RAM voltage
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From: James D. Andrews on 2 Apr 2010 11:12 Trying to choose RAM for a new mobo - a BIOSTAR MCP6P M2+ running an AMD Sempron. (This combo was picked primarily for PRICE, but also considering known compatibility, other factors, and hundreds of positive reviews) So, the problem I'm having in selection is picking RAM with consideration to voltage. I couldn't find RAM voltage specs on the Biostar site. A couple people stated that the voltage defaults to 1.95V Do I need 1.95 and above or 1.95 and below? The long list of chips that meet my other needs and qualifications ranges from 1.8V - 2.2V --- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: news(a)netfront.net ---
From: James D. Andrews on 2 Apr 2010 11:17 "James D. Andrews" <jamesdandrews(a)att.net> wrote in message news:hp51g1$2516$1(a)adenine.netfront.net... > Trying to choose RAM for a new mobo - a BIOSTAR MCP6P M2+ running an AMD > Sempron. > > (This combo was picked primarily for PRICE, but also considering known > compatibility, other factors, and hundreds of positive reviews) > > So, the problem I'm having in selection is picking RAM with consideration > to voltage. > > I couldn't find RAM voltage specs on the Biostar site. > > A couple people stated that the voltage defaults to 1.95V > > Do I need 1.95 and above or 1.95 and below? > > The long list of chips that meet my other needs and qualifications ranges > from 1.8V - 2.2V > Whoops! I forgot to mention, I'm looking at DDR2, either 800 or 1066 4GB (2x2GB) --- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: news(a)netfront.net ---
From: JD on 2 Apr 2010 12:56 On 02/04/2010 4:17 PM, James D. Andrews wrote: > "James D. Andrews"<jamesdandrews(a)att.net> wrote in message > news:hp51g1$2516$1(a)adenine.netfront.net... >> Trying to choose RAM for a new mobo - a BIOSTAR MCP6P M2+ running an AMD >> Sempron. >> >> (This combo was picked primarily for PRICE, but also considering known >> compatibility, other factors, and hundreds of positive reviews) >> >> So, the problem I'm having in selection is picking RAM with consideration >> to voltage. >> >> I couldn't find RAM voltage specs on the Biostar site. >> >> A couple people stated that the voltage defaults to 1.95V >> >> Do I need 1.95 and above or 1.95 and below? >> >> The long list of chips that meet my other needs and qualifications ranges >> from 1.8V - 2.2V >> > > > Whoops! I forgot to mention, I'm looking at DDR2, either 800 or 1066 > 4GB (2x2GB) > > > > --- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: news(a)netfront.net --- The manual for your Mobo: http://www.biostar-usa.com/upload/Manual/N61PB-M2S_090918_B.zip Your motherboard supports 1.95v, 2.0v, 2.05 and 2.1 the default voltage is 1.95v I can recommend the OCZ DDR2 800Mhz Platinum XTC 2Gb Kits (I have 2 of them, 4gb in the media centre downstairs) part number OCZ2P8002GK, Voltage 2.1v, and I see they have come down in price also. JD
From: James D. Andrews on 2 Apr 2010 13:53 "JD" <No.Reply(a)Sorry.com> wrote in message news:4bb62175$0$2522$da0feed9(a)news.zen.co.uk... > On 02/04/2010 4:17 PM, James D. Andrews wrote: >> "James D. Andrews"<jamesdandrews(a)att.net> wrote in message >> news:hp51g1$2516$1(a)adenine.netfront.net... >>> Trying to choose RAM for a new mobo - a BIOSTAR MCP6P M2+ running an AMD >>> Sempron. SNIP SNIP >>> So, the problem I'm having in selection is picking RAM with >>> consideration >>> to voltage. >>> SNIP SNIP Do I need 1.95 and above or 1.95 and below? >>> >>> The long list of chips that meet my other needs and qualifications >>> ranges >>> from 1.8V - 2.2V >> Whoops! I forgot to mention, I'm looking at DDR2, either 800 or 1066 >> 4GB (2x2GB) > The manual for your Mobo: > http://www.biostar-usa.com/upload/Manual/N61PB-M2S_090918_B.zip > > Your motherboard supports 1.95v, 2.0v, 2.05 and 2.1 the default voltage is > 1.95v > > I can recommend the OCZ DDR2 800Mhz Platinum XTC 2Gb Kits (I have 2 of > them, 4gb in the media centre downstairs) part number OCZ2P8002GK, Voltage > 2.1v, and I see they have come down in price also. > > JD Thanks JD You come through again. The OCZ Platinum was actually at the top of my list, nice to know you recommend it. However, I hate to be a pest, but ... I was reading through a gazillion sites today and came across a possible problem: One site said the Sempron will not support memory more than 667s. Another said 800s. Another said 400s. But I've read of people using 1066s. AMD site is good for bringing on a mental breakdown. I'm so confused. Do you know what my Sempron 140 Sargas will support for memory? --- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: news(a)netfront.net ---
From: Paul on 2 Apr 2010 14:11
James D. Andrews wrote: > "James D. Andrews" <jamesdandrews(a)att.net> wrote in message > news:hp51g1$2516$1(a)adenine.netfront.net... >> Trying to choose RAM for a new mobo - a BIOSTAR MCP6P M2+ running an AMD >> Sempron. >> >> (This combo was picked primarily for PRICE, but also considering known >> compatibility, other factors, and hundreds of positive reviews) >> >> So, the problem I'm having in selection is picking RAM with consideration >> to voltage. >> >> I couldn't find RAM voltage specs on the Biostar site. >> >> A couple people stated that the voltage defaults to 1.95V >> >> Do I need 1.95 and above or 1.95 and below? >> >> The long list of chips that meet my other needs and qualifications ranges >> from 1.8V - 2.2V >> > > > Whoops! I forgot to mention, I'm looking at DDR2, either 800 or 1066 > 4GB (2x2GB) > All memories "operate" at 1.8V (for DDR2), because that is the JEDEC agreed standard. Enthusiast memory may fail to meet timing at 1.8V, so the manufacturer may say "meets timing at 2.1V". But all DDR2 should do something, when 1.8V is applied. You would hope, that if a memory product is in that situation, that the SPD would not call up the specified timings. For example, say a memory was DDR2-1066 6-6-6-18 at 2.1V. For that memory to start without crashing, the "top speed" shown in the SPD might be DDR2-800 6-6-6-18, which would represent a slightly relaxed set of values (easier for the memory to meet). That allows the user to get into the BIOS, the first time the product is used. If the user never entered the BIOS, then the product would stay running at DDR2-800 forever. Once the user is in the BIOS, they look at the piece of paper that accompanied the product, that claimed it was DDR2-1066 6-6-6-18 at 2.1V. The user would then dial those values in manually, and test. In other words, the SPD is designed to *not* represent the spec for the RAM, in order that the motherboard will start up the first time. That is to get around the "startup problem". Your board supports: 1.950V (default), 2.000V, 2.050V, 2.100V. It is going to start at the default value the first time, and then you can crank it up. I would not buy a memory product with a stated voltage need of more than 2.1V to meet timing, as your board doesn't go any higher. And if you bought a 1.95V memory, that would guarantee the stick would meet timing, no matter what is stored in the SPD. This kit is in the right ballpark. The difference between 1.95 and 2.00 is small enough, that this is likely to work no matter what is in the SPD chip on the DIMM. Cas Latency: 6 Voltage: 2.0V Dual Channel 6-6-6-18 F2-8500CL6D-4GBNQ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231226 and this one needs too much voltage to meet its specified timing, so you'd need to relax the timing or frequency to make it work on your 2.1V max board. Cas Latency: 5 Voltage: 2.2V - 2.4V Dual Channel 5-5-5-15 GX24GB8500C5UDC http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820144255 Now, I found this comment on another site for the GX24GB8500C5UDC product. "The SPD's default this RAM to safe DDR800, but with a few tweaks in the BIOS, we are smokin" That means the 2.2V DDR2-1066 RAM, starts at DDR2-800, and by doing so, it would need less voltage to start. It would likely work well enough that it would start right away at your default 1.95V. But the problem is, your board only goes to 2.1V, so you couldn't dial in the exact numbers on the box. If you wanted to use that 2.2V RAM, perhaps you'd set the timing to 5-6-6-18 or something and retest. Then try 6-6-6-18 and test again with memtest86+ and so on. The reason there is a range of voltages on that second product, is the first voltage is the one to meet timing. The second voltage is the maximum recommended voltage. And since you can download memory datasheets from the memory chip manufacturers, you can see that their "absolute maximum" voltage roughly agrees with what the DIMM maker is listing. When a single voltage is listed, like the 2.0V RAM, they aren't listing the absolute max. If you can see what brand of chips is being used, you can look up the absolute max for them yourself. Some enthusiast memory, contains additional information in the SPD. The JEDEC spec, doesn't allow for "enthusiast voltage" as a parameter. The specification extensions (there are a couple pseudo-standards), allow both timing and voltage to be specified. But the motherboard BIOS must support such a scheme, for it to work. If you mixed such a stick, with a BIOS that doesn't read that info, you'd be no better off than before. Or perhaps even worse off, depending on how cleverly the SPD is coded. With the conventional SPD scheme, as long as they relax the timing, and don't write the rated values in the SPD, then the user can dial in the values manually. That defeats the purpose of the SPD (which is to automate the process), but solves the problem of enthusiast products needing way too much voltage. On "non-enthusiast" RAM, say a product that claims to run at 1.8V, the operation at 1.95V is not going to hurt it. That is far enough below "absolute max" to not affect service life. And the little bit of extra voltage helps ensure the motherboard doesn't crash when it starts up the first time. This one, for example, is specified at 1.8V, which means it is going to start in whatever motherboard it is plugged into. One user got this to work on an Intel board, but not an AMD. Go figure... Always read the reviews, for any quirks. It is how I shopped for RAM the last time, and ended up selecting a different brand as a result. If the reviews show a lot of DOAs or the like, then why bother ? The only way a manufacturer can cut costs, is to reduce test time. So the review comments are important. Don't just read the summary numbers at the top, read the individual comments. For example, if a memory product "burned my DIMM slot", I wouldn't touch the product with a barge pole, no matter how many other glowing reports there were. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148249 Paul |