F2-6400CL4D-4GBPK + ASUS M4A78 BIOS settings

[fledermausland]

Dear all,

two weeks ago i changed my Mainboard from ASUS M2V (Chipset VIA K8T89) into ASUS M4A78 (Chipset AMD 770). With my old configuration my G-Skill memory worked quite fine. Timings were correct out of the box: 4-4-4-12. On the old Board i only had installed one 4 GB Kit (2*2GB) - G.SKill 4GB Kit DDR2 PC2-6400 (F2-6400CL4D-4GBPK) CL4

For the new board i bought another kit of exactly same modules - so now i have 4 * 2GB. After putting everyting together - i couldn?t even start and get into the bios. Just a black screen and many red lights.... After searching hours in the internet i tried it with exchanging the memory modules. I removed 2 Modules - no change, then i removed another one but also with only one module I couldn?t start.
Finally i replaced the G-Skills by a 10 EUR MDT Module (MDT 1GB DDR2 PC2-6400 (M924-800-16) CL5) and got into the bios without problems. Then i immediately replaced the MDT by the 4 * G.Skills and could finally boot with the 4 G.Skill Modules !?! Whyever !?

Although the G.Skill Modules are officially supported by the M4A78 they were only identified with 5-5-5-15 Timings. (so from timings-point of view the board maybe didn?t realize i changed from 1 GB 5-5-5-515 to 4*2 GB 4-4-4-12) The Problem is that my system in running very unstable and I have got a 10% lower CPU score at 3D Mark – although I didn?t change anything but the new mainboard and double the RAM modules. I guess it?s due to wrong figures somewhere below.

Unfortnately beside from the 4-4-4-12 related words below I have no idea what it is and what number to choose there –so i left it auto.
Please help me to find the correct settings for the red “Auto-figures” below.

THX in advance and Best regards,
Sven

Mem. Clock Value 400 Mhz
Memory Voltage 2,1 V (correct ?)
DRAM Tim. Mode DCT0
CAS Latency (CL) 4 CLK
TRCD 4 CLK
TRP 4 CLK
tRTP Auto (2-4 / 3-5) ?
TRAS 12 CLK
TRC Auto (11/12/13/14/15/16/17/18/19) - CPU-Z shows for EPP should be 36 !?)
tWR Auto (3/4/5/6) ?
TRRD Auto (2/3/4/5) ?
tRWTTO Auto (2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9) ?
tWRRD Auto (0/1/2/3) ?
tWTR Auto (1/2/3) ?
tWRWR Auto (1/2/3) ?
tRDRD Auto (2/3/4/5) ?
tRFC0 Auto (75ns / 105ns / 127,5ns / 327,5ns) ?
tRFC1 Auto (75ns / 105ns / 127,5ns / 327,5ns) ?
tRFC2 Auto (75ns / 105ns / 127,5ns / 327,5ns) ?
tRFC3 Auto (75ns / 105ns / 127,5ns / 327,5ns) ?

[Tradesman]

First Test each stick in slot 1 w/ memtest to make sure all four sticks are good.

Then try setting the tRFC to 127.5 with 2 sticks and see how that goes, if OK try all 4 and kick the tRFC up to the next level. Other timings look pretty good.

If still have problems, being an AMD rig, may have to loosen timings for 8 GB to 5-5-5-15.

Also, what CPU are you running (may have to OC abit, and you are running 64 bit OS (Vista, Win7, etc) aren't you? A 32 bit version will run in this config, but only use appr 3-3.25 GB of the RAM, so the extra can actually drag you down.

[fledermausland]

First Test each stick in slot 1 w/ memtest to make sure all four sticks are good.
- you mean just put in and try to boot or run the tool "memtest" with a bootable iso ?

Then try setting the tRFC to 127.5 with 2 sticks and see how that goes, if OK try all 4 and kick the tRFC up to the next level. Other timings look pretty good.
[...] to next level [...] - this would be 327,5ns or 105ns ?

If still have problems, being an AMD rig, may have to loosen timings for 8 GB to 5-5-5-15.
So i don?t get it stable i have to live with 5-5-5-15 as chosen by the board itsself, right ?

Also, what CPU are you running (may have to OC abit, and you are running 64 bit OS (Vista, Win7, etc) aren't you? A 32 bit version will run in this config, but only use appr 3-3.25 GB of the RAM, so the extra can actually drag you down.
I?m running an AMD Athon 64 X2 6000+ and Vista 64.

I will try all above mentioned and le you know the outcome - THX for quick reply!

[fledermausland]

I have tested all 4 modules with memtest and they all went through without errors.
The wrong timing issues remained unchanged - also with only one module.

Then i tried the tRFC to 127.5 - everything worked as before - then i changed down to 105ns and finally had back my old stats.

It seems the board decided to 127 in automatic mode but 100ns brought my old CPU score back. Now it?s back at 2163 (3D Mark 2006) which seems quite OK for my CPU. Before it was down to 1862

Meanwhile i changed the Chipset bus up to 214 MHz and the CPU works stable at 3,2 GHz ;-)

THX for your support !

[Tradesman]

Glad to hear it, sorry for the slow response but haven't really had much access to the net the last few days, just here and there when I could find a wireless connection.