TwinX1024-3200XL unstable

[robber576]

I have bought a few months ago a set twinx1024-3200XL and till so far just fooled around with the system, or did not use it at all.

Although i suspected from the beginning the mem to be unstable i did not pay much attention to it believing it would go away after making an effort on the various timing values to get them right.

 

But unfortunatly it does not.

The mem loads on spd the values 2.5-2-2-5 which is to my knowledge not correct, the package clearly states: 2-2-2-5 and i also read in your Ram_Guy_XMS_Q&A.pdf that the modules are (quote) with "plug-n-frag" technology which means the 2-2-2-5 latency settings are pre-programmed into the module's SPD , so the system will automatically boot up with fast latencies.

 

To my knowledge this means i should be able to plug the modules in,load setup defaults, get automaticly the correct timings by spd and start to work? Right?

So why does the spd load cas 2.5?

 

Changing the values manualy is possible but brings the system at the breaking point of stability.

At 2-2-2-5 values and raising the FSB clock speed to 201 , that is 1 mhz more, makes the system right away(3 min's video encoding or cpu-burn-in) unstable.

Left at 200 mhz std clockspeed the system suffers frequently (a few times a week-running 24/7) from strange lockups,blue screens in all sorts etc etc.

Changing the timings back to spd values makes the system stable again.

 

It seems that cas2 is not really stable, at least not at default voltage.

Raising the voltage helps and makes the sys stable but is to my knowledge not the right way doing things since it degrades component lifetime and i bought this very expensive ram to have fast timings for a long time-if possible combined with a small overclock( maybe 3-5 %) but that is not mandatory.

Lifetime goes before performance in my situation and i am prepared to leave the sys at std speed if that saves me another year in lifetime but the thing has to work at least at the spec's for which it is sold.

 

I read in the module-spec's pdf that the tested voltage is 2.75 and this also makes me wonder if the modules are expected to even work at standart voltage?

The QMS qualification and testing page however says that the testing parameters are "All other settings are motherboard defaults."

Now what do you want me to believe?

Is there a possibility to get a verified and warrant answer on the voltage i should use to get the modules working and what would that mean for lifespan of the modules under avarage conditions.

 

My sys-data

Asus P4C-800-E-DL/bios 1019 +P4-3.2-northwood+zallman7700

OS-WinXP-sp2

Modules: TWINX1024-3200XL lot# 0435061-11

 

In an attempt to locate the problem i tried to oc the sys and this gave no problems what so ever as long as a lowered the mem timings:

trial 1

 

With boroughed memory from a friend even higher oc is no problem

trial2

Stability on the other components seems to be no issue whatsoever.....

 

To make a complete picture: i bought these modules in October at €320,- (euro), at the time in Holland a "reasonable" price.

At the moment the still do €270 avarage.

I think this is stil a LOT of money.....

 

 

Thanks for reading and your effort in solving (hopefully) my problem

Gr Richard, holland

[RAM GUY]

Please make sure that you have the latest BIOS for your MB and load Setup/optimized default settings, and try the following BIOS settings;

TwinX1024 or TwinX512-3200XL

Advanced/Jumper Free

AI over clocking: Manual

CPU Freq: 200

DRAM Clock: 400 MHz

Memory or Dim Reference voltage: 2.75 Volts

System performance: AUTO

AGP Voltage: Default *unless you have ATI (9200 or 9600) or NVIDIA (5200 or 5700) then 1.6 Volts suggested!*

Advanced/Chipset

Configure Dram timing by SPD: Disabled/User define

SDRAM CAS Latency: 2T

SDRAM RAS to CAS Delay (tRCD): 2T

SDRAM Row Precharge (tRP): 2T

SDRAM Active to Precharge Delay (tRAS): 5T

SDRAM Burst Length: 8

Performance Acceleration Mode: Auto

USB Legacy Support: Disabled

All other settings should be set to default settings!

Then please test them one at a time with http://www.memtest.org and let’s make sure it's not some other issue! I would run the test for at least 2-3 passes to be sure!

[robber576]

OK, thank you ramguy for your reply.

 

I will do the test although i know what will be probably the outcome: the ram will probably test fine.

As i wrote; if i raise the voltage( or go to cas 2.5) the ram works ok.

My question is my concern about raising the voltage and also the spec's of the ram.

 

If i buy a Pentium 3 Ghz ,stick it on a Intel mobo and it will not reach the speed for which it is sold and labelled whith out crashing and i will ask Intel to solve my problem i do not believe they will advise me to raise the voltage and everything will be fine.

 

It is anyway not the advise one would expect from a world renowned company which claims to sell the best/fastest/most stable ram in the world.

 

Since the product description does not inform or advises me anywhere on a need to raise the default voltage or tweak values i expect the product to work on a basic install.

May i remind you:

Testing parameters for TWINX3200XL:

 

TWINX1024-3200XL Data Sheet

Motherboard make and model: Asus P4C800/-E and/or Asus A7N8X

Each pair is tested and packaged together using the following settings:

DRAM Clock: 200 MHz

SDRAM CAS Latency: 2T

SDRAM RAS to CAS Delay (tRCD): 2T

SDRAM Row Precharge (tRP): 2T

SDRAM Active to Precharge Delay (tRAS): 5T

SDRAM Bank Interleave: 4 Bank

All other settings are motherboard defaults.

Found on the page which is suggested in your signature "What are the correct timings for My Module? "

The packaging does also not say anywhere that the product is a part to be used or installed by a specialised proffesional so i expect that sticking it in the system and booting would suffice to get the full performance .

As i earlier mentioned; the product description on your site suggests that this ram is intended to be used by the enthousiast wo wants to have top performance whithout fumbling around or tuning.

 

Which brings me back to my first question; why does the spd load cas 2.5 and not cas 2.0 as it should?

 

Is it because Corsair knows that the ram won't run on cas 2.5 with default voltage?

 

I will have no problem to raise the voltage to whatever you tell me to but i would like to have some form of ("official") assurance that this will not shorten the lifetime of the ram.

The lifetime warranty of Corsair ram is a nice thing to have but i would hope never to come to the point to have to use it because no mather how generous it is; it will always cost me in some form to have the ram replaced, money for the shipment, downtime and not to forget annoyance.

 

Thnx for reading and spending time on my questions.

Richard

[RAM GUY]

I do understand your concern and the best way to answer and address your question in regards to why the modules are not running at specified speed without making any changes to the BIOS will be the following reasons: Some MB may or may not detect the correct SPD on the modules, this will be depending if the user have an older or newer products; in addition due to the fact that there are allot of MB manufacturers out there, it will be very impossible and unlikely for us to test our memory modules in every single MB maker and their product line. The Plug n' Frag feature only comes with our PRO series modules, which will only detect the correct BIOS SPD settings, but regardless the customer will still have to changed the voltage setting for the memory module, since it is recommended for our XMS modules to run it at 2.75 volts, and MB manufacturer default voltage setting is either 2.5 or 2.6 volts; depending on who is the manufacturer of your MB. The memory modules should run at the settings that I gave you without any problem, that will be the best and optimal settings specifically for that model, the ram is rated and warrantee up to 2.9 volts, and anything above that voltage will automatically void the warranty; so you should be okay and if something happen to the RAM we offer lifetime warranty on it.