Wrong Memory speed

[Evilhugbear]

I just finished building my new christmas pc . It runs great, but the only problem is that my memory is supposed to be DDR3 1600, but when I boot my pc on the black screen ( BIOS post? Something like that ) it says something like DRAM 800. My Motherboard supports up to DDR3 1333.

So my question is, how do I overclock this memory to 1333?
On the stickers on the side of the sticks it says 9-9-9 @ 1.65v, which is the latency I think.

This is my memory.

 

[nate42nd]

Download and run CPU-Z and go to the "memory" tab. (this is a handy app to have anyway)

Make sure the memory is in "dual channel" mode and if it's 800Mhz dual channel, you have 1600Mhz RAM.

You can also go into the BIOS...if you built the computer, you will know how to get into the BIOS. There will be memory configuration options there. Make sure you are at the right speed and voltage.

However, your POST screen "should" be showing 1600Mhz. Most POST screens I have seen tell you the actual speed. You could try using the "pause-break" key to stop the POST so you can have a look at it. Use the "print-scrn" button to continue with the POST.

 

[Evilhugbear]

It says dual channel, but now the DRAM frequency is 533.4mhz so it is 1066mhz.

So basically, if it is dual channel I divide the frequency I want in half?

 

[chev65]

Usually the SMP memory profile will have settings to put your Ram at 1600MHz. It's best to do it that way if you have the SMP profile option.

What your seeing is the memory bus speed which runs at 1/2 the memory speed, dual channel means it's at 1066MHz.

 

[nate42nd]

It says dual channel, but now the DRAM frequency is 533.4mhz so it is 1066mhz.

So basically, if it is dual channel I divide the frequency I want in half?

That's basically right. You can go into the BIOS and set the profile like chev says or just change the memory multiplier until you're at 1600Mhz (and timings) and make sure the voltage for the DRAM is at the voltage on the sticker. It should be stable if your board supports it. (which it sounds like it does)

The "profile" if you have it will change that stuff for you, but sometimes does not get the voltage right....

 

[Ozirus]

I had a similar problem a few days ago when I was installing R.A.M.

I just didn't have them in tight enough. Also, the Biggest Stick should be in the slot closest to your CPU, etc.

 

[Evilhugbear]

My motherboard supports 1333, so I just go into the bios and change it to 666.5? And then change the latencies and voltage to what the RAM says on the sticker?

I don't know what SMP profiles are either. I have never overclocked anything before, so please correct me if I am wrong

 

[nate42nd]

My motherboard supports 1333, so I just go into the bios and change it to 666.5? And then change the latencies and voltage to what the RAM says on the sticker?

I don't know what SMP profiles are either. I have never overclocked anything before, so please correct me if I am wrong

Most BIOS have a "spd" sensor for your RAM sticks. You should see something called memory multiplier. When you change it, there should be a value listed. I wish I could see your BIOS, but they are not too much different.

If you can find the memory multiplier that is the setting that will get you up to 1333 from 1066. I have worked mostly with Intel boards but AMD boards run on the same principle.

Play around a little, but be careful. When you save settings, make sure your "spd" sensor is showing 1333 and the voltage and timings are correct. The timings are sometimes tricky. You may have to look a little deeper for those. Sometimes they are out in the open.

Some boards will not let you change these settings without "unlocking" the settings. That may be a possibility.

I wish you the best trying to find "memory multiplier" "DRAM voltage" and "memory timings" these are the settings you need. They may have slightly different names too....which makes it even harder to describe in a forum.

 

[Evilhugbear]

Ok, is it a problem if the timings and voltage are too high?

Or just when they are too low?

 

[nate42nd]

My motherboard supports 1333, so I just go into the bios and change it to 666.5?

Here is where you are confused. Inside the BIOS you do not change the speed, you will change the "memory multiplier" It will be something like numbers 1-10. Off to the side it will say the speed your memory is at.

When you get done changing the 3 items, you will show the 1333 as 667 in CPU-Z like we discussed earlier.

I know it seems like a lot of info, but it's not too bad once you find it. You might watch my videos on YouTube (under same user name) on overclocking. It's a different board, but the same general idea. Just watch the part on memory if nothing else. It will help you understand.

 

[Evilhugbear]

I have a question about overclocking the cpu, I hope it is ok to post it in this thread.

I was reading on how to overclock my cpu on this website. My question is, if I JUST want to overclock the core clock, do I HAVE to start overclocking the northbridge? Or is that just an extra boost?

Thanks