OCZ or MB problem?

[sean126]

oops, ignore my last response. I didn't see your reply GV. and this wouldn't let me edit it for some reason.

[sean126]

OK GV....I figured out what the problem was. The guy that helped build this for me ...reversed the opticals. When I put it in the second...it worked just like you explained it. The settings were also set up to boot from the optical.

Question...

1. how long to let the test run?

2. I want to get the right timings and speed on my memory. The values it shows on the memtest86 screen are:
Chipset : Intel i975x (ecc : disabled) - FSB : 267 MHZ --type : DDR II
Settings: RAM: 333mhz (ddr667) / cas: 5-5-5-13 / Dual Channel interleaved.

Mine are supposed to be DDR2 800 with 4-4-4-15. The settings are also showing ddr not ddr2, if I'm seeing it correctly. Any way...I'd like to change it to the right speed and timings. Care to help with that?

Or should this last question be in another topic.

I appreciate all the time in helping me, guys. Once I know what I'm doing...I can try to help others as well.

[gvblake22]

Memtest will run through a series of 8 different tests, which usually takes about 15 minutes. One run through all 8 tests is usually good enough, but if you are bored, you can let it go for as long as you want

To change your memory speed to run at it's advertised settings, first go to the Advanced Tab, then Jumper Free Configuration, and change the "AI Overclocking" setting from Auto to Manual. This will show the extra tweaking options. Now go to DRAM Frequency and change it to DDR2-800. This basically tells the system to run your memory 1.5 times as fast as the Front Side Bus (FSB). So in your case, the FSB of your E6600 is 533MHz (1066MHz quad pumped), so 533x1.5 = 800.

Next you will need to make sure the board is giving your newly released memory enough power to run at these higher speeds. Go down to Memory Voltage and set it to 2.0V (the rated voltage of your memory is 1.9V to 2.1V).

Now, you need to back out of that menu section of the BIOS back to the Advanced tab and go into the "Chipset" option. Here you will manually set the memory timings to what is advertised by the manufacturer of the RAM (which is 4-4-4-15). To do this, you will need to change the "Configure DRAM Timing by SPD" option to "Disabled". This now should allow you to change the individual timings of the RAM. Set the first option (CAS Latency) to 4, then the next to 4, the next option to 4, the second to last option to 15, and just leave the last one at whatever it has defaulted to. Now save and exit the BIOS and run MemTest86+ and see how it does.

[sean126]

Wow, now that's what I call a "beginner's explanation". I understood everything perfectly. Once this gets done testing my Ram...I'll do it.

8 Tests about 15 minutes? Mine is only at test #7 and the wall time showed 56+ minutes. I hope nothing is out of wack here.

[sean126]

Don't know if it is the same thing I'm looking at...but under the chipset in memtest86 it shows fsb : 267 MHz. I don't know if that pertains to the memory or the FSB that I hear so much about.

[Yellowhello]

As far as I know, you shouldn't hit a wall in memtest.... It should pass the test....

[sean126]

GV,

OK...I was going to do what you said...and I seen the spots to change it so far...but before I did anything, I noticed my cpu frequency says 266 not 533. according to your instructions...I thought this would severely throw something out of wack if I went ahead and changed the memeory timings.

Should I change this cpu frequency first to 533? anything else I need to change with the cpu after I change that?

[gvblake22]

Originally Posted by sean126

Wow, now that's what I call a "beginner's explanation". I understood everything perfectly. Once this gets done testing my Ram...I'll do it.

8 Tests about 15 minutes? Mine is only at test #7 and the wall time showed 56+ minutes. I hope nothing is out of wack here.

Maybe I guess I just forgot how long it normally takes...
Glad you liked the explanation though, I know I always get frustrated when I am learning something for the first time and people skip steps and I feel totally lost. And the fact that BIOS is very confusing doesn't help.

Originally Posted by sean126

Don't know if it is the same thing I'm looking at...but under the chipset in memtest86 it shows fsb : 267 MHz. I don't know if that pertains to the memory or the FSB that I hear so much about.

That is the actual FSB of your processor (see explanation below).

Originally Posted by sean126

GV,

OK...I was going to do what you said...and I seen the spots to change it so far...but before I did anything, I noticed my cpu frequency says 266 not 533. according to your instructions...I thought this would severely throw something out of wack if I went ahead and changed the memeory timings.

Should I change this cpu frequency first to 533? anything else I need to change with the cpu after I change that?

NO! I apologise, the BIOS will show an FSB of 266, not 533MHz because the RAM is DDR2 SDRAM (DDR stands for Double Data Rate, so everything is multiplied by 2). So your actual FSB is 266MHz, your effective FSB is 533MHz (266 x 2 = 533). Leave your FSB at 233 for now. If you find your system is stable and you want to start overclocking, then you will increase the FSB past 266MHz.

[sean126]

good enough. changing the memory stuff now and then will test it. Hopefully it will be closer to your 15 minute expectation this time.

I will report back as soon as it's done..."El Capitan".

EDIT:
Happy to report...no problems. Can't thank you enough GV and yellowhello.

I'll post my other "test for stability" question on my other post. I want to test my graphics card, cpu and I guess my overall system.

[gvblake22]

Great, good to hear!