DDR3 Overclocking Woes - a fun challenge awaits!

[Mussels]

So i've got two totally and utterly mismatched sticks of ram.

Individually they run 2133Mhz perfectly stable at 1.65V (probably lower, but its a common voltage so i stuck with it)
Together, they wont run above 1600Mhz. I'm wondering if its a CPU/IMC/voltage problem. I've googled a few guides and tried recommended voltages, but no luck with those settings.

Side note: i can actually set individual timings per stick of ram on this board, but it doesnt show in CPU-Z.


Help me, Expert Overclockers - You're my only hope for stupidly high overclocks for no reason.

 

[MxPhenom 216]

@cadaveca

 

[Toothless]

Try 1.5v at 1866mhz?

 

[manofthem]

Spoiler

Is this with the 2500k @5ghz, and if so, have you tried lowering the OC to see if it helps?

 

[cadaveca]

So i've got two totally and utterly mismatched sticks of ram.

Individually they run 2133Mhz perfectly stable at 1.65V (probably lower, but its a common voltage so i stuck with it)
Together, they wont run above 1600Mhz. I'm wondering if its a CPU/IMC/voltage problem. I've googled a few guides and tried recommended voltages, but no luck with those settings.

Side note: i can actually set individual timings per stick of ram on this board, but it doesnt show in CPU-Z.


Help me, Expert Overclockers - You're my only hope for stupidly high overclocks for no reason.

I'm gonna say that these each use different ICs, and you're SOL.


BTW, it's the secondary and tertiary timings that matter, the first four are kinda unimportant these days. That said, I am not so sure your board is up to the task, either. X-Power or M-Power boards, maybe.

So, uh, pop up some screenshots of what memory timing options you got in BIOS. Don't think I reviewed that board, so no screenshots handy.

 

[Mussels]

I'm gonna say that these each use different ICs, and you're SOL.


BTW, it's the secondary and tertiary timings that matter, the first four are kinda unimportant these days. That said, I am not so sure your board is up to the task, either. X-Power or M-Power boards, maybe.

So, uh, pop up some screenshots of what memory timing options you got in BIOS. Don't think I reviewed that board, so no screenshots handy.

can do in a bit.

@manofthem : your defeatist attitude has been noted and ignored yes i tried 4Ghz as well, no change

 

[Mussels]

Hey my bios has a built in screenshot util. swanky.

slot 2

 

[cadaveca]

TRFC values throw me for a loop.

try 11-13-13-31-313-16-8-7-8-30-10-6-auto-auto etc, etc(rest auto).

 

[Mussels]

well the strontium stick is the problem, because with all the help here i've got 1866 working with my old ram + the 2400Mhz stick

16GB 1866Mhz "dual channel" with three sticks

Whenever the strontium was paired up with other ram in dual channel above 1600, the power LED would blink softly and rapidly.

 

[Mussels]

These settings (or the i5?) let me get 1866 with my old ram, where the i7 would not. Speeds are slower in reality due to worse timings, but i can poke around and see what i can do there. Weirdly enough 1.5V is stable for this, any higher is not.

 

[Toothless]

Weirdly enough 1.5V is stable for this, any higher is not.

Heheheheeee.

I'd think it would be easier to get another 8gb stick to match up.

 

[Sasqui]

Heheheheeee.

I'd think it would be easier to get another 8gb stick to match up.

That's not the point

 

[cadaveca]

well the strontium stick is the problem

I figured. Lots of ULV ram doesn't scale well. As for performance tweaking, pay attention to the latency box up top. The raw bandwidth numbers will give you an idea of what's happening where, but overall, latency is what matters. 1600 MHz is adequate for your CPU, even @ 5 GHz. Just get the latency down, and you'll have to do that by adjusting both primary and secondary timings. the ULV ram is the weak link, and being 11-11-11-28 @ 1600 MHz doesn't bode well for it getting much better than you had it before. Good ULV ram can do 2133 11-11-11-31 @ 1.35V, while the best of the best will do 2400+++ MHz without breaking a sweat.

Since you're likely mixing ICs, 1600 is pretty good, to be completely honest. getting 1866 with relaxed timings is fair.

 

[Mussels]

I figured. Lots of ULV ram doesn't scale well. As for performance tweaking, pay attention to the latency box up top. The raw bandwidth numbers will give you an idea of what's happening where, but overall, latency is what matters. 1600 MHz is adequate for your CPU, even @ 5 GHz. Just get the latency down, and you'll have to do that by adjusting both primary and secondary timings. the ULV ram is the weak link, and being 11-11-11-28 @ 1600 MHz doesn't bode well for it getting much better than you had it before. Good ULV ram can do 2133 11-11-11-31 @ 1.35V, while the best of the best will do 2400+++ MHz without breaking a sweat.

Since you're likely mixing ICs, 1600 is pretty good, to be completely honest. getting 1866 with relaxed timings is fair.

i'm back at 1600Mhz since it was faster and easier to setup - a friend is going to give me 2x4GB 1866Mhz ripjaws, so i should be able to pair that with the better clocking corsair pair and get some decent numbers.

 

[cadaveca]

I hope so, but I'm also interested to hear how it works out for ya. Mixing ram, or even buying one kit long after your first can cause all sorts of issues. There are many different DDR3 ICs, and they are all quite different in how they scale, for sure.

 

[Mussels]

I hope so, but I'm also interested to hear how it works out for ya. Mixing ram, or even buying one kit long after your first can cause all sorts of issues. There are many different DDR3 ICs, and they are all quite different in how they scale, for sure.

well you see, the problem is i've never actually *bought* any of this ram. its always been scavenged from second hand systems i've bought, gifts, or came from 'dead' systems at the tip.

I'm the local PC garbageman.

 

[cadaveca]

Ha! Getting "garbage" to clock well is a very valuable skill, and I think you're doing pretty good in that regard.

 

[Mussels]

I got two alternate sticks today, and using the saved BIOS profile for 2133, i managed to get some improvements (albeit, only 8GB for now)

still, 13% faster ram speeds at *less* voltage is a promising start (going by ram read, not exactly scientific repeated testing here)

both pairs of 2x4GB work at these settings, so i'm guessing its a voltage/IMC side of things to get it working with four sticks.