Memory Latency & o'clocking

[Vlip]

I just built a new system (5th build but 1st time overclocking) and need help understanding memory latencies. Here is the system: Gigabyte GA-965P-DQ6, Intel Core 2 Duo E4300, 2X1GB Corsair XMS2 memory, Saphire X1950XT 256Mb.
My question is as follows: I paid extra money for memory with CAS latency of 4 (4-4-4-12) timings but when I look in the Bios, the default setting of "Auto by SPD" reports timings of 5-5-5-18. Should I override the bios and change the numbers to 4-4-4-12? Does this affect overclocking? I have experimented only a little with overclocking this system and will post those questions separately but right now I am most interested in understanding this memory timing issue. I ran MemTest86+ with the default settings and no errors.

In summary, I'd like to know, do I change it from auto and if so, what to change it to. I'd like to get an overclock of approximately 3.0 to 3.3GHz.

Thanks!

 

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Originally posted by: petergil
I just built a new system (5th build but 1st time overclocking) and need help understanding memory latencies. Here is the system: Gigabyte GA-965P-DQ6, Intel Core 2 Duo E4300, 2X1GB Corsair XMS2 memory, Saphire X1950XT 256Mb.
My question is as follows: I paid extra money for memory with CAS latency of 4 (4-4-4-12) timings but when I look in the Bios, the default setting of "Auto by SPD" reports timings of 5-5-5-18. Should I override the bios and change the numbers to 4-4-4-12? Does this affect overclocking? I have experimented only a little with overclocking this system and will post those questions separately but right now I am most interested in understanding this memory timing issue. I ran MemTest86+ with the default settings and no errors.

In summary, I'd like to know, do I change it from auto and if so, what to change it to. I'd like to get an overclock of approximately 3.0 to 3.3GHz.

Thanks!

Check the corsair site. It will list the correct speeds. Yes, you shold set them manually. The problems is your default voltage from the motherboard is probably 1.8V, but the RAM needs 2.1V to go at its rated speed. So if you set the recommended voltage and timings, that is correct.

For overclocking I believe slower timings will be better for finding your max clock speed. When you've found that, you then can tighten the timings. By choosing the loosest timings it allows you to find the max speed for the CPU without stressing the RAM too much.