
RIGHT NOW, RUNNING THIS:

9-9-9-24 @ 1T

Here's what I changed:
9 ==== 9 (no change)
12 ====9 (changed)
12 ====9 (changed)
30 ===24 (changed)
2T ===1T (changed)

Thats ALL I changed. NO VOLTAGES, NO OTHER MEM SETTINGS.

2T ===1T (changed) -> change to 2N

I don't know what you're saying other than my memory wasn't "tested" by some technician.

No it more than likely not on the list because it failed a comprehensive test. RAM Mfg give MOBO Mfg all the DDR they want - the idea is selling. You seem to know more than I do.

 

[jlmc1978]

2T ===1T (changed) -> change to 2N

2T ===<---Yeah, I have that selection.
1T <===== got that selection too.
2N <===== Ths is NOT an option.

Memory Configuration -------->Advanced Settings--------->Command Rate (CM)

__________________________
| -> Please Select: Auto-----------|
| -------------------->1T -------------|
| --------------------> 2T-------------|
-----------------------------------------

No it more than likely not on the list because it failed a comprehensive test. RAM Mfg give MOBO Mfg all the DDR they want - the idea is selling. You seem to know more than I do.

Didn't say I knew more than you. You're not saying for sure that it has a conflict. To me,

more than likely not on the list because

means an opinion is forthcoming without any concrete or sustainable proof. Unless you can show me where a comprehensive test showed my ram to be flawed on this board, then I'd prefer to keep the build I've had running a total of 2 days out of 9 days that I've paid for the thing....the parts had to sit in my floor, useless to me, because the CoolerMaster 500W PSU blew up the processor on the first try after receiving the new AsRock board. Had to wait on Newegg to deliver all new stuff and I couldn't pinpoint the processor until I had an actual DECENT PSU to put all the new things in with the possibly burned up things...but I got it right the first try when I put the (NEW)Antec ECO v2.3 620 Cont on the (OLD)AsRock M3A770DE and the (OLD)AMD Phenom II. Right away when it failed to boot, I swapped the processor for the new AMD CPU that I had Advance RMA'd to me and it fired right up...so the PSU blew the processor....

Little did I know that a PSU ADVERTISING 500W wouldn't even show on the tech page it only had 360 continuous. Where most others advertised their continuous wattage, this one didn't. And 360 was hardly what I needed. Good thing Antec is a trustworthy name and I got a 620W CONTINUOUS this time...with plenty of power and ECO options too.



IF I had a "2N" setting in the BIOS, I would've mentioned that most likely had I seen it..but since I had no clue what you were talking about that should've been your first option that it's not there...Speaking like you're as well versed as you are, you would probably have seen more than just 1 or 2 bioses and know that each one can have (OR NOT HAVE) certain things that others DO have...so it should've maybe told you that I wasn't seeing it, hence my reason for being totally oblivious to WHY you typed 2N instead of 2T. Practical thinking.

 

[jlmc1978]

I'll probably run the AMD tests included in AMD Overdrive to make sure the system can withstand stress, but I have yet to put enough stress on it to make it BSOD, error, freeze/hang or otherwise fault because of the Ram not being "qualified". Maybe they should add my ram to the list...doesn't seem to cause me any issues at stock speed. Who knows, they may know of a conflict when it's overclocked and that could be why they didn't put in on the QVL.

 

[jlmc1978]

And after doing some pretty hard research, the ONLY difference in the boards is the northbridge/southbridge chipsets.

You're talking about the approved ATI 785 chipset,

and the unlisted ATi 770 Chipset. there's not a humongous difference in the two.