ASUS Crosshair V Formula-Z

[Tradesman]

Guy I worked with at Langley was from around there and he was sort of the ultimate outdoorsman so we took a lot of fishing trips to SC, NC, FL and W VA, normally on a weekend the wives had their big tupperware parties and other gatherings

[Yuji Saeki]

I've still got that 4 X 4GB for now, y'know the ones I had trouble with before? http://www.gskill.us/forum/showthread.php?t=9447

Bus speed 200, Rated FSB 2,600, NB 2,200 and 4 X F3-10666CL9-4GBRL. What can I do to bring these up for the system? I think I could do better for now to match this RAM up with some 1,600? speed.

[Yuji Saeki]

Is there really a difference between DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900) and DDR3 1866 (PC3 15000) ? Seems a tiny bit of transfer difference (100MB/s?) but is it necessarily (if all timings are the same except the MB transfer) be better? For overclocking?

*Edit* I'm also wondering if Patriot's would better suit, with lower timings, just curious (maybe I could lower the timings?):

PV332G213C1QK
Cas Latency: 11
Voltage: 1.5V
Timing: 11-11-11-30
Frequenci: 2133 Mhz (PC3 17000)

*Edit* Could I always use faster RAM andunder-clock it for better timings?

*Edit* Hope you're all doing okay with the after-math of storms/flooding/etc. I'm in NY and was spared entirely. :/

[Tradesman]

I lean towards the last thought there w/ faster DRAM and if needed Underclock....I generally get the most and fastest I can within the budget (and the CPUs capabilities). I.E. if I can get 2400/CL10 - you can generally expect to be able to run them at 2133/9 or 1866/8 or even 7 and further at a lower voltage than spec, it can take some shopping (for prices and comparing) but it's often worth it, further if you plan or the opportunity comes up for a more powerful CPU or an upgraded system, then you already have faster sticks

[Yuji Saeki]

Yeah but will it run though, I dunno. I'm totally new to RAM over/under-clocking.

[Tradesman]

Underclocking is easier than OCing, and yes they'll run. Generally when first installing sticks the first time, they will boot up and run at the mobo's default which is usually 1333 or 1600. If you look at a sets specs (say 2133 at 9-11-10-31 you can almost always just drop it a step (from 2133 to 1866, or say 1855 to 1600, or 2400 to 2133) and do the same with the timings - here we sat 2133 at 9-11-10-31 so you can drop each timing by one so we'd go 1866 at 8-10-9-30 (used that as an extreme odd) if it were 1866 with spec 9-9-9-27 than would drop to 1600 8-8-8-26/ This method almost always works, the you can try tightening up...with the 2133 set we dropped to 1866 at 8-10-9-30 could then leave freq at 1866 and try 8-10-10 or 8-19-9 etc as long as it stays stable

[Yuji Saeki]

But could I go from 2400 to 1866 for the FX 8350, think it'd handle it?

[Tradesman]

If the 8350 can handle 1866, it can depend on the individual CPU.....most CPUs of a given line are more or less 'average' i.e. most 8350 I've seen and read about can run 16GB of 1866, a few can't, and there are a few that can even hit 2133 w/ 16GB....haven't seen one yet that can run 32GB of 1866 without higher voltages than I would consider safe or low enough to keeps temps reasonable

[Yuji Saeki]

I can keep temperatures reasonable, quite easily. Not liquid nitrogen but my situation works out well for being practically free. Yeah I'd like to get 32GB DDR3 1866 at reasonable timings optimistically. I was able to OC this processor to 4.4 Ghz per core (no turbo etc, flat) without voltage increase, prime95 for 30 hours almost. Good mobo, good CPU I think. Very good about keeping voltages stable, no 'dramatic' drooping like MSI mobo I had. Though a gentle rocking between tiny ranges, of course that could be noise or timer.

*Edit* F3-1866C8Q-32GTX 8-9-9-24 1.6V or F3-1866C9Q-32GZH 9-9-9-24 1.5V, $20 difference ballpark, what is difference between PC3 14900 and PC3 15000 btw? You said Tradesman that I might can underclock my RAM...think I could buy F3-2666C11Q-32GTXD 11-13-13-35 1.65V and downclock it to get great timings and 1866 speed? 32GB btw. Sabertooth from ASUS ('related' motherboard) in "RAM Configurator" shows F3-1866C10Q-32GSR, dunno if that bears anything.

[Tradesman]

It would all be trial and error as well as testing as to what you can actually accomplish, I'd guess at 1866 maybe CL8, which you could prob pull from a 2133 or 2400 set, but it's all conjecture

[Yuji Saeki]

Hm. The 2,400 would boot into 1,333 if it can't run 2,400 right?

[Tradesman]

When first installed it will boot to the mobo's default, which normally is either 1333 or 1600, then you have to set the freq and timings, voltages, etc manually

[Yuji Saeki]

So if I ordered two F3-2400C10D-16GTX at 10-12-12-31 1.65V I could down it to 1886 with some decent timings? What would you recommend starting out at with that particular RAM? If my motherboard doesn't like it, I'm sure underclocking they'd not refund it.. *shrugs*

[Tradesman]

Mixing two sets will make things harder...might get two sets that won't play together. A 2400 set with those timings, I'd prob start at 1866 with 8-10-10-30 1.55 or 1.6

[Yuji Saeki]

I meant four total..?