I have some new G-skill 1066 Mhz RAM. My motherboard has the voltage at 1.8V. The RAM spec voltage is 2.0-2.1V. I have set this at 1.9V but am wondering if going to 2.0 or 2.1V would be a good idea. I have seem some tutorials and 2 page long papers on overclocking RAM but this is more simple. Is it better to have RAM voltage set to spec or leave it at "normal" or "auto"
As far i know.
More RAM voltage = higher frequencies that the memory can reach and lets you use minor CAS latency than default. For example: the memories by default are set to 1.8v and 5-5-5-18 CAS latency, if you set them to 2.0-2.1 you can use a lesser latency like 4-4-4-12.
I hope you understand and I am sorry for my bad english.
I wouldn't screw with it. You machine is decent but not bleeding edge, so I'm guessing you aren't that into tweaking every percent out of your machine.
Playing with voltages is more dangerous than playing with frequencies. Voltage issues can kill components, while too high frequency and even high heat will just shut your components down safely.
It might not even be likely to harm anything but think of it like this:
The upside: you might gain a fraction of a percent difference by enabling a lower latency. The downside: you fry half your computer.
G.Skill in the box says (in my case):
CL4-4-4-12 2.0~2.1V
This means (I have read it in some place) that you can use a max of 2.1V with CAS 4-4-4-12 without losing warranty.
jw12345, how can you harm a computer increasing -to a reasonable value like 2.0- the memory voltage?
Wow, that's not what I expected to hear. Thank you for the responses. I have been running it at 1.9V instead of 1.8V for 24 hours and have had no problem. Maybe that's as far as I will go. Maybe I'll just change it back.
You are right....this new build is not cutting edge technology and I'm not a gamer. I just want to set things right. I have read that you should set voltage to rated voltage because most boards are set to run older RAM and they really don't adjust themselves.
Thanks again. Every bit of help I can get is good!
So I'm okay but you do not recommend bumping the voltage to specified voltage on the sticker?
Thanks for the responses guys. I really need some opinions here. Just for fun if nothing else. I built this computer for fun mostly and plan to mess around with it. (but not fry it) haha
Bumping to that voltage (of the memory, of course) is recommended if you are going to overclock the memory or decrease the latency.
For example: if you're going to decrease the CAS with that voltage it is probably that the system won't boot or will boot but will be unstable, in that case you need to increase the RAM voltage in order to have a stable system.
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