Ocz RAM: just bought 2 more gigs, checked the speeds and voltage and they are diff

popcornhobo · Jul 12, 2008, 02:15 PM

I have 4X1 gigs of Ocz 240-Pin DDR2 1066 (pc2 8500) they are the exact same except i bought one about a year ago and the other just a week ago and when i went into CPU-Z it said that one set of ram is running at pc2 5300 (333mhz) at 2.1v and the other set is running at pc2 6400 (400mhz) at 2.3v and was wondering why neither of them are running at the speed they can which is PC2 8500 and why are two identical ram running at different speeds and voltages when i haven't messed with any of it?

PangingJr · Jul 12, 2008, 04:50 PM

you can open multiple instances of CPU-Z program and check this out...

the "SPD" tab shows the Module(s) specification using SPD (Serial Presence Detect) : vendor, serial number, timings table.

SPD data (which's in an EPROM device on the DDR2 DIMM's ) on the (4) DDR2 DIMM's installed may be different from two of the DIMM's to the other two, this is since they are different revisions.

and then next, go to the "Memory" tab, this tab shows the current DRAM Frequency and timings...

Lelisevis · Jul 12, 2008, 06:44 PM

Posting this reply as someone who had exactly the same issue with OCZ RAM. I'm afraid your going to have to live with it running at the lower speeds or sell it and buy a matched set.
Personally i've stuck with it running at the lower speeds until I have the cash to replace them.

OCZ have at some point changed the spd's on the RAM which are supposed to be SLI compatible (IE specially selected to run with other SLI components or in plainer English: marketing bollocks). I have four sticks of OCZ RAM some of which achieve EPP at 1.9v (1066mhz) and some which achieve the same clocks at 2.1v which causes the motherboard to detect it as non matched and therefore disables SLI. Manually adjusting the clock speeds results in instability and lock-ups as not only has the voltage been changed but some of the timings have been altered too.

In OCZ's defence I was issued with an RMA number but 2 weeks later when I received my RAM back the third set was different to the previous two sets despite me asking to send in all four sticks so they could be matched which they declined to do (this would have meant system downtime for me which I was willing to accept).

I will however add that OCZ do make high quality RAM just make sure you buy at the same time what you'll need.

I'll summarise by saying don't try to match OCZ ram sticks it'll cause you heartache and leave you with a bitter taste in the mouth at the wasted money and time.

Read my similar issue here: A little Rig update

popcornhobo · Jul 13, 2008, 12:27 AM

Ok so i figured since my ram wasn't running as fast as it was suppose to i would try just putting the two new gigs in and they still run at the same speed as when there was 4

so with 2 completely compatible ordered at EXACT same time gigs of ram i am still only getting 333mhz and pc2-5300

WHY?!?! please help me out here

thanks

Lelisevis · Jul 13, 2008, 08:29 AM

Use CPU-Z and take a look at the Jedec 2 frequency on the new set. Thats the maximum speed without enabling SLI or EPP. On your old sticks it'll probably be 333mhz and on the new sticks 400mhz or possibly the other way round. This was set lower on the old sticks to enhance compatibility with older chipsets.

Now go into the bios and enable SLI (still on the two matched sticks not four) and it should show the RAM running at 533mhz in cpu-z. Thats your RAM running at 1066mhz. The only problem now is you'll not be able to get those speeds with four sticks.

popcornhobo · Jul 13, 2008, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lelisevis

Use CPU-Z and take a look at the Jedec 2 frequency on the new set. Thats the maximum speed without enabling SLI or EPP. On your old sticks it'll probably be 333mhz and on the new sticks 400mhz or possibly the other way round. This was set lower on the old sticks to enhance compatibility with older chipsets.

Now go into the bios and enable SLI (still on the two matched sticks not four) and it should show the RAM running at 533mhz in cpu-z. Thats your RAM running at 1066mhz. The only problem now is you'll not be able to get those speeds with four sticks.

um well is 4 gigs running slower better then 2 gigs running fast? at least until i feel like dishing out the cash for 2 more new gigs
oh and since my 2 gigs are about a week old should i be able to buy another set and have it match?

popcornhobo · Jul 13, 2008, 09:55 PM

um yah i went into bios and enabled SLI but then my comp wouldn't boot so i had to pull the mobo battery just to get it to go past the post
its weird it seems like if i change 1 setting in my bios my comp wont boot... thats why i cant oc my cpu because after i do the lcd holds at testing mem and i have to pull the battery

Lelisevis · Jul 14, 2008, 01:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by popcornhobo

um well is 4 gigs running slower better then 2 gigs running fast? at least until i feel like dishing out the cash for 2 more new gigs
oh and since my 2 gigs are about a week old should i be able to buy another set and have it match?

Sorry you've found yourself in a similar position as myself.

To answer your questions i'd say 4 gigs running at 333mhz (DDR667) is going to be better than 2 sticks running at 533mhz (DDR1066). As for the question about buying a set to match i'm afraid that lies in the hands of OCZ, it really depends whether they have made any further tweaks to the RAM timings. What you really need to do is the same as me, start saving for 2x2gb sticks of RAM, it'll give you a much more stable and overclockable system.

Any more questions just fire away and before I forget welcome to Driverheaven, you'll find hundreds of helpful people on here always willing to lend a hand.

popcornhobo · Jul 14, 2008, 08:43 PM

thanks for all the help i guess i might be saving for the ram instead of a big screen tv

but oh well i guess

ok yah then ill just stick the four back in

and call it good for now

Thanks again for all the help ill be coming back here for support next time i need it