Problems with my Mushkin redline XP2-8000 2x2GB kit - Overclock.net

hitman47 · 07-15-08

Well some of you might recognize me from my post in the intel BIOS forum, I was having problems setting anything, but that's resolved now. I have my E8400 at 3.5 Ghz stable with no problems, but the same can't be said for my Mushkin RAM. The stock recommended latencies would be 5-5-5-15 @ 2.1v with DDR2-1000 speed. However I can't even set it to DDR2-900 and have it run stable, so atm I'm at DDR2-780 because that's the next lower option in my BIOS. Can anyone give me the proper settings for my RAM to at least run at stock speeds(I imagine the auto setting on all the other RAM options isn't meant for DDR2-1000)? Any help would be very appreciated. My system specs are below.

18 is # 1 · 07-15-08

Quote:

Originally Posted by hitman47

Well some of you might recognize me from my post in the intel BIOS forum, I was having problems setting anything, but that's resolved now. I have my E8400 at 3.5 Ghz stable with no problems, but the same can't be said for my Mushkin RAM. The stock recommended latencies would be 5-5-5-15 @ 2.1v with DDR2-1000 speed. However I can't even set it to DDR2-900 and have it run stable, so atm I'm at DDR2-780 because that's the next lower option in my BIOS. Can anyone give me the proper settings for my RAM to at least run at stock speeds(I imagine the auto setting on all the other RAM options isn't meant for DDR2-1000)? Any help would be very appreciated. My system specs are below.

Have you rum Memtest on it without an OC on the 8400 to make sure there are no errors?

-n7- · 07-16-08

Please see my post here: http://www.overclock.net/4141903-post9.html

That's on the very similar P5Q Deluxe.

The most important timing for 2x2 GB kits to get decent speeds is tRFC, or Row Refresh Cycle Time.
Set that to 55+

I wouldn't recommend setting all the subtimings manually like i have; just use auto for them, except for the first four.

Set the first four timings to 5-5-5-15, & as i already mentioned, make sure tRFC (Row Refresh Cycle Time) is @ 55+
Leave the rest at auto i'd say for now.

hitman47 · 07-16-08

Quote:

Originally Posted by -n7-

Please see my post here: http://www.overclock.net/4141903-post9.html

That's on the very similar P5Q Deluxe.

The most important timing for 2x2 GB kits to get decent speeds is tRFC, or Row Refresh Cycle Time.
Set that to 55+

I wouldn't recommend setting all the subtimings manually like i have; just use auto for them, except for the first four.

Set the first four timings to 5-5-5-15, & as i already mentioned, make sure tRFC (Row Refresh Cycle Time) is @ 55+
Leave the rest at auto i'd say for now.

Thanks, I tried that, but unfortunately, when I set tRFC to 55 or 60, Windows won't start. It gives me advanced startup options, but when I select either normal startup or last known good, it freezes. Any suggestions on what might be wrong? Do I need to set tRFC higher?

hitman47 · 07-17-08

Any suggestions as to what I should do? I'm kinda helpless here..

hitman47 · 4 Weeks Ago

I'm really sorry for triple posting and repeatedly bumping this, but I really wanna know what the issue is here. Should I set the other timings manually too? Is it my MoBo? Or should I stress test it for the night with MemTest?

-n7- · 4 Weeks Ago

Sorry man, but way more info needed.

Please list ALL the settings you are using like i have listed in the post i referred you to.
And on what bios.

Also just what is stable?

I don't gather that you've tested much.
P95 small FFTs stable? Blend?
Boot into Windows stable?

Have you run Memtest86+ or HCI Memtest @ stock CPU with RAM @ a lower value tham DDR2-1000?

The best way to determine a components overclockability is to isolate.

Meaning, don't try to OC everything all at once.

So IOW, set your CPU to 7x333 (yes, underclock the CPU).
Leave vcore at whatever you've found to be stable @ 3.5 GHz, & don't tell me that's auto, as that's the wrong answer.

Then try my settings for voltages:

CPU Voltage: no more than 1.35v for you
CPU GTL Voltage Reference (0/2): AUTO
CPU GTL Voltage Reference (1/3): AUTO
CPU PLL Voltage: 1.52
FSB Termination Voltage: 1.22
DRAM Voltage: 1.96
NB Voltage: 1.24
NB GTL Reference: AUTO
SBridge Voltage: 1.12
PCIE SATA Voltage: 1.52

Load Line Calibration: Enabled
CPU Spread Spectrum: Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum: Disabled
CPU Clock Skew : AUTO
NB Clock Skew : AUTO

Do not use auto for voltages; auto with voltages is NOT your friend, as it will often overvolt things way more more than necessary.
Also, as the P5Qs are known to overvolt at lowest voltage settings, try one notch higher like you see i have, & upping NB voltage a bit like i use won't hurt anything; you can lower it later (you likely won't need that high as you don't run 4 DIMMs like i do).

vdimm overvolts by about 0.08v @ all settings, so for 2.0v use 1.92v, & so on.

Now with the CPU @ 7x333 (yes, underclock the CPU), if you have NB strap at auto, it should give you an option for DDR2-1000 (2:3).

Leave all RAM timings at auto initially.
Does it work stably @ that speed?

No?
Then try a lower RAM speed; underclock it via using a different ratio.

Again, keep the CPU out of the equation.

Once you you find a stable RAM speed, work your way up by increasing the FSB gradually.

There's a process to overclocking...you need to learn what the components are capable of, & testing then individually is a good way to do that.

Just firing up all the clocks & then randomly trying things isn't going to end well.

Memtest86+, especially test 5 for initial quick testing & HCI Memtest are vital tools for checking memory stability.

P95 small FFTs stresses CPU mainly.
Blend will also test RAM (as well as CPU).

FSB Termination voltages, NB voltages, etc. get more complicated, but you shouldn't need all that much for 3.5 GHz.

I run the minimums for all voltages with a quad overclocked as high as your dual, excepting NB voltage, which i need more due to running 8 GB OCed.

Oh, & post in the Mushkin forums: http://forums.mushkin.com/phpbb2/

Again, all your settings & what's not working will help them recommend settings for you also.

hitman47 · 4 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by -n7-

Sorry man, but way more info needed.

Please list ALL the settings you are using like i have listed in the post i referred you to.
And on what bios.

Also just what is stable?

I don't gather that you've tested much.
P95 small FFTs stable? Blend?
Boot into Windows stable?

Have you run Memtest86+ or HCI Memtest @ stock CPU with RAM @ a lower value tham DDR2-1000?

The best way to determine a components overclockability is to isolate.

Meaning, don't try to OC everything all at once.

So IOW, set your CPU to 7x333 (yes, underclock the CPU).
Leave vcore at whatever you've found to be stable @ 3.5 GHz, & don't tell me that's auto, as that's the wrong answer.

Then try my settings for voltages:

CPU Voltage: no more than 1.35v for you
CPU GTL Voltage Reference (0/2): AUTO
CPU GTL Voltage Reference (1/3): AUTO
CPU PLL Voltage: 1.52
FSB Termination Voltage: 1.22
DRAM Voltage: 1.96
NB Voltage: 1.24
NB GTL Reference: AUTO
SBridge Voltage: 1.12
PCIE SATA Voltage: 1.52

Load Line Calibration: Enabled
CPU Spread Spectrum: Disabled
PCIE Spread Spectrum: Disabled
CPU Clock Skew : AUTO
NB Clock Skew : AUTO

Do not use auto for voltages; auto with voltages is NOT your friend, as it will often overvolt things way more more than necessary.
Also, as the P5Qs are known to overvolt at lowest voltage settings, try one notch higher like you see i have, & upping NB voltage a bit like i use won't hurt anything; you can lower it later (you likely won't need that high as you don't run 4 DIMMs like i do).

vdimm overvolts by about 0.08v @ all settings, so for 2.0v use 1.92v, & so on.

Now with the CPU @ 7x333 (yes, underclock the CPU), if you have NB strap at auto, it should give you an option for DDR2-1000 (2:3).

Leave all RAM timings at auto initially.
Does it work stably @ that speed?

No?
Then try a lower RAM speed; underclock it via using a different ratio.

Again, keep the CPU out of the equation.

Once you you find a stable RAM speed, work your way up by increasing the FSB gradually.

There's a process to overclocking...you need to learn what the components are capable of, & testing then individually is a good way to do that.

Just firing up all the clocks & then randomly trying things isn't going to end well.

Memtest86+, especially test 5 for initial quick testing & HCI Memtest are vital tools for checking memory stability.

P95 small FFTs stresses CPU mainly.
Blend will also test RAM (as well as CPU).

FSB Termination voltages, NB voltages, etc. get more complicated, but you shouldn't need all that much for 3.5 GHz.

I run the minimums for all voltages with a quad overclocked as high as your dual, excepting NB voltage, which i need more due to running 8 GB OCed.

Oh, & post in the Mushkin forums: http://forums.mushkin.com/phpbb2/

Again, all your settings & what's not working will help them recommend settings for you also.

In P95, all 3 torture tests have run stably for like 8h, didn't test longer. My current settings are:

FSB 400 mhz
RAM:FSB ratio is 1:1, so the RAM is running at DDR2-800.
Latencies are 5-5-5-15, the rest on auto
RAM voltage is 2.1 as recommended by mushkin
Core voltage is 1.208 at least thats what CPU-Z tells me, I set it to a bit more I think.

Here are all my memory timings:

I'll try with your settings now, thanks.

My BIOS version is 0506 btw.

EDIT
Alright I tried running it at 1000 with relaxed timings but it won't start, not even to the BIOS splash screen. I tried with the same settings but at 887 mhz, that works, I'm p95'ing now

-n7- · 4 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by hitman47

In P95, all 3 torture tests have run stably for like 8h, didn't test longer. My current settings are:

FSB 400 mhz
RAM:FSB ratio is 1:1, so the RAM is running at DDR2-800.
Latencies are 5-5-5-15, the rest on auto
RAM voltage is 2.1 as recommended by mushkin
Core voltage is 1.208 at least thats what CPU-Z tells me, I set it to a bit more I think.

Here are all my memory timings:

I'll try with your settings now, thanks.

My BIOS version is 0506 btw.

EDIT
Alright I tried running it at 1000 with relaxed timings but it won't start, not even to the BIOS splash screen. I tried with the same settings but at 887 mhz, that works, I'm p95'ing now

Don't use auto voltages, as i mentioned.

Set them all a notch or two higher than the lowest.
Set NB Voltage higher like mine; you can lower later.

Also, if you board overvolts like it seems all the P5Qs do, you are putting 2.18v into your RAM by using 2.1v.
Just set it to 2.0 or 2.02v, which even if not overvolting, is more than enough for Powerchips (they don't really need voltage like Micron).

Since you say it's working at 3:4 ratio, trying increasing speed gradually from there.

So now move to a higher FSB gradually & see how close to DDR2-1000 you can get with that ratio, starting @ 333 FSB w/ DDR2-887.

Oh, & try my RAM settings also:
DRAM Static Read Control: Disabled
DRAM Read Training: Disabled
MEM. OC Charger: Enabled
AI Clock Twister: Try Lighter/Light first; later aim to use Moderate or better
AI Transaction Booster: AUTO
Common Performance Level: (let AUTO handle this for now; later you'll want to manually tighten this)

Some ratios work better than others; i've found this to be the case on every Intel board i've messed with.
And unfortunately some don't work well or at all, which means you have to use an alternate one, depending.
Definitely we don't want to be running 1:1 though if at all possible, as on the P5Qs, it runs a very high tRD (Performance Level) if using 1:1 which tends to result in poor memory performance unless you get a really high FSB going.

You mentioned 887.

That's 3:4.
If you have trouble with getting to DDR2-1000 with that one, try with 4:5 or 5:6 (DDR2-835/DDR2-800).

Again, keep CPU out of the picture while doing this, so as i mentioned, use a lower multiplier than default so it doesn't end up getting too much OCed.

So IOW, from 333 FSB with RAM @ 887, move up to 340 FSB (907), 350 (933), & continue gradually higher.

I'd use Memtest86+ test 5 (i'm not as familiar with the non + version) to quickly check things before rebooting to reapply settings if you're worried it might not POST when you are going higher each time.

hitman47 · 4 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by -n7-

Don't use auto voltages, as i mentioned.

Set them all a notch or two higher than the lowest.
Set NB Voltage higher like mine; you can lower later.

Also, if you board overvolts like it seems all the P5Qs do, you are putting 2.18v into your RAM by using 2.1v.
Just set it to 2.0 or 2.02v, which even if not overvolting, is more than enough for Powerchips (they don't really need voltage like Micron).

Since you say it's working at 3:4 ratio, trying increasing speed gradually from there.

So now move to a higher FSB gradually & see how close to DDR2-1000 you can get with that ratio, starting @ 333 FSB w/ DDR2-887.

Oh, & try my RAM settings also:
DRAM Static Read Control: Disabled
DRAM Read Training: Disabled
MEM. OC Charger: Enabled
AI Clock Twister: Try Lighter/Light first; later aim to use Moderate or better
AI Transaction Booster: AUTO
Common Performance Level: (let AUTO handle this for now; later you'll want to manually tighten this)

Some ratios work better than others; i've found this to be the case on every Intel board i've messed with.
And unfortunately some don't work well or at all, which means you have to use an alternate one, depending.
Definitely we don't want to be running 1:1 though if at all possible, as on the P5Qs, it runs a very high tRD (Performance Level) if using 1:1 which tends to result in poor memory performance unless you get a really high FSB going.

You mentioned 887.

That's 3:4.
If you have trouble with getting to DDR2-1000 with that one, try with 4:5 or 5:6 (DDR2-835/DDR2-800).

Again, keep CPU out of the picture while doing this, so as i mentioned, use a lower multiplier than default so it doesn't end up getting too much OCed.

So IOW, from 333 FSB with RAM @ 887, move up to 340 FSB (907), 350 (933), & continue gradually higher.

I'd use Memtest86+ test 5 (i'm not as familiar with the non + version) to quickly check things before rebooting to reapply settings if you're worried it might not POST when you are going higher each time.

887 was after the edit, I am still testing that setting. It's been running in blend mode for 3 hours with no problems, so if this works out to be stable, I'm trying for 1002 again. My FSB and processor frequencies are set back now to 333/2340.

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Problems with my Mushkin redline XP2-8000 2x2GB kit

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