New rig + Radeon 6950 = trouble

You are very correct JL, especially if the issue is elswhere.

PC3-10660(10666) 1333MHz C6, C7 & C9 BLACK DRAGON DUAL CHANNEL - Products - GeIL Memory
There it is, I actually did not change anything in the BIOS, just let the MoBo deal with it, should I really be worried about setting everything to factory specs?
I think it's now running at 1.8V or so, so a bit over reqs.

OK, to be specific - you need to manually set the memory to run at whatever is posted on the modules.

Example: My Corsair modules are rated to run at 1600MHz, 8-8-8-20, 1.65v. Now, if I let my motherboard have it's way, the RAM will auto set to 1066MHz, 8-8-8-24, 1.50v!

Now, because my RAM use XMP (performance profiles built into the RAM) and my motherboard supports XMP, I can just hit a BIOS setting and the RAM will run at it's supposed specs, or I can manually set the specs, which I do because that's my preference.

Anyway back to your situation - if your RAM and MB supports XMP you can use that to set the RAM to it's optimized settings (I don't recommend XMP for overclockers) or you can manually set them.

You need to set the RAM to the specs printed on the modules, or use the info from the manufacturer.

After that, have a look at the BIOS to see what the RAM is running at, and also CPU-Z as shown in the Memory tab...

Attachment 132920

Not that this tab shows my memory running at 1600 (DDR 2 & 3 is dual channel memory so 2 x 800 = 1600), and also shows the timings used - 8-8-8-20-1

If we click on the SPD tab....

Attachment 132921

This shows the various ways the memory can be run with the appropiate timings and voltages. Notice for 1600MHz, 8-8-8-24, the voltage is 1.65 but the other volts are 1.50!

If you're overclocking and want to run your RAM at 1600MHz, you need to make sure the voltage supports that mode!

Again, manually set your memory to the manufaturer's specs!

Good luck.

sygnus21 said:

OK, to be specific - you need to manually set the memory to run at whatever is posted on the modules.

Example: My Corsair modules are rated to run at 1600MHz, 8-8-8-20, 1.65v. Now, if I let my motherboard have it's way, the RAM will auto set to 1066MHz, 8-8-8-24, 1.50v!

Now, because my RAM use XMP (performance profiles built into the RAM) and my motherboard supports XMP, I can just hit a BIOS setting and the RAM will run at it's supposed specs, or I can manually set the specs, which I do because that's my preference.

Anyway back to your situation - if your RAM and MB supports XMP you can use that to set the RAM to it's optimized settings (I don't recommend XMP for overclockers) or you can manually set them.

You need to set the RAM to the specs printed on the modules, or use the info from the manufacturer.

After that, have a look at the BIOS to see what the RAM is running at, and also CPU-Z as shown in the Memory tab...

Attachment 132920

Not that this tab shows my memory running at 1600 (DDR 2 & 3 is dual channel memory so 2 x 800 = 1600), and also shows the timings used - 8-8-8-20-1

If we click on the SPD tab....

Attachment 132921

This shows the various ways the memory can be run with the appropiate timings and voltages. Notice for 1600MHz, 8-8-8-24, the voltage is 1.65 but the other volts are 1.50!

If you're overclocking and want to run your RAM at 1600MHz, you need to make sure the voltage supports that mode!

Again, manually set your memory to the manufaturer's specs!

Good luck.

That's a good point although currently everything is at stock so slight over-volting shouldn't hurt anything. I don't think this would help my problem though, would it? =)

Yeah this is easily overlooked by a lot of users. And one of the biggest mistakes inexperienced overclockers run into. Most assume the RAM will run at "rated" speed.

The problem is that almost all motherboards set "basic" requirements for "performance" RAM.

With today’s DDR2 memory specs it’s said anything above 1066MHz, 1.50 volts (i7 systems) is considered "performance" RAM. Since performance is considered overclocked, the BIOS won’t "automatically" set a overclocked condition unless you tell it, so it will use the old generic standards.

I'm not an expert here but this has something to do with the old memory standards most BIOS use today. That's one of the reasons for XMP profiles built into some RAM modules. If you have a BIOS that's able to read these profiles (XMP setting) once enabled, it will adjust the modules automatically to their performance settings. If not, you have to do it manually.

That’s why a lot of users are confounded as to why their 1600MHz RAM is running at 1066. It’s because the BIOS see the RAM as overclocked (since it’s not the standard) and won’t set it that way unless you tell it!

Also when you overclock and "force" the RAM to run at higher frequencies (higher than 1066) it will fail due to lack of voltage because it was set too low by the BIOS to begin with – again, above a certain voltage is considered overclocked.

That’s why I ask about the RAM when I see high overclocks and BSOD’s.

The best tool to use to see what your RAM is doing is CPU-Z - Not only will it tell you what the RAM is capable of doing (SPD Tab), it will show you what it’s running at (Memory Tab)

Hope my info helps.

Thought I'd post in this thread so I don't have to make another one...
I just realized that I have a perfectly good GPU...in my laptop. It's one of those $2k laptops so I can take out every component. Now google didn't seem too enlightening but could I put that GPU into my desktop? I think it was a GTX8800M or smth like that.
The cooling in my case should be good...so it's a question of compatibility.

Seems like I could stick it into one of the slots

Johnathan Lyman said:

This is what the GeForce 8800M GT looks like:



In other words... won't work.

RLapin said:

Seems like I could stick it into one of the slots

You could try..... and destroy the card..... or damage your MB