Which RAM for Sabertooth 990fx

[rmoody]

I am looking for advise as to which set of RAM to get for a Asus Sabertooth 990fx motherboard (N82E16813131736 at NewEgg) for use with either an AMD FX-8150 or AMD Phenom II X6. I am wanting 16GB and would like to reach DDR3 1866 speeds. I have been going back and forth between the following sets:

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900) Desktop Memory Model F3-14900CL10D-16GBXL
N82E16820231528

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900) Desktop Memory Model F3-14900CL9Q-16GBXL
N82E16820231456

G.SKILL Ares Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900) Desktop Memory Model F3-1866C10D-16GAB
N82E16820231560

Thank you.

[Tradesman]

The FX series are rated up to 1 DIMM per channel at 1866 (it's native 1333) and that does reflect the capabilities, originally they advertised "NATIVE" 1866 support, but few were able to run 4 sticks of 1866. It can be done, though it takes more voltage to DRAM and CPU/NB. And according to their folks it can run 8GB 1866 sticks, though when they told me that they hadn't yet tested (actually they apparently didn't know any 8GB sticks were out yet). So you can try them. According to ASUS the 990fx Sabertooth will carry the 4x4GB sticks in the Snipers F3-14900CL9D-8GBSR x 2

[milo99]

The FX series are rated up to 1 DIMM per channel at 1866 (it's native 1333) and that does reflect the capabilities, originally they advertised "NATIVE" 1866 support, but few were able to run 4 sticks of 1866. It can be done, though it takes more voltage to DRAM and CPU/NB. And according to their folks it can run 8GB 1866 sticks, though when they told me that they hadn't yet tested (actually they apparently didn't know any 8GB sticks were out yet). So you can try them. According to ASUS the 990fx Sabertooth will carry the 4x4GB sticks in the Snipers F3-14900CL9D-8GBSR x 2

I've been looking all over the web trying to figure this out, and i'm getting confused. I have 2x4GB G.Skill Sniper DDR3 1866 Model F3-14900CL9D-8GBSR with the same Motherboard (Asus sabertooth 990FX), and an AMD FX-8120 chip.

Now, i've read that with this chip, this memory should have no problem doing 1866MHz. What i can't get a clear answer/understanding on is if i need to overclock the chip, change the FSB, or some other speed NSB, or simply change the memory speed setting from 1600 to 1866 (which is the only thing i've done so far), or if i need to do this last part AND up the voltage to the memory.

So your post was more for the 4 sticks, but what about 2? any difference? I'm a bit of newbie to overclocking and dealing with voltages and what not, and to be honest, i don't really care to try and overclock, i just want the RAM to run at the 1866 speed it's supposed to. any help is appreciated!

[GSKILL TECH]

milo99,

For two modules with that platform, you just set the basic DRAM frequency DDR3-1866, Timings tCL 9 - tRCD 10 - tRP 9 - tRAS 28, DRAM Voltage 1.50V, CPU-NB Voltage +0.1V.

Once that is set, you're ready to go. Instead of manually inputting the frequency, timings, and voltage, you can try enabling DOCP (automatically inputs settings), but you still need to raise the CPU-NB Voltage to be fully stable. Either way should work fine.

Let us know if you have issues.

Thank you
GSKILL TECH

[milo99]

i actually got it to work last night. I could have sworn that it would say in the BIOS that the ram speed was 1866, only to show up differently in the CPU-Z, but last night when i went back into the BIOS, it said the RAM speed was only 1600- it had reverted back. So i changed it again, and then took the ddr voltage off of auto and put it to 1.5 volts, and voila! it worked. it was odd because all the timings had stayed as i'd put them.

anyway, after about 5 reboots its still showing at 933-936mhz on the CPU-z, so i think i'm good.

thanks!

[Tradesman]

Glad to hear all is well

[fugmucker]

Need help with Sabertooth 990fx and memory

I Currently have the following:

AMD FX-8120 zambezi AMD3+ processor
Asus Sabertooth 990FX AM3+ MB
G.Skill Ripjaws X series 8GB (2x4) DDR3 1866 MEMORY

I understand for optimal performance I will need to set the following:

Set the DRAM frequency, timings, and voltage.

Then increase CPU-NB Voltage +0.1V and the system should be ready to go.

I have made these changes in BIOS using the DPCP (auto. inputs settings)

Then I go to AI Suite II and raise the CPU-NB Voltage from 1.21250 to new setting of 1.31250 . Then I save and exit. This seems to work until I reboot and then the CPU-NB setting has reverted back to 1.21250. Can you please tell me what I am doing wrong?

The reason I use AI Suite II to change the CPU-NB settings is because I don't know how to change it in the BIOS

Thanks

[Tradesman]

Might look for a setting in AI Suite to the effct of "USE THESE SETTING AT RE-BOOT" or something like that

[Catscratch]

Don't use AI Suite II.

You need to enter Advanced BIOS and go to AI Tweaker. Scroll down to see cpu & nb voltages.



in offset mode, it's probably gonna accept values like 0.050, 0.100, 0.150, etc. So it's 1.100 (default) + your value. e.g. 1.100+0.05 = 1.150 or 1.100+0.100=1.200v

[fugmucker]

The original value in my CPU/NB was 1.21250 and I was told to raise it by +0.1V. That would make the new setting 1.31250. Is that Correct? How do I get that setting in BIOS (SPU/NB Offset Voltage)?

Thanks for the help...i'm just cautious because I don't want to mess anything up.

[Tradesman]

Believe there's a straight CPU/NB setting, I'll have to grab a manual and take a look, will try this evening, may be in the morning, still got 4 websites I need to rebuild before Monday when MicroSoft kills off all the websites and email for Windows Live Domain holders - am thinking they may extend the drop dead date because they have a ton of support folks going ape working OT to get this mess straightened out

[Catscratch]

Normally the UEFI bios is in EZ mode. When you click Exit, there's a menu containing Advanced Mode. Switch to advanced mode and go to AI Tweaker section. Then you'll see those. Your CPU&NB voltage may be set to Manual or AUTO so you don't see the extra items under as in the picture.

[fugmucker]

Tradesman, You mention a straight CPU/NB Setting. I was wondering if you have had time to check on this.

My Present CPU/NB setting is 1.21250 and you said I need to raise that by +0.1V I did all the other settings using DOCP.

Thanks

[Tradesman]

Could try a straight + .1 or maybe just go to 1.3 initially and see how it goes, believe it should be safe up through 1.4 anyway.....I don't like to use more than needed for stability though as every bit it goes up increases heat

[GSKILL TECH]

Your current setting is not default, it is already increased by the "AUTO" setting.

Since you are not inputting "Offset" Voltage, it is asking you to input an absolute value. As a result, manually input 1.20V-1.25V and see how that works. 1.30V+ may be too high.

Thank you
GSKILL TECH