Gigabyte GA EP45-UD3P RAM Recommendation

[rsmrdel]

Hello All

I have recently purchased the Asus Xonar 1.3 Deluxe. The only way to fit on this motherboard i.e GA EP45-UD3P is to remove the RAM from the first 2 slots and use only slots 3 and 4. I used to have 4 x 1GB Sticks of Corsair CMX2X1024-6400C4 800Mhz at 4-4-4-12 RAM which worked fine but looking for a 2 x 2GB RAM combo that will work in 2 Slots 3 and 4. I have noticed a speed difference in some areas particularly game playing and video editing going from 2 GB to 4 GB RAM . I have been recommended the G.Skill 4GB (2GB x 2) PC2-8500 (DDR2 1066), PK 5-5-5-15 but would like verification that this is compatible with this motherboard from people who actually have this motherboard and RAM combo. Any other RAM recommendations would be appreciated. I am not really worried about overclocking the RAM but I am guessing this may be possible as well.

Cheers

Robert

[GSKILL TECH]

The PK would work fine, but if you are game playing and video editing, we would definitely recommend the PI or Trident Series as they are slightly better for your usage.

Here is the link to our DDR2 1066 memory packages. The second and third memory package down are the ones I would recommend. Let me know if that helps.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...0(2%20x%202GB)


Thank you
GSKILL SUPPORT

[rsmrdel]

The second and third memory package are not the Trident series. So the second package i.e the F2-8500CL5D-4GBPI-B would be the better option and work ok on the EP45 UD3P? The Trident I assume you are referring to is the F2-8500CL5D-4GBTD? Does this work on the EP45 UD3P? What would be the benefit of this over the 4GPI-B. I live in Australian and can source the F2-8500CL5D-4GBPI-B RAM packagebut not too many have the Trident package. Do you know a stockist in Australia?

Cheers

Robert

[GSKILL TECH]

The F2-8500CL5D-4GBPI or PI-B (black) would work great. The Trident Series F2-8500CL5D-4GBTD is the second package I recommend. Both will be compatible with your motherboard, but the Trident operates at a lower voltage and it is one of our top models so overclocking and performance is top. We do not know the stocklist in Australia, so you will simply need to check your local stores.

Thank you
GSKILL SUPPORT

[rsmrdel]

I think I have found a store which may stock the Trident Package. So the main difference between these is that the Trident is easier or better handles overclocking? When installing these will it be OK to have them in Ram slots 3 & 4? Will I need to tweak the Bios Settings or should they work at 1066 Mhz straight out of the Box after install? Is there much difference between 4GB of RAM running at 800 Mhz or 1066Mhz

Cheers

Robert

[GSKILL TECH]

That's correct, the Trident Series is better to overclock. You can use them in slots 3 & 4 but it is better if they were in 1 & 2. It will be best to set memory frequency, timing, and voltage because the JEDEC standard is DDR2-800 meaning the defaults are only optimzed for that speed. As a result, they might not operate efficiently unless you make those changes. There is quite a difference between 800 and 1066 if they are the same latency, but some have shown that 800 at CAS 4 is essentially the same speed as 1066 at CAS 5 in some cases. For that motherboard, you should definitely be using 1066. Good motherboard.

Thank you
GSKILL SUPPORT

[rsmrdel]

I have purchased the Trident Series F2-8500CL5D-4GBTD pack and have installed in Slots 3 and 4. PC was working fine till blue screen of death. Change the RAM back and works fine. The Trident seems to cause a continuous boot up loop but doesn't reach Bios screen. Any suggestions?

[rsmrdel]

Sorry - the computer did boot up the first time the Tridents went in. Lasted about 10 mins before blue screen of death. Reset PC but would not boot up. Did not reach bios screen and seemed to stop and start in a loop. i replaced the Tridents with the Corsairs I had in there and still works with these so there must be something wrong with bios settings?

Cheers

Robert

[GSKILL TECH]

Please refer to this guide: http://www.gskill.us/forum/showthread.php?t=1169

You will need to make a couple changes to operate at 1200 as well.

CPU Host Clock Control - Enabled
CPU Host Frequency - 375
Performance Enhance - Standard
System Memory Mulitplier - 3.20B
DRAM Timing Selectable - Manual
CAS Latency - 5
tRCD - 5
tRP - 5
tRAS - 5

Advanced Timing Control (submenu)
tRRD - 4
tWTR - 4
tWR - 8
tRFC - 60
tRTP - 4
Command Rate - 2

Load Line Calibration - Disabled
CPU VCore - 1.25V
MCH Core - 1.20V
MCH/DRAM Reference - 1.0V
ICH I/O Core - 1.60V
ICH Core - 1.20V
DRAM Voltage - 1.90V

Let me know how those settings work.

Thank you
GSKILL SUPPORT

[rsmrdel]

Do you make these changes with the old RAM then shutdown after PC boots up. Shut down the PC swap RAM then boot up with new RAM/

Cheers

Robert

[GSKILL TECH]

If you have a problem booting with the new RAM then yes. Otherwise, you should be able to pop them in, boot up into BIOS and just change settings. Once you change the settings, the computer will cold boot on its own to adjust to your BIOS settings. Either way works, let me know if you run into any issues.

Thank you
GSKILL SUPPORT

[rsmrdel]

I think I have worked out that one of the sticks of the Trident is faulty. I decided to put both sticks in slots 3 and 4 and PC would not boot up. I put the 2 Corsairs back in so I could get into BIOS. Changed to settings as per the those in the referred post. When it cold booted I pulled the power cable out so it could not restart and placed the two Tridents in. Again it would not boot up or reach BIOS. This is when I tried one Trident in Slot 3 and Success. I tried the same one in slot 4 on its own and Success. I did the same with the other Trident and would not boot up in either Slot 3 and 4. I think it's safe to say it may be faulty. This may explain on initial installation with two they were both working fine for a period of about 10 minutes and then the problems after the blue screen of death i.e one of the Tridents failed.
It's also funny because I had a guy behind me when i was buying these; explain that RAM usually fails within day or two of purchase. I guess he was right!

It seems that the motherboard works with these without adjusting the BIOS. As I type this I have the Trident working fine but i am not sure of the settings in the BIOS. Can you overclock 1 RAM chip with the settings you provide for 1200 speed. How do I go about replacing the RAM Chips?

Cheers

Robert

[GSKILL TECH]

Sounds like one is defective. RAM doesn't fail consistently after a day or two, but it simply can and does happen. The memory will work without the settings, but they may not operate at 1200 since the processor needs to be overclocked to get there. You will need to make the adjustments in BIOS to properly run at 1200.

If you replace it through NewEgg, you will need to send the entire set back. If you would like to send one only for a replacement, you will need to exchange it through us.

Please visit our website at http://www.gskill.com/rma.php for complete RMA procedures. You will need to download and complete the RMA Form then email it to ustech@gskill.com for an RMA number to return the defective memory sticks. Let me know if you have any further questions.

Thank you
GSKILL SUPPORT

[rsmrdel]

I have taken the RAM kit back to the shop and they replaced it on the spot as the faulty RAM smelt like it burnt itself out. I have installed the new RAM and set the bios settings to those to operate at 1200 as you listed earlier. Only thing I would like to question is the tRAS value. Is it 5 or 15 as mentioned in the other post referred to. Is there a windows application that checks that the setting changes are indeed working?

The motherboard has EasyTune 6 which states the right RAM Part Number, Manufacturer, Module Size. It mentions max bandwidth as PC2-6400(400Mhz). There is a timings table which has the following:
Frequency 400, CAS# Latency 5.0 , RAS# to CAS# 5, RAS# Percentage 5, Tras 15
Frequency 266, CAS# Latency 4.0 , RAS# to CAS# 4, RAS# Percentage 4, Tras 10
Frequency 533, CAS# Latency 5.0 , RAS# to CAS# 4, RAS# Percentage 4, Tras 15

What does this mean?

[GSKILL TECH]

Sorry, tRAS 15, typo. You can use Everest or CPU-z to get information about your memory. As long as it is stable and the BIOS is set correctly, you should have no issues.

It states that max bandwidth because that is the JEDEC standard on your motherboard. The maximum standard is DDR2-800, meaning anything higher is considered an Enhanced Performance Profile. The values are the SPD values for those speeds. Meaning at 533 (DDR2-1066), the CAS# Latency should be 5 , RAS# to CAS# 4, RAS# Percentage 4, Tras 15. Memory go by certain spec, so these are the default values that should be used by the motherboard.

This is exactly what is in CPU-z, but CPU-z will show that 533 is an Enhanced Performance Profile since the JEDEC standard is PC2-6400(400Mhz). It will also show that the memory will require 2.1V instead of default 1.8V.

Thank you
GSKILL SUPPORT