A message from Crucial

  • Thread starter Thread starter da_test
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da_test

I sent Crucial an email, outlining the fact that I'd purchased
a 256MB stick of CL2 pc133 SDRAM (CT32M64S8D7E)
and I was asking their advice about the DIMM memory speed
setting in the bios. For example, you can set 6-3-3 (normal)
6-3-2 (enhanced) 6-2-3 (fast) etc,etc.

This is their response:
"Hello Dave,
Thank you for your email. I would recommend leaving part number
CT32M64S8D7E at the normal setting of 6-3-3. If you overclock the part
it will void the warranty of the memory module."



I can understand that recommendation if it's based on the
expected correct operation of the memory; but surely
choosing one of the faster timings is not overclocking,
and therefore should not violate the terms of the warranty.


What is crucial telling me?
Dave
 
I sent Crucial an email, outlining the fact that I'd purchased
a 256MB stick of CL2 pc133 SDRAM (CT32M64S8D7E)
and I was asking their advice about the DIMM memory speed
setting in the bios. For example, you can set 6-3-3 (normal)
6-3-2 (enhanced) 6-2-3 (fast) etc,etc.

This is their response:
"Hello Dave,
Thank you for your email. I would recommend leaving part number
CT32M64S8D7E at the normal setting of 6-3-3. If you overclock the part
it will void the warranty of the memory module."



I can understand that recommendation if it's based on the
expected correct operation of the memory; but surely
choosing one of the faster timings is not overclocking,
and therefore should not violate the terms of the warranty.


What is crucial telling me?
Dave
Click to expand...

If you run the ram out of spec (lower latency) then it's over clocking
and may cause problems.

If you're running Windows try running the free "CPU-Z" program, look at
the memory section and see if tells you what the timings are of the ram
sticks.

Ed
 
I sent Crucial an email, outlining the fact that I'd purchased
a 256MB stick of CL2 pc133 SDRAM (CT32M64S8D7E)
and I was asking their advice about the DIMM memory speed
setting in the bios. For example, you can set 6-3-3 (normal)
6-3-2 (enhanced) 6-2-3 (fast) etc,etc.

This is their response:
"Hello Dave,
Thank you for your email. I would recommend leaving part number
CT32M64S8D7E at the normal setting of 6-3-3. If you overclock the part
it will void the warranty of the memory module."



I can understand that recommendation if it's based on the
expected correct operation of the memory; but surely
choosing one of the faster timings is not overclocking,
Click to expand...

It *is* overclocking. they've warranteed the product to work at the
specification given in the board it's sold for. Anythign else is
"over-clocking" and thus I don't blame them for writing you off.
and therefore should not violate the terms of the warranty.
Click to expand...

Bullshit! It's not being used as sold and *does* violate the warranty.
What is crucial telling me?
Click to expand...

You've now told them that you're violating the terms of the warranty
and that you're sucking on your own?
 
CPU-Z Link: http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info, according to the SPD timings table,
the crucial stick at 133MHz, can support
CL2,
ras to cas 2
ras precharge 2
TRas 6

So to me, it looks as if Dimm memory of 6-2-2 is supported.
Now, the response from crucial is even more nonsensical than
it first seemed. Either that or the response from RusH is correct!

Dave
 
It *is* overclocking. they've warranteed the product to work at the
specification given in the board it's sold for. Anythign else is
"over-clocking" and thus I don't blame them for writing you off.


Bullshit! It's not being used as sold and *does* violate the warranty.


You've now told them that you're violating the terms of the warranty
and that you're sucking on your own?
Click to expand...
No. I didn't respond to them. Nor did I say I was actually
"overclocking". It was just an inquiry. Secondly, according
to CPUZ it actually supports 6-2-2 !

I'm not an expert, but I thought that these timing were to do with
how quickly the bus would access the memory and expect to find
the data. I didn't think it was actually driving the memory harder
just accessing it more often. Either the memory can support
those timings or it can't.

Surely, by usng these DIMM speed settings all you're doing is
accessing the memory past a speed it can (potentially) support.
Does this put strain of the memory? I always thought the answer
was no.
Dave
 
da_test said:
Surely, by usng these DIMM speed settings all you're doing is
accessing the memory past a speed it can (potentially) support.
Does this put strain of the memory? I always thought the answer
was no.
Click to expand...

and it is NO. You cant brake silicon with high frequency, high voltage
is another thing.

Pozdrawiam.
 
They don't support it, so it *is* over-clocking. It costs them money to
answer you question. If it stops working tomorrow it costs them money to
replace it.
and it is NO. You cant brake silicon with high frequency, high voltage
is another thing.
Click to expand...

Nonsense. Power is proportional to frequency. It *is* possible (though
not likely for memory) to burn out "silicon" with a higher frequency.
 
da_test said:
No. I didn't respond to them. Nor did I say I was actually
"overclocking". It was just an inquiry. Secondly, according
to CPUZ it actually supports 6-2-2 !
Click to expand...

If the chip's own SPD says that it supports that speed, then that's the
speed it supports. Doesn't your computer have a "use SPD" or "default
timings" setting? Those are usually based off of the SPD settings.

Yousuf Khan
 
If the chip's own SPD says that it supports that speed, then that's the
speed it supports. Doesn't your computer have a "use SPD" or "default
timings" setting? Those are usually based off of the SPD settings.

Yousuf Khan
Click to expand...
Yes it does have an SPD setting, but that's the interleave item.
I believe the interleave options are SPD, 4-way, 2-way or none.

The bios doc is a little sparse, but nowhere is it inferred that
that will affect the memory timings.
My bios does have a setting for cl2/cl3 and a separate one
for DIMM speed. The options are "normal" (622),
"enhanced"(632), "fast" (623), "faster" (622) and
"fastest" (522)

Default timing are obviously cl3/normal, but it's going to
choose that regardless of the memory capabilities.
Dave
 
So to me, it looks as if Dimm memory of 6-2-2 is supported.
Now, the response from crucial is even more nonsensical than
it first seemed. Either that or the response from RusH is correct!

Dave
Click to expand...

You could just set the BIOS to use "SPD" and it should set the timings
correctly, but that doesn't always work correctly with all boards and
ram sticks, I always set the ram timings manually to spec when I can.

You may want to test your setup with programs like Memtest86+
http://www.memtest.org/ and Prime95(Tests lots of Ram)
http://www.mersenne.org/freesoft.htm just to make sure it's working
error free.

Ed
 
You could just set the BIOS to use "SPD" and it should set the timings
correctly, but that doesn't always work correctly with all boards and
ram sticks, I always set the ram timings manually to spec when I can.

You may want to test your setup with programs like Memtest86+
http://www.memtest.org/ and Prime95(Tests lots of Ram)
http://www.mersenne.org/freesoft.htm just to make sure it's working
error free.

Ed
Click to expand...
Ed, a couple of things, I've never had much luck with memory testers.
If I set the timing aggresively, I will/have errors in Windiws.
But memtest86+ never finds a problem.

Secondly, as I mentioned in another post in this thread,
in my bios SPD seems related to interleave only,
unless I'm misunderstanding something - but I don't
think I am. I checked the chipset values using wpcredit.
Dave
 
If the chip's own SPD says that it supports that speed, then that's the
speed it supports. Doesn't your computer have a "use SPD" or "default
timings" setting? Those are usually based off of the SPD settings.
Click to expand...


I bought this Crucial memory 2x512 BL6464Z402 from

http://www.crucial.com/store/MPartspecs.Asp?mtbpoid=D53F57E0A5CA7304&WSMD
=A8V+Deluxe&WSPN=BL6464Z402

This web page text says 2-2-2-6 timing, so that was my expectation.

However, the Asus A8V BIOS according to CPUZ interprets the SPD as
2-2-2-8

My default setting is 2.5V. Memory specs says 2.8V.
Can that possibly affect SPD?
 
I bought this Crucial memory 2x512 BL6464Z402 from

http://www.crucial.com/store/MPartspecs.Asp?mtbpoid=D53F57E0A5CA7304&WSMD
=A8V+Deluxe&WSPN=BL6464Z402

This web page text says 2-2-2-6 timing, so that was my expectation.

However, the Asus A8V BIOS according to CPUZ interprets the SPD as
2-2-2-8

My default setting is 2.5V. Memory specs says 2.8V.
Can that possibly affect SPD?
Click to expand...
Hi Wayne - don't know the answer to this.
Open up a new thread, you'll get better visibilty.
Dave
 
Ed, a couple of things, I've never had much luck with memory testers.
If I set the timing aggresively, I will/have errors in Windiws.
But memtest86+ never finds a problem.
Click to expand...

That's why Prime95 is a good follow-on to memtest86+ - it runs in the
Windows environment which does things which memtest86+ doesn't. If
Memtest86+ finds no errors, it usually means you can get Windows installed
OK, though I admit, not always. It's not a bad idea to use manually set
loose timings to get Windows installed.
Secondly, as I mentioned in another post in this thread,
in my bios SPD seems related to interleave only,
unless I'm misunderstanding something - but I don't
think I am. I checked the chipset values using wpcredit.
Click to expand...

SPD states the operating timings for the DRAM, basically Tcas, Trcp, Trp,
Tras and command rate, some of which are stated as delay time rather than
cycles IIRC. Interleave is either on or off and in current DRAMs that
means 4-way or auto-precharge and is usually controllable by a BIOS
setting.
 
That's why Prime95 is a good follow-on to memtest86+ - it runs in the
Windows environment which does things which memtest86+ doesn't. If
Memtest86+ finds no errors, it usually means you can get Windows installed
OK, though I admit, not always. It's not a bad idea to use manually set
loose timings to get Windows installed.


SPD states the operating timings for the DRAM, basically Tcas, Trcp, Trp,
Tras and command rate, some of which are stated as delay time rather than
cycles IIRC. Interleave is either on or off and in current DRAMs that
means 4-way or auto-precharge and is usually controllable by a BIOS
setting.
Click to expand...
George, thanks for the info. I'll try and track down Prime95.
Regards,
Dave
 
George, thanks for the info. I'll try and track down Prime95.
Regards,
Dave
Click to expand...
I just found something else that quickly detects memory problems.
Open an avi file in virtualdub, hold down the shift key and drag the
pointer.
It should snap to key frames. Progress thru the avi should be
smooth. With my memory timings a little too aggressive,
I got hiccups and the avi display cleared to grey screen.

I'm giving prime95 a try now.
regards,
Dave
 
You may want to test your setup with programs like Memtest86+
http://www.memtest.org/ and Prime95(Tests lots of Ram)
http://www.mersenne.org/freesoft.htm just to make sure it's working
error free.
Click to expand...

Sorry?
Prime95 does not "test lots of RAM". From the readme :
" SETTING AVAILABLE MEMORY
The P-1 factoring step prior to running a Lucas-Lehmer test is more
effective if it is given more memory to work with. However, if you let
the program use too much memory then the performance of ALL programs
will suffer. The good news is that 98% of the time the program uses
less than 8MB. In fact, the program will work just fine if you instruct
the program to use only 8MB or less."
etc ...
 
What is crucial telling me?
Click to expand...

They are telling you that they believe in Corporate
PR-cover-our-ass-ism :P


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