The Mysteries of OC'ing Ram

[Cutless009]

Can somebody please give me a noobs breakdown of overclocking ram? I know how to OC CPU's but not ram and it bugs the hell outta me.


How do I tell what speed my ram is running at (in mhz)
How do I tell what FSB my ram is running at?
Is there any benefit in matching the ram's FSB to the CPU's?


(I know tighter timings are better)

Ram confuses me :confused:

[bigslappy]

HEY anyone ,I know some but not enuff to say i know what i'm talking about ....

Somebody Who know their shit chime in PLZ ....

[Kayin]

Well, a little bit of info...

RAM speed is a functionality of FSB. if you know your FSB, and you know your divider, you know your RAM speed.

For instance, I'm running 1720 FSB 1:1. Intel uses a "quad-pumped" FSB, which basically means that the FSB is running at 4 times the memory bandwidth. 1720/4=430. So my memory spped is 430. My divider is 1:1, so I am running 430FSB to 430 RAM speed. You could run a 2:1 divider for 430 FSB=215 RAM if your ram is weaker, but matching 1:1 gets best results, as all memory bandwidth is being used.

Tighter timings are all well and good to point, but they're the number one cause of instabilities too. Play with them some to make sure they're not limiting your OC. If it's affecting you 200+ MHz, you may want to loosen the timings for the additional speed increase, especially if you're still running 1:1.

[Cutless009]

so ALL intel uses "quad pumped" FSB?


woah wait what, your running 1720fsb? o.o Or 430x4=1720fsb? Cuz last I heard like ~800fsb was the world record atm o.o

[Kayin]

430x4. I don't think I have cooling enough to stretch for the record. Need to get my Dominator fan back together though...

[Cutless009]

How much cooling does it take for ram? I have solid copper heatspreaders from Enzotech and a big ass 120mm Ultra Kaze pointed at them, would that be enough LOL.

[Kayin]

Yes, yours is enough. You need to have one long and one short on each, though. Noticed that in your log.

Mine have CF heatspreaders and no airflow on an open bench in decently chilly ambients. However, I've a modded Dominator fan I need to clip on there for more flow...

[Cutless009]

Yah they have one long and one short each now, have for a while, just havnt taken a pic of it :up: Sweet thanks ^_^

[Kayin]

some more to chew on, most AMDs "dual-pump" or double the rates. I need to get solid numbers on the Phenoms, but they MAY quad pump theirs.

It's technically possible to run the RAM faster than the FSB, especially if looking for RAM records. If you want a FSB record though, run the RAM slower so you have more headroom.

I've been messing with this for a LONG time, since Socket A hardcore, Socket 7 was my beginning.

As I think of more I'll post it...

[ILikeCosmosS]

ocing ram is confusing my goal simply to get 6 dimms of 2g ddr3 to 1600mhz at least on a ocz xtc cooler i decided not to go overkill with watercooling the ram
all i know of is increase fsbx4= frequency and then cas latency should be short right? like the dominator gt are at 7-8-7-20 and they are priced at 500 dollars or something like that
how do you achieve that with just like ocz platinums or ocz blade series?

[Silverion77]

Wait is this in terms of 775 or i7?

I kno how to break down 775 but have not worked with i7 before

[ILikeCosmosS]

i7 but break down the 775 and i pretty sure its similar just that there is trichannel memory instead of dual channel

[Hondacity]

Can somebody please give me a noobs breakdown of overclocking ram? I know how to OC CPU's but not ram and it bugs the hell outta me.

* How do I tell what speed my ram is running at (in mhz)
* How do I tell what FSB my ram is running at?
* Is there any benefit in matching the ram's FSB to the CPU's?


1. use everest to display your ram speed.
2. you can use cpu-z to view fsb
3. nope, they say 1:1 ratio, when i had my e8600, e7200, q9550, e6750 ....it doesn't matter

[Baleful]

lmao Cosmos, you gotta look at thread dates.....

[Floyd]

3. nope, they say 1:1 ratio, when i had my e8600, e7200, q9550, e6750 ....it doesn't matter

I think 1:1 isnt as important as people say. I think its more about timing.

[Silverion77]

O wow...rofl on Dead thread

my bad...saw it on current thread so i responded

[Worthy]

I think 1:1 isnt as important as people say. I think its more about timing.

Agreed.