Adjusting CAS Latency timings.

B1gg3stN00b · Dec 20, 2008, 01:19 AM

I understand this increases the speed of the RAM, but can it be done safetly? Does it increase the heat, damage the lifespan or anything of the RAM? If not, why do RAM manufacturers not just have a stock CAS latency of like .5? I just got 8gb CAS 5 Black Dragon RAM, can I drop it to 4 safetly?

What should I adjust? I'd be using Nvidia control center and have 2gb of 1066 Patriot to experiment on that give random BSODs anyways.

DarkEgo · Dec 20, 2008, 01:30 AM

Lowering your CAS latency will not shorten the lifespan of your memory at all. The thing tat would shorten the life of your memory wold be the heat that would come with increased voltage to get it stable. As a rule of thumb keep your voltage at ~2.2V for DDR2 ram. I would not go over 2.2V.

sneekypeet · Dec 20, 2008, 01:35 AM

I say the biggest thing is testing with a bootable version of memtest86+, that can be found here.

Burn that to a CD with nero or whatever burn software you have.

When you set the timings and voltage in bios to try out, be sure to set the boot priority to CD first. Then boot the PC. If the burn was a sucess, you should be looking at memtest in action. If the program errors it means one of two things usually. The ram or NB may need a bit more volts to make it run stable, or you have hit the limit of the ram at that CAS setting.

B1gg3stN00b · Dec 20, 2008, 01:37 AM

Sounds complicated.

I'll see how the 8gb works initially and maybe bump it up later if I need, thanks guys!

Bundy · Dec 20, 2008, 01:39 AM

Agree with Sneekypete - you need to use memtest to get the timings right. I'd suggest you do some research before trying though.

Dec 20, 2008, 01:19 AM	#1
B1gg3stN00b Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 672 (0.33/day) Thanks: 87 Thanked 111 Times in 102 Posts System Specs	Adjusting CAS Latency timings. I understand this increases the speed of the RAM, but can it be done safetly? Does it increase the heat, damage the lifespan or anything of the RAM? If not, why do RAM manufacturers not just have a stock CAS latency of like .5? I just got 8gb CAS 5 Black Dragon RAM, can I drop it to 4 safetly? What should I adjust? I'd be using Nvidia control center and have 2gb of 1066 Patriot to experiment on that give random BSODs anyways.

System Name:	Free Rig/Compaq Laptop
Processor:	E6750/Turion X2 1.9ghz
Motherboard:	EVGA 680i SLI/Quanta EA30
Cooling:	Random big fans!
Memory:	8GB Geil Black Dragon/2GB G-Skill 4-4-4-12
Video Card:	Nvidia 8800GTS/Nvidia 7000M - Hauppage PCIX TV Tuner
Hard Disk:	250gb SATA WD/120gb internal Samsung SATA
Optical Drive:	2 ASUS lightscribe dvd SATA burners/Stock
CRT/LCD Model:	ASUS 21.5" 1080P monitor
Case:	Raidmax Smilodon/Regular
Sound Card:	Stock into 2.1 Altec Lansing Rig
PSU:	Cooler Master 650W/12 cell HP battery
Software:	Vista Ult. 64 Bit, Ubuntu 64 Bit 8.10/Vista Ult. 32 Bit, Ubuntu 8.04 32

Dec 20, 2008, 01:30 AM	#2
DarkEgo Join Date: May 2008 Location: Delaware Posts: 1,200 (0.66/day) Thanks: 273 Thanked 222 Times in 182 Posts System Specs	Lowering your CAS latency will not shorten the lifespan of your memory at all. The thing tat would shorten the life of your memory wold be the heat that would come with increased voltage to get it stable. As a rule of thumb keep your voltage at ~2.2V for DDR2 ram. I would not go over 2.2V. __________________ Sic vis pacem, para bellum HEATWARE Ego's Enthusiast Equipment

Processor:	Q6600 @ 3.6
Motherboard:	Gigabyte ep45-ud3p
Cooling:	Xigmatec S1283
Memory:	4x2GB of G.SKILL PI Black's
Video Card:	Power color 5770 w/ 9600gso Physx
Hard Disk:	120gb hdd + 30GB OCZ Vertex + 320gb Samsung
Optical Drive:	LG SATA Drive
CRT/LCD Model:	22in 1080p eMachine Monitor
Case:	NZXT beta evo
Sound Card:	on board w/ JVC HA-RX700 (modded) + Old 4 channel Home Theater system
PSU:	Enermax Revolution 85+ 1050w
Software:	Win7

Dec 20, 2008, 01:35 AM	#3
sneekypeet Unpaid Babysitter Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 19,022 (7.31/day) Thanks: 3,039 Thanked 5,488 Times in 3,951 Posts System Specs	I say the biggest thing is testing with a bootable version of memtest86+, that can be found here. Burn that to a CD with nero or whatever burn software you have. When you set the timings and voltage in bios to try out, be sure to set the boot priority to CD first. Then boot the PC. If the burn was a sucess, you should be looking at memtest in action. If the program errors it means one of two things usually. The ram or NB may need a bit more volts to make it run stable, or you have hit the limit of the ram at that CAS setting. __________________ Hers: ASUS Maximus V Gene / i7 3770K / Swiftech H220 / 4X8GB Corsair Dominators / ASUS GTX660 / Corsair AX-760 / Windows 7 64bit / Fractal Design ARC Midi R2 Test: Gigabyte Z68X-UD4-B3 / i7 2600K / A lot Of Coolers / Ripjaws Currently / HIS HD7950 IceQ Turbo / Silverstone SST-ST85F-G / Windows 7 64bit / InWin D-Frame Limited Edition

System Name:	His
Processor:	Intel i7 3770K Cooled with Swiftech Apogee Drive II
Motherboard:	Asus Maximus V Extreme
Cooling:	Swiftech MCR-320 Cooled With Corsair SP120 Fans
Memory:	4X4GB Corsair Dominator Platinum 2666 C11
Video Card:	Asus GTX680 Direct Cu II TOP
Hard Disk:	Corsair Force GT 180GB / Samsung Spinpoint F1 1TB
Optical Drive:	- - - - - - -
CRT/LCD Model:	Samsung 40" 120hz LCD
Case:	SilverStone Temjin TJ11
Sound Card:	Realtek on board > Sony receiver > Cerwin Vega's
PSU:	Corsair AX1200
Software:	Windows 7 Ultimate 64

Dec 20, 2008, 01:37 AM	#4
B1gg3stN00b Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 672 (0.33/day) Thanks: 87 Thanked 111 Times in 102 Posts System Specs	Sounds complicated. I'll see how the 8gb works initially and maybe bump it up later if I need, thanks guys!

Dec 20, 2008, 01:39 AM	#5
Bundy Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Caboolture, Australia Posts: 1,070 (0.53/day) Thanks: 189 Thanked 165 Times in 141 Posts System Specs	Agree with Sneekypete - you need to use memtest to get the timings right. I'd suggest you do some research before trying though.

System Name:	Dads computer
Processor:	Q6700 @ 3.4GHz, 1.35V
Motherboard:	Gigabyte X48 DQ6
Cooling:	Thermalright ultra-120 extreme lapped
Memory:	8GB Corsair Dominator 1066 5-5-5-15
Video Card:	Gigabyte 5850 x2
Hard Disk:	2 x seagate 320MB raid 0
Optical Drive:	lite-on
CRT/LCD Model:	AOC 210V 22"
Case:	coolermaster stacker
Sound Card:	on board spdif out
PSU:	coolermaster real power pro 850w
Software:	Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
Benchmarks:	3dmark 06 - 15300 - 8800 Ultra 3dmark 09 - 18353 - 5850 x 2

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
New Build Thread	bruins004	System Builder's Advice	159	Mar 5, 2013 10:53 AM
Overclocking is Easy! Get Results!	Kursah	Overclocking & Cooling	131	May 12, 2010 12:14 AM
Adjusting CAS Latency timings.	B1gg3stN00b	Motherboards & Memory	0	Dec 19, 2008 11:50 PM
Modify Windows default IDE latency	trodas	General Software	0	Apr 4, 2007 02:20 PM
is there a proggy like cpufsb to change the cas latency from windows ?	xman2007	General Software	1	Sep 8, 2006 10:27 PM