Asus P5Q Pro settings?

[Manimal452]

I've recently just built a pc using an Asus P5Q Pro mainboard with an Intel Q9550 CPU along with Corsair Dominator 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR 21066 (PC2 8500). Now the problem I'm having is getting my ram up to speed. I'm experienced in building pc for years now but a bit rusty since I haven't done it in a while with new hardware that's out. I've searched online everywhere first to solve this issue with no luck so far.

So here's the deal, I go into the bios, I manually set the FSB to 333 and NB to 333, the timings to 5-5-5-15 at 1066, and I also put the voltage on the ram to 2.1. Then, when i get into windows (vista 64) and run cpu-z the memory shows as PC 6400 @ 400 Mhz. Aso I tried running sisoft to verify what I'm seeing and I get similar results. I'm not interested in OC this machine anytime soon, but to just get it up to speed.

Any suggestions or tips would be a great help, I feel like I tried everything but I'm most likely missing something simple right in front of me.

 

[M1A]

Your memory will run at 2x the FSB unless you change the multiplier. I run 1-1 with a FSB at 467 so my memory is at 934 and I am using the 2x2 dominators 1066 also.
now you see?

 

[Manimal452]

Yea I get it now, like I said I'm a bit rusty at this and I'm guessing I would have to run the FSB at 533 to see 1066, which the rest of the system won't handle. Thanks for the reply, simple like I'd figure it to be.

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: Manimal452
Yea I get it now, like I said I'm a bit rusty at this and I'm guessing I would have to run the FSB at 533 to see 1066, which the rest of the system won't handle. Thanks for the reply, simple like I'd figure it to be.

No.

You don't need FSB @ 533 to get DDR2-1066.

FSB @ 333 using 5:8 ratio gives DDR2-1066.

Are you looking at the memory tab in CPU-Z?
That's what shows the current speed, not the SPD one.

 

[Manimal452]

I got it sorted out now, you're right the FSB is at 333 and at a 5:8 ratio the memory is at 1066. I had this setting earlier but I was getting confused my cpu-z. It was correct on the memory tab but when i checked the SPD tab, that's what threw me off. SPD tab was telling me it was PC6400 (400). So as far as I can tell its all looking good now (and probably was before). Thanks for the help.

 

[Tullphan]

Does it really help to set the memory like that?
I'm currently running my Q6700 @ 333x9. Should I leave the ram @ 1:1 or something else?

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: Tullphan
Does it really help to set the memory like that?
I'm currently running my Q6700 @ 333x9. Should I leave the ram @ 1:1 or something else?

For slowest performance, use 1:1.

For best performance, run it as high as you can reasonably get it.
E.g, max speed 5-5-5-15, etc.

So for you, depending on what your RAM is capable of:

5:6 = DDR2-800
4:5 = DDR2-833
3:4 = DDR2-889
2:3 = DDR2-1000
5:8 = DDR2-1066
3:5 = DDR2-1111

Use as high as you can...

 

[Tullphan]

Originally posted by: n7

Originally posted by: Tullphan
Does it really help to set the memory like that?
I'm currently running my Q6700 @ 333x9. Should I leave the ram @ 1:1 or something else?

For slowest performance, use 1:1.

For best performance, run it as high as you can reasonably get it.
E.g, max speed 5-5-5-15, etc.

So for you, depending on what your RAM is capable of:

5:6 = DDR2-800
4:5 = DDR2-833
3:4 = DDR2-889
2:3 = DDR2-1000
5:8 = DDR2-1066
3:5 = DDR2-1111

Use as high as you can...

The ram I have is the Corsair Dominator 2x2GB PC2-8500 CL5.
It's probably overkill, considering i'm running 333x9, but i'm doing it @ 1.18V. In order to get 400x8, I have to get to almost 3.0V & several degrees hotter.
Off-topic, I did have to go into my bios & manually set my memory for 2.1V as I was getting the BSOD when I awoke the pc from sleep mode (Page fault in non paged area). I ran memtest for about 8 hours after changing the voltage & received no errors.