***? Check this out ... some screwed up **** up in here!!!

I have the EPoX 8RGA+ ...
I have 2 DIMMs of 512MB Buffalo Tech PC3700 RAM in dual channel mode.

Vdimm = 2.50 volts
Vcore = 1.61 to 1.62 volts (set at default, but board undervolts it for some reason).

The RAM is solid as the plymouth rock @ 180MHz FSB sync with timings of 2-2-2-3!!!

sandra 2003 RAM bandwidth gives me like 2611/2511 at the above settings.

I get over 5850 3dmarks2001SE that way (5885 - actual).

185 is not stable. IGP is not an issue (Tbird), since there is a person who runs his AGP at over 210MHz FSB sync.

What should I do? Should I RMA the RAM? Should I send it back for refund and get something else? (Hyperx 512MB sticks are out ... no Hyperx).

Running 200+ FSB in single channel is NOT an option!!!

This RAM is Winbond BH-5 chips :)
The RAM is good, but I need it to run at over 200MHz FSB!!!

timings of 2-3-3-7 and voltage of 2.9 produce zero positive results (it can BOOT but is not stable).

Sounds like the smae issues that Hyper X ram has with NF2 boards.... Ummm.... I had the same problme with my Hyperx... and you know what fixed it? Buying 2 sticks of Corsair XMS-3500 :D

What FSB are you running it at?

I have been eyeing that RAM lately ;)

Quote:

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Originally posted by lostlilchild6
Sounds like the smae issues that Hyper X ram has with NF2 boards.... Ummm.... I had the same problme with my Hyperx... and you know what fixed it? Buying 2 sticks of Corsair XMS-3500 :D

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You do realize that board is using an IGP chipset based on earlier chip designs, and is only rated to 166MHz FSB. This sounds like nothing more than the same thing that happened with the 8RDA and a lot of other first revision nForce2 boards...hitting 200MHz FSB or higher was hit or miss.

It's an A3

It can do 200MHz async, I am starting to blame the RAM ... again.

Quote:

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Originally posted by Un4given
You do realize that board is using an IGP chipset based on earlier chip designs, and is only rated to 166MHz FSB. This sounds like nothing more than the same thing that happened with the 8RDA and a lot of other first revision nForce2 boards...hitting 200MHz FSB or higher was hit or miss.

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Quote:

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Originally posted by slavik
What FSB are you running it at?

I have been eyeing that RAM lately ;)

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200MHz FSB... DC DDr enabled... 2-2-2-4-1T timings... 2.7Vdimm :).

Have you tried going higher?

Quote:

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Originally posted by lostlilchild6



200MHz FSB... DC DDr enabled... 2-2-2-4-1T timings... 2.7Vdimm :).

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are you sure its the ram? I know single channel is not an option, but try it just for 10 minutes. I bet your ram can do at least 200fsb. my generic pc3200 did up to 186fsb at slowest timings with a voltage increase :) also try 1 stick at a time

Quote:

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Originally posted by slavik
Have you tried going higher?

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Yup... but suprisingly enough... 200mhz was max stable in DC mode :(. However... I can go up to about 218MHz in SC mode :). So basicaly, upgrading to Corsair got me about another 25mhz in DC mode.

One stick at a time is single channel ... and they DO work!

This seems to be the same issue as the hyperx 3500 issue.

Quote:

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Originally posted by Thunderbird1GHz
are you sure its the ram? I know single channel is not an option, but try it just for 10 minutes. I bet your ram can do at least 200fsb. my generic pc3200 did up to 186fsb at slowest timings with a voltage increase :) also try 1 stick at a time

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Go check some other forums, and you will see the consensus is that Winbond is the best RAM to run DC in for AMD systems. I still don't think you are being held back by your RAM. Like Un4given said, 200FSB is hit or miss. If you want to RMA your RAM you can try, but I seriously doubt that stuff couldn't do 200FSB stably. There are no issues running DC with Winbond.

I got mushkin PC3500... doesnt go past 200 fsb @ 2.5 / 4 / 4 / 6 timings. Not real happy about that. I find myself wondering why theres even a rating system when 99% of ram can't operate at that speed with loose timings, much less at a stock DDR voltage.

I guess ram ratings mean zip because my corsair pc2700 can do 182fsb at best timings while my generic samsung did 182 at *worst* timings or 133 at best timings. Sad pc3200 ram can only run pc2100 speeds at agressive timings. PC3200 is also overpriced, pc2700 is the best deal now and just hope for luck, 170 to 180 fsb at good timings is the norm :) 200 at good timings is exceedly rare.

Ram rating does matter... Those PC3200 you got were probably NOT PC3200!!!!

You cannot compare the two... Crap vs. Quality!!!

While we're on the subject of RAM...does anyone know why my pc2100 can do 182mhz at 2.7vdimm @ 2-2-2-2t but with the most relaxed timings and 2.8vdimm i cant do 183???