Help with getting the best from my system (updated and solved?)

AMD Athlon 64 X" 4400+
Abit Fatal1ty A8N SLi
2 x 1024MB Mushkin redline
2 x Club3D nVidia GeForce 7800GT in SLi
SoundBlaster X-Fi Fatal1ty edition
Stock air cooling, with additional case fans (4 heatpipe AMD cooler, seems quite good!)

I'm traditionally more of a software person, but I've recieved most of the things listed above as gifts(!), and I want to make the most of them.

The RAM is supposed to be DDR500, but the SPD lists it as DDR400. Is this a problem with my memory, or is it usual for redline? If i try to set it manually to DDR500 in the bios, then the PC generally crashes before it loads Windows.

I've also tried increasing the FSB/HTT clock to 250, to run the memory at its rated frequency without changing its multiplier, but even with the CPU multiplier reduced to keep the processor at stock speed, Prime95 fails in less than one minute. It seems to do the same for any FSB over 110, whatever the multiplier. I've set the HT multiplier to 4x, to keep the HT bus at or under 1000, but it doesn't seem to make any difference. Nor does tinkering with the voltages, at least within the levels I've tried.

Is there something I need to do that I've missed? I don't know the Athlon64 concept well enough to know what else the HTT clock affects. Is there something there that might be causing the problem, or am i just being retarded?

 

Sounds to me like the ram really is ddr400 and not 500, if you have proof of purchase I'd RMA it on grounds of not working as it should/being what it should.

Oh one other thing, what are the timings for the ram supposed to be ?

 

3-3-2-8 according to the SPD

 

I'd try flashing the BIOS to the most current version if it's not already before I got hasty. Mushkin Redline is one of the best right now for 2gig kits, so don't sell it short before you've isolated the problem.

 

The RAM is likely DDR500, but since by default it's running at 400MHz, it's given you the 400MHz SPD table settings. What voltage are you using for the 500MHz run? Check CPU-Z and see if that gives you an entry in the SPD for 250MHz.

Also try as Superlunchbox said and flash that BIOS - new versions often fix compatibility issues and increase performance with certain types of memory. The Infineon CE-6 chips are fairly new and hence might give you better luck with a new BIOS. Remember to clear the CMOS after flashing, too

 

tbh the best place for you is http://forum.abit-usa.com/forumdisplay.php?f=73

iirc there are some people running redline there.

Check that you have the Vdimm set corectly for that RAM, use the 400 divider for initial overclocking & you could also try 2T.

btw what PSU is powering all that stuff?

 

It's a Hiper HPU-4K580-MK Type R 580W

 

The RAM's defaulted to DDR400 speeds because that's all it's set to in the BIOS, to run synchronous with the LDT.
If you go in and set the Memory speed to 250 MHz, you can use it with the default timings that are (usually) written on the modules themselves.

 

Do you mean (on this board at least) set the DRAM Clock to DDR500? When I do that, it seems to default back to something much slower when it boots - CpuZ shows the ram speed as being 130MHz.

 

Any chance you can post an A64 tweaker screenshot, along with CPU mate?

Cheers
<edit>get A64 tweaker here </edit>

 

Default settings (CMOS reset)


DRAM clock set to DDR500, everything else the same.

Sorry for the big pics... I only have windows paint

 

Ok, how are you setting the Dram clock? it appears to be running a 133 divider.
Set HTT to 250 (leave timings set at "auto") and drop the CPU multi to 9 to keep CPU at stock.
Set LDT multi (or HTT multi whatever its called in your bios) to 4.
That'll put the ram at 250, and leave the cpu at stock speeds.

If it wont boot, manually set timings cas 3, trcd 4, trp 4, tras 8

 

Ok, on auto it boots, with 3-3-4-8 timings, but fails prime95 immediately, and won't complete a superpi 1mil run.

I tried manually setting the timings to what you suggested, and it made no difference.

 

You've dropped multi etc as noted above? set HTT/LDT multiplier?
Any chance of screenies as provided before from 250 HTT?

 

Sometimes (OK it is rare) you have to set HT ratio=1X in order to achieve high FSBs...
Try this...

 

Ok, set the HTT ratio to 4x, there should be nothing wrong with the ratios at that speed (250).
My primary concern is your RAM, I have the exact same board as you and run at 250MHz, I encounter no problems.
If your CPU core is still as default try raising that to 4.75V.

 

Fixed. I don't think ANY board lets you pump over 4V into the CPU. :|

Hmm, this must be very rare, I've NEVER heard of this. And can't imagine it happening on a half decent board.
(PC-Chips might want 1X at stock </piss take>)

 

250Mhz, 1.475V

Thanks for all the help so far everyone

 

Has that failed SuperPI? In the background, looks like it has. :/

 

Prime95 you mean, and yea it has.

1.5 vCore is a little high, back down to 1.4 tops, especially running CPU speed at stock.

Out of interest are you prime stable at stock?
Drop vDimm to stock, also seems your running NB voltage quite high too, back that down to 1.5 and see what happens.