The Socket 939 Appreciation Club and Knowledgebase [Official] - Page 734 - Overclock.net

blitz6804 · 09-20-08

Well, your computer might perform better at 250x9 with DDR 500 (200:200) than 225x10 with DDR 376 (200:166 divider). Granted, with DDR 500 RAM, you could also run 225x10 with DDR 450 (200:200 divider) and just keep pushing it up until it fails. It is nice to have the option in any event.

**txtmstrjoe** · 09-20-08

Quote:

Originally Posted by blitz6804

Joe: you're the master of S&M. My latest run failed with 5 minutes to go on the second PSU test. Is this because of an unstable video card most likely? When I run S&M in Vista, should I disable the "eye candy?" Desktop Composition crashed some time in the middle of the FPU test. (That is, Aero Glass because Aero Basic.)

If the video card is completely at stock, then it's not the video card causing the crash. At least, if it's healthy, it shouldn't be the component causing S&M to fail. I would wager the failure was triggered by a dip in voltage output from the PSU. Beyond a certain tolerance point, i.e., if the voltage drops too low, the test will terminate to protect your equipment.

If the card is overclocked, then it's a fair bet that there's something amiss there. Troubleshooting becomes a little more difficult because you don't quite know if the failure is triggered by the card or a weakness in the PSU (since this component of the stress test stresses both). More speed exacts a heavier load from the PSU, so you can see how the two are related.

Now, as far as the RAM discussions that are going on, in truth all K8s before AM2 should be able to support all kinds of 184-pin DDR. DDR500 kits DO NOT have a stock speed (i.e., the speed programmed into their SPDs) of 250MHz. That is merely a tested rating by the RAM manufacturer certifying that that kit should be able to hit that speed. But what a RAM DIMM's stock speed is is what is programmed in its SPD, which is 200MHz in DDR400 modules. This is convenient because the reference clock (HTT, or "FSB") is also exactly 200MHz at stock. Kits rated at higher than DDR400 also just have a SPD programming of 200MHz as its stock speed. SPD is not 250MHz for these particular kits.

The principal advantage of RAM rated higher than DDR400 is that the manufacturer has certified it should run faster than 200MHz; if it isn't able to run at its certified speed (say, DDR500 because we've been discussing it), it is eligible for a return to the manufacturer on the grounds that it does not meet its advertised performance potential. This is partly how a Corsair rep explained it to me when I RMAed a busted DDR500 kit with them a couple of years ago. That kit never ever hit 250MHz, no matter what I tried.

As a close to this little tale, that very same Corsair DDR500 kit is proof of the caveat that S&M can break fragile parts.

blitz6804 · 09-20-08

Yes, the video card is overclocked. The power supply should be sufficient; it has ran this GPU with a more power-hungry CPU in the past. I will try backing off the GPU OC, since I wasn't sure that is stable anyway, and try S&M again.

Doing some research online seems to indicate that S&M is incompatible with Vista 64-bit, and only marginally functional under Vista 32-bit. My options then are either install XP 32-bit to test stability, find another stability tester, or pester the creator to release S&M 1.9.2 that IS compatible with Vista 64-bit.

Another update: You can get S&M to run in Vista. If you want to run S&M, you need not just run as Admin as you would often think. You must also disable Visual Themes and Desktop Composition. IMPORTANT: DO NOT RUN UNDER XP SP2 COMPATIBILITY MODE. Doing so causes Cache Level 1, test #2 or #3 fail. This occurred even at stock speeds. Running as described I am now just about done with memory test 1 of 4.

And I forgot: disconnect any ReadyBoost drives. S&M will sit there detecting them indefinitely.

pioneerisloud · 09-20-08

Update on my rig:
Pioneer says SCREW IT for stability for right now. My rig is stable enough that it doesn't crash on me doing WHATEVER I want to do...so that's stable enough for now.

I think my problem is the mis-matched 1GB sticks. I'm working on a deal now for another 2x1GB Corsair XMS kit so I can run all 4GB matching sticks. That should help considerably. After that happens, I'll try for stability again.

With the current setup it'll pass Orthos for 6 hours roughly. But somewhere between 5-6 hours+, it'll crash and give me a "stop error" within Orthos (no BSOD, just Orthos error). I don't know WHAT the problem could be other than the mis-matched sticks.

So after that's all said and done, Froggy will be trying 2x1GB AData DDR400 and 2x1GB OCZ DDR500. If that fails in HER rig too....then I'll get her a matching kit of the AData sticks...and the DDR500's will go up for sale. DDR500 is over-rated anyway

.

I figured I'd share that with you guys. Image uploaded!

pioneerisloud · 09-20-08

Quote:

Originally Posted by pez

Ahh my board doesn't support ddr500, only up to ddr400, and the g.skill ddr400 2x1gb kit is only 54 bucks.

Actually I'll bet money your board could take advantage of DDR500. And just a hint hint

.....I'll more than likely be selling some OCZ Platinum DDR500 2x1GB sticks here VERY soon. And if anybody is interested in this club, they get a special "friend price"

. Thank you Blitz for that wonderful idea. However I won't be going into the details just yet on that adventure...but anybody that's interested in upgrading to DDR500...keep your eyes open on my posts here.

boonie2 · 09-21-08

nategr8ns · 09-21-08

Nice work Pio! Do you really use your computer for more than 5 hours straight anyway?

I think my processor tops out at 2750mhz, I just can't get it stable at 2.8ghz.
I guess when I have some free time, I can work on the FSB and/or HT, and maybe the RAM.

blitz6804 · 09-21-08

Not much of a gamer eh Nate? Some nights I play Call of Duty 4 for 12 hours straight; I suck at it, but I do it anyway.

nategr8ns · 09-21-08

Wow... Actually I am a gamer, but I can't play one game for that long.
A few hours of Diablo 2 or Team Fortress 2, and maybe some guitar hero

.

mirunit · 09-21-08

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