Over clocking asus p7p55d motherboard

[Duncan]

Hi,

I have just built a new system and am running windows 7 x64.

I have 1600MHz memory but my asus p7p55d motherboard is running at a default 1067MHz. When I first put everything together last week I tried adjusting just one setting in the bios that controls the memory speed. I boosted it up to the full 1600MHz, but this seemed to make the system unstable and it crashed a few times so I put it back to auto. Did I do something wrong? How do I go about clocking my memory up to the full 1600MHz? There is some software that comes with the motherboard that lets you over clock it from inside windows, should I use this or is it better to do it manually inside the bios?

Thanks,

Duncan

 

[Coolness]

I dont think you should over clock the memory since its already 1600 mhz, instead, we should try to fix the problem with the mobo. Are you sure they didnt sell you 1067 mhz memory?

 

[Duncan]

Thanks for your reply Coolness.

It's Corsair Dominator 1600MHz

It says on the p7p55d specifications that it can run at 1600MHz and even 2100MHz(overclocked)

But I read in an article somewhere that the mobo memory controller in the chipset defaults to 1067MHz and that it has to be overclocked to run it at 1600MHz

From looking around on the web it seems that quite a few people are running similar systems with 1600MHz memory on asus motherboards and core i7/i5 processors.

But this my first ever build so i'm quite a novice.

 

[Coolness]

Well if your mobo doesnt support 1600 mhz ram? Thats a possibility, please check it out.

 

[nate42nd]

All you have to do to get the memory up to speed is go into the BIOS and change the memory multiplier. It will show you right there what it's running at. Then go into voltage control and change the DRAM voltage to the voltage on your memory sticker. It should be fine. P-55 boards are easily overclocked. I have videos on youtube if you want to watch them. They are under the same user name. Search for "overclock P55-UD4P" if you want to watch me OC mine.

Good luck. It's a lot of fun too!

 

[Duncan]

The asus site is down at the mo but I'm sure the spec says that 1600MHz is supported.

Thanks for the reply Nate I'll check out your vids.

The part number on the box the memory came in is 4GB CORS TW3X4G1600C9D DOM

I've just looked in the p7p55d motherboard user guide and it says:

qualified vendors list DDR3-1600MHz capability for CPU at 2.8 or 2.93GHz (i've got the i7 860 which is 2.8)

CORSAIR BoxP/N:TW3X4G1600C9DHXNV(CM3X2G1600C9DHXNV)Ver4.1

Timing Dimm(Bios):1333-9-9--9-24

Voltage: 1.8




So is this the answer? does this mean it can only run at a max of 1333?

 

[chev65]

The easy way is to locate the SMP profile for your memory in bios and set it to enabled. It should set all the voltages and settings to stable settings for running 1600MHz memory speed.

Although I don't think you should need to use 1.8 volts as i7 cpu's "memory controllers" aren't made to handle much over 1.65 volts. You should only be using the "lower voltage" version of DDR3 memory for your system.

 

[nate42nd]

P55 boards call for memory that is 1.5-1.65 volts (a lot of them....if not all)

If that memory says 1.8V.....you may need to send it back and get 1.65V memory. I would go with that qualified vendors list. They will have specific memory kits listed. I would go with one of those, although you can probably go with ANY....as long as it's 1.65V and the correct speed and dual channel.

 

[chev65]

P55 boards call for memory that is 1.5-1.65 volts (a lot of them....if not all)

If that memory says 1.8V.....you may need to send it back and get 1.65V memory. I would go with that qualified vendors list. They will have specific memory kits listed. I would go with one of those, although you can probably go with ANY....as long as it's 1.65V and the correct speed and dual channel.

Hmmm I think I already mentioned that.

 

[Duncan]

Well what I was trying to say is that as far as I can see, my memory is listed in the qualified vendors list and it says that it is 1.8v in the QVL so surely it must be okay. but it says in the QVL that the timings are 1333-9-9-9-24 so does that mean that the max the board can handle is 1333???

Hi chev65, I had a look in the Bios but couldn't find anything that said SMP profile, might it be called something else??

There is a DRAM Frequency setting which is the one I previously changed to 1600MHz. It is currently set to the default - auto. And auto is making the RAM run at 1067. In the info about the DRAM Frequency setting it says: Forces a DDR3 frequency slower than the common tCK detected via SPD.

There is also a DRAM voltage setting which is also set to auto.

 

[nate42nd]

P55 boards call for memory that is 1.5-1.65 volts (a lot of them....if not all)

If that memory says 1.8V.....you may need to send it back and get 1.65V memory. I would go with that qualified vendors list. They will have specific memory kits listed. I would go with one of those, although you can probably go with ANY....as long as it's 1.65V and the correct speed and dual channel.

Hmmm I think I already mentioned that.

I was typing when you posted chev65, didn't want to "steal your thunder"

Well what I was trying to say is that as far as I can see, my memory is listed in the qualified vendors list and it says that it is 1.8v in the QVL so surely it must be okay. but it says in the QVL that the timings are 1333-9-9-9-24 so does that mean that the max the board can handle is 1333???

Hi chev65, I had a look in the Bios but couldn't find anything that said SMP profile, might it be called something else??

There is a DRAM Frequency setting which is the one I previously changed to 1600MHz. It is currently set to the default - auto. And auto is making the RAM run at 1067. In the info about the DRAM Frequency setting it says: Forces a DDR3 frequency slower than the common tCK detected via SPD.

There is also a DRAM voltage setting which is also set to auto.

If you have a link to the memory, it would help. This is a common thing now with P55 boards out now. I have heard of a lot of people needing to send their memory back and get 1.65V memory. Good luck to you. I hope it works out.

 

[Duncan]

If you have a link to the memory, it would help. This is a common thing now with P55 boards out now. I have heard of a lot of people needing to send their memory back and get 1.65V memory. Good luck to you. I hope it works out.

it's on this page

Welcome to Corsair :: Phenom II Memory

4th from the top.

TW3X4G1600C9D

I didn't know that there is different memory for each processor type it looks like it is supposed to be for an AMD. maybe this is the problem.

and I got it from here:

Scan.co.uk: TW3X4G1600C9D - 4GB (2x2GB) Corsair Dominator DDR3, PC3-12800 (1600), 240 Pin, Non-ECC Unbuffered, CAS 9, DHX


but the code in the user manual qualified vendors list is

TW3X4G1600C9DHXNV

which is the same with HXNV on the end

the more i learn the more confused I'm getting.

Thanks for the help Nate!

 

[nate42nd]

This memory was optimized for AMD Phenom II.

If you can get it stable....good luck.

You need to send it back if you still can. If you are running it on a P55 board with an i7860 you will need 1.65V dual channel memory.

This would be perfect.

Newegg.com - CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMX4GX3M2A1600C9 - Desktop Memory

 

[Duncan]

This memory was optimized for AMD Phenom II.

If you can get it stable....good luck.

You need to send it back if you still can. If you are running it on a P55 board with an i7860 you will need 1.65V dual channel memory.

This would be perfect.

Newegg.com - CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMX4GX3M2A1600C9 - Desktop Memory

UPDATE

I have clocked the memorry up to 1333MHz 1.8v and it is running stable.

I have sent my supplier an email asking for advice and requesting an exchange if needed.

Also I have looked on the intel specification for the i7 860 and it says Memory Type - DDR3 1066/1333

Nate, I see you are running an i7 860 too. Does this mean the max frequency that can be used with an i7 860 is 1333MHz, aren't you using 1600MHz?

 

[Airbot]

As already mentioned...Intel specs say you risk damaging your cpu going over 1.65v with the memory (dram bus voltage). I'm sure it's possible to do so given the right oc'ing tweaks, but if you're a beginner, it's not wise.

 

[Duncan]

Airbot, I saw that people have offered me this advice, but I can't find the specs that say this. I'd like to be able to have the specs when I next hear from my supplier so that I can show them that I need to exchage the memory.

this is the spec I found on the intel site and I don't see memory voltage mentioned:

Intel® Core? i7-860 Processor (8M Cache, 2.80 GHz) with SPEC Code(s) SLBJJ

and there is nothing in the booklet that came with the processor.

Thanks,

 

[Airbot]

You can look it up. Do a search of intel cpu 1.65v or core i7 1.65v and you'll find it mentioned.

It also says it in your motherboard manual, and the QVL memory list.

Here's your specific mobo manual - look at 2.4.2 and 3.5.14 in the manual.

View attachment 42945

 

[Duncan]

You can look it up. Do a search of intel cpu 1.65v or core i7 1.65v and you'll find it mentioned.

It also says it in your motherboard manual, and the QVL memory list.

Here's your specific mobo manual - look at 2.4.2 and 3.5.14 in the manual.

View attachment 42945

Thanks, that is pretty conclusive. I'm confident that I should exchange my memory. In the mean time i've set the DRAM Frequency and Voltage back to auto so that the voltage is low.

 

[Airbot]

Probably the best. If you want to stay with dominators, you might try these, should be same price. 1.65v
CORSAIR DOMINATOR 4GB

 

[Duncan]

Probably the best. If you want to stay with dominators, you might try these, should be same price. 1.65v
CORSAIR DOMINATOR 4GB

I bought the Dominator because it was in a deal of the day offer and so wasn't any extra cost. Are there any real benefits to Dominator over the standard range? It looks like it is about £30 more than the Dominator I currently have. It also has a CAS 8, the version I have now has CAS9 so its one better. It seems all corsair RAM has lifetime warrenty so the only question is will it perform any better?

This is the same as the link you gave but for the XMP version:

Scan.co.uk: CMD4GX3M2A1600C8 - 4GB 2x2GB Corsair XMS3 Dominator DDR3 PC3-12800 (1600), 240 Pin, Non-ECC Unbuffered, CAS 8, XMP, DHX