PC6400C4 Not Running at 800 Mhz

[barrett]

I recently purchased the computers to build a new system. I have always used Intel in the past and decided to give AMD a shot and am so far, pretty happy with the expection that I have noticed a that the memory doesn't seem to be running the way that it should.

 

Here's my system hardware:

Case = ABS Stealth CS-05A2BL ATX Mid Tower

Power Supply = Antec 500W SmartPower 2.0

Motherboard = Gigabyte GA-M59SLI-S5

CPU = AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Windsor 2.2 GHz Socket AM2

Memory = Corsair TWIN2X2048-6400C4

Video Card = eVGA GeForce 7900GT 256MB GDDR3 PCIe x16 (Slot 1)

PCI Slot 1 = Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-350

Hard Drive = WD 250GB Sata 3.0Gb/s

Optical Drive = Sony 16x DVD+/-R

Mitsumi Floppy w/ USB Card Reader

Using Onboard Sound Card

Using Onboard Network Card

 

I have noticed that according the the EasyTune software that comes with the motherboard, the memory was running at 400 Mhz and 1.8v. I updated the bios to version F5 and both the bios and @BIOS show this is the current version. Since Windows XP (SP2) doesn't include anything that confirms the memory mhz, I downloaded CPU-Z from http://www.cpuid.com. This showed the memory also running at 400 mhz.

 

I have changed the BIOS to use DDR 800 for timing and changed the Voltage to +0.02 as suggested by some of the comments in this forum. This still showed the memory as 400 mhz. The OS level apps showed it as 1.8v as well. I have found that I can run the system with DDR 667 for timing and DDR2 voltage at Normal. Wth this setting, the EasyTune software shows 666 mhz for memory, but CPU-Z actually DROPS in speed to 319 mhz.

 

I purchased this memory since it includes the heat spreaders and was listed on the corsairmemory.com site as being compatible with this board. I believe this will work, but that there must be a setting somewhere to get this right.

 

I have included my BIOS settings as I'm sure this will be needed. If I missed anything, let me know - I'm anxious to get this working. Also, as an FYI - I have experienced some "lock ups" while using the WinTV2000 application for the TV Tuner Card, BF1942 locks up within 5 or so minutes of playing time, and I've had the demo for Sniper Elite lock up once. Ghost Recon and the demo for BF2 have worked flawlessly, and haven't experienced any issues working within just the OS.

 

BIOS Settings:

K8<->NB HT Speed = Auto

NB-->SB HT Speed = 5x

NB<--SB HT Speed = 5x

K8<->NB HT Width = Down16 Up16

NB<->SB HT Width = Down16 Up16

Nvidia GPU Ex = Disabled

 

DRAM Configuration

--Memory Timings

----tCL (CAS Latency) Auto 5 clock

----tRCD Auto 5 clock

----tRP Auto 5 clock

----tTAS Auto 18 clock

----Command Per Clock (CMD) Auto 1 clock

----tRRD Auto 3 clock

----AsyncLat Auto 5 nS

----tRC Auto 23 clock

----tWR Auto 6 clock

----tRWT Auto 4 clock

----tWTR Auto 3 clock

----tREF Auto 3.9 uS

--SLI Ready Memory Disabled (Not Detected)

--Timing Mode Manual

--Memory Clock DDR 667

--CKE Power Down Mode Enable

 

MB Intelligent Tweaker (M.I.T.)

--CPU Frequency (Mhz) Auto

--SB_PCIE Clock Auto

--NB<->SB Reference Clock Auto

--NB_PCIE Clock Auto

--CPU Clock Ratio Auto

--AMD K8 Cool N' Quiet Auto

--Robust Graphics Booster Auto

--DDR2 Voltage Normal

--NB/PCIE Voltage Normal

--SB/PCIE Voltage Normal

--CPU HT-Link Voltage Normal

--HT-Link Voltage Normal

--CPU Voltage Normal

--Normal CPU Voltage 1.3500V

 

Any information would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks.

 

UPDATE -- 10/31/06

 

I have found a utility/driver on the AMD (amdcpusetup.exe) site that helps to correct the clock speeds in each core. Installing this has so far corrected all of the lock up issues I originally mentioned.

 

However, I am still trying to find more information regarding the inability to run this memory at 800 mhz. Definitely a bummer to be running this stuff at half speed. Any helpful information would be appreciated.

[RAM GUY]

I have changed the BIOS to use DDR 800 for timing and changed the Voltage to +0.02 as suggested by some of the comments in this forum. This still showed the memory as 400 mhz. The OS level apps showed it as 1.8v as well. I have found that I can run the system with DDR 667 for timing and DDR2 voltage at Normal. Wth this setting, the EasyTune software shows 666 mhz for memory, but CPU-Z actually DROPS in speed to 319 mhz.

 

That is normal and DDR2-800 memory runs at 400 Mhz acytual clock frequency!

DDR2 Memory runs at:

DDR2-533 = 266 Clock Frequency 2 X 266 = DDR2 533

DDR2-667 = 333 Clock Frequency 2 X 333 = DDR2 667

DDR2-800 = 400 Clock Frequency 2 X 400 = DDR2 800

DDR2-1066 = 533Clock Frequency 2 X 533 = DDR2 1066

 

Intel CPU:

533 MHz = 133 MHz Clock Freq. 133 X 4

800 MHz = 200 MHz Clock Freq. 200 X 4

1066 MHz = 266 MHz Clock Freq. 266 x 4

[barrett]

I can live with the RAM identifying as 400x2, that would work. However, I expected that windows would still show somewhere that it was identified as 800 mhz.

 

On the other hand, the EasyTune and CPU-Z software still show this as using 1.8v for the memory. Should this be reflecting 2.1? The system does appear a lot more stable now that I updated the cpu driver information.

 

Thanks in advance.

[RAM GUY]

That might be a bios bug, do you have the latest version? But Windows will not show the memory frequency!

[barrett]

I have the F5 BIOS, should be the newest one available.