What's the word on PC2400 DDR-SDRAM?

[CaptAce]

Can you stick em in a good mobo and overclock the bus to 150/300 Mhz?

What is it suppose to be used in?

 

[thetinkerer]

I had a system put together with PC2100 rated at 2-2-2. But the MoBo would not overclock stably at all in the 2-2-2 configuration. Turned out they put in Apacer brand. I then bought Crucial PC2400 (2x128, as I was told that sprading those memory chips out a bit helps with cooling...) and now I can OC the board by raising the FSB to 142. My mobo is the A7M266, which does not allow multiplier changes, so I am limited to pushing the FSB. Above 142, many programs work, but MadOnion2001 won't finish the benchmark. I have tried up to 148, and at that level, windows won't load. PC2400 is rated to run at 150, so it would probably OC even higher, but I guess I have other limitations, so if you get really good quality PC2100 (Crucial, micron, mushkin,) I don't know if you really need the 2400 unless you really can push your board well beyond 150FSB. The PC2400 was 52.00 per 128 stick.

A7M266
Athlon 1333 (running at 1420)
Crucial PC2400 (2x128)
Win98SE
Taisol HS with 80mm Sunon Fan on a 80 to 60mm adaptor (46 idle/50 load)

 

[AdamK47]

Overclocking memory with more than one module is worse than overclocking with a single module. Thats especially true with DDR SDRAM. Timing issues can arise when overclocking more than one memory module.

I can only get 144MHz FSB with two 256MB Micron based PC2100 SDRAM installed. With a single stick, I can go all the way up to 157MHz 2-2-2.

 

[buffhr]

pc2400(corsair) usually get over 160 fsb and 2100 usually get 150fsb all at cas2

 

[thetinkerer]

Well that's interesting... I guess the salesman at the memory vendor didn't know his stuff. So now a followup (even though I didn't start this thread, he he). If I ramp up the FSB to 148 and windows wont load, do you think that's due to memory limits? My CPU is running idle at 45-46, so heat is probably not the issue. Could be my CPU isn't up to the task...??

EDIT: Just occured to me that I could remove one stick and try to OC the FSB and see how high it goes, then do it with the other, or would there still be issues with timing even if both can go to the same level?

Special Question for AdamK47-- I noted that your rig is also an A7M266, and wondered about your voltage settings. My board is not modified for Mult adjust. Also, is your Bios AGP apature set to 128, 64, or other? I can't even load windows at 148FSB!

 

[AdamK47]

I have my voltage set for 1.9V and the multiplier set to 9. The bus speed is currently at 150MHz with the 256MB Micron memory running at 2-2-2 timings. The AGP aperature setting is at 64MB (default). I was running it at 1404MHz with 2.0V. I don't want it to die on me, so I'm now running it at 1350MHz with 1.9V. I kind of like the 150MHz bus though, since it gives a perfectly rounded number Link to CPUID shot.

 

[thetinkerer]

Thanks for the info. Can I change my cpu voltage without modifying the board. The manual says that if I am in jumperless mode, all the voltage jumpers are disabled VID 1-4. On page 19 it says that in jumperless mode all VID jumpers must be 3-4. Once I tried to jumper a different voltage and the machine would not boot. How hard was it to do the multiplier mod? I have read about it, and know I could put in the dip switch, but those tiny resistor blocks are scaring me away!

When I run MadOnion 2001, it locks up fairly consistently in the merry go round scene (High Polygon). If I do not overclock the FSB above 140, it will complete the benchmark, but above 144, it is dicey. However, all other games and programs seem to run fine at 145 FSB. Any thoughts on why MadOnion is so picky? You can see my present jumper settings below. Only thing different is I am now running the FSB at 145 and my VisionTek GEForce Ultra card is OCd to 275/500. When the benchmark will complete, the score is about 4750 or so. I appreciate your help as this A7M266 board is great, but a challenge to overclock!

 

[Renob]

When did Crucial start selling PC-2400 ram?? just curious.

 

[thetinkerer]

My mistake. It is Corsair...


EDIT: I just removed one stick and attempted to OC the FSB up to 148, but Windows still won't load. Tried it with the other stick, same thing. So something else is holding me back. I have not been able to figure out how to increase cpu voltage in jumperless mode, and in jumper mode, I cannot increase the FSB above 133.

 

[AdamK47]

You should be able to adjust the voltage in jumperless mode using the voltage jumpers located in the lower left side of the motherboard. If that doesn't work for you there always penciling in all of the L7 bridges to default the CPU to 1.85V.

Have you ever used Prime95? It's a good program to diagnose the slightest of instabilities. You can get it from here.

 

[thetinkerer]

Thanks Adam

I did try placing the VID jumpers in the position for 1.8 volts and the board will not even post. I put them back to the default position and everything went back to normal. I had tried this in the past, but was not sure if I had the pins in the right positions, so I tried again and made sure I checked the manual carefully. Perhaps my bios 1003 will not allow this in jumperless mode. I think you said you use Bios 1002?? I got the machine with 1003 already installed. Of course, if I go to jumper mode, I can set the voltage, but no longer overclock the FSB :{ Oh well. Thanks for the link for Prime 95. I will check it out. AT PRESENT, I cannot OC above 145, but that's not too bad given that I also can OC my vid card about 10% as well, resulting in 3DMark2001 scores around 4700. I guess to really get more bang I will have to get a GEForce 3, but have been reading some posts of folks having issues with the cards in certain machines (artifacts and odd renderings). Thanks again.

 

[heffe734]

cheapest place to get corsair pc2400 DDR? Links pls.

 

[thetinkerer]

heffe734-

here's where I got mine (Neutronet.com) $46 for 128Mb



neutronet.com PC2400 Corsair

 

[Pabster]

I just got 2 fresh sticks of Crucial PC2100 which hit 166 2-2-2 without a problem. Rock solid and fast as snot, for 1/2 the price of Corsair modules which don't always hit 166 (although some run even faster.)

 

[dabuman]

The best place to get RAM and computer parts in general is at www.pricewatch.com (this is a place where companies list their specials for computer parts from all over the web). Just search for what you are looking for. I use this as a basis for price comparing, and it is often the cheapest, even for name-brand components.

$49.00 + shipping cost for Corsair 128MB PC2400 DDR CAS2 (single chip)
$87.00 + shipping cost for Corsair 256MB PC2400 DDR CAS2 (single chip)

 

[TheTeacher]

PC2400 OCs very well. Read my sig. =)
Mike