Manual or Automatic RAM timings?

[jough]

Hi,

I picked up an A-Data Vitesta 2Gb DDR Dual-Channel from NewEgg for use in an MSI K8NGM2-FID GeForce 6150 Motherboard, and am wondering if it's recommended that I leave the RAM timings on AUTO or should I set them manually?

My concern is ONLY for stability and reliability, not necessarily speed or trying to crank every bit of performance out of the sticks.

I notice that while the paper that comes with the memory says that the recommended voltage is 2.6v, the web site for the RAM now says 2.7v.

Otherwise, should I alter the default (Auto) MCT Timing, Burst Length, etc.?

 

[furballi]

AUTO for novice user with stock settings.

 

[drpootums]

2 bad things happened when I had mine set to auto....

1: My PDP sticks wouldn't run at cas 2, and auto set it to cas 2....so when i first got my computer running and i couldn't run any apps without crashing it was a little annoying until i figured it out and set it to cas 2.5

2: When I added my 3rd stick to get 1.5 gb's of RAM it automatically set it to run at 133 mhz instead of 200....


Otherwise, I only changed my divider, cas timing, and a few little other things. If you have a doubt that something will screw anything up when you change it, it's best to keep it at auto though, unless you know what your doing like furballi said.

 

[jough]

Actually, according to memtest the timings were right with the AUTO settings - I was just wondering if there were some recommended settings to change that would increase *stability* over the stock/default timings or voltages or anything.

I'm not exactly a n00b, but am used to dealing only with laptops on the consumer end and with high-end corporate servers. I haven't built my own box since 1997, when practially NOTHING was automatic and the hardware was much simpler and more forgiving. I've never had so many problems with hardware before - or heard of others hear also getting reboots and crashes all the time.

It's enough to make me want to switch to a Mac. Well, almost.

 

[5t3v0]

Dont leave them on AUTO if you are overclocking with memory dividers. On a 166 divider, my BIOS applied the DDR333 SPD which caused the machine to be completely unstable. Go through each setting and set it manually to be the same as the AUTO reading on the default 200 divider before you start overclocking. If you want to start tweaking these settings, which often have some headroom for improvement, read this thread on DFI Street for info & recommendations.

 

[TheGlassman]

the manufacturer guarantees stability at rated timings, so there is no gain in stability. The ram you list could hardly be slower (3-4-4-8 any way, especially at 2.7v). If you have any doubts about stability, download memtest86+, load onto a floppy and run 24hrs.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: jough

I notice that while the paper that comes with the memory says that the recommended voltage is 2.6v, the web site for the RAM now says 2.7v.

I'd go 2.7v

Fern