RAM latency issues?

[JediOfDarkness]

Hey, I just got some OCZ DDR500 RAM, and my system was crashing during gameplay and had random hard crashes while running it at only 240MHz. I looked at CPUz and the latency times it had it set at were 3-3-3-7, so I went into my BIOS configuration and manually set the CAS to 3.0, the TRAS to 8, the TRP to 3 and the TRCD to 4, like it says on OCZ's website. Well, I'm still getting the crashes. So I looked in the BIOS, and there's a lot of other options set to "auto" that I'm not sure what I should manually set them too.

The settings and the manual options are as follows:

TRRD: 2T, 3T, 4T
TRC: 7CLK-13CLK
TRFC: 9CLK-15CLK
TRWT: 1CLK-6CLK
TWCL: 1CLK, 2CLK
TWR: 2CLK, 3CLK
Async Latency: 4CLK-9CLK
Read Preamble Setting: 2.0ns-9.0ns
2T Command: Auto, Enable, Disable

I've tried messing around with them a little, trying to get the right settings, but I figured that I'd just ask instead.

My system:
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ (@2.4GHz)
Asus A8V (Rev2, BIOS 0219)
2x1024MB OCZ DDR500 (http://www.ocztechnology.com/product...l_channel-2gb_)
Windows XP Pro SP2

I declocked my processor back to stock 2.0GHz, and it's running the games fine, but CPUz is showing the same latency settings at 200MHz as it is for 240MHz, so that's why I'm guessing this is a latency issue. With my old DDR400 RAM, I ran my processor at 2.4GHz and the RAM at 200MHz and no instability.

If anyone can think of any other reason that it might be crashing, I'm all ears.

[Midknyte]

what did you set your HT bus to? you want to keep it around 1000 if you're having stability issues. change it to 4x instead of 5x.

[JediOfDarkness]

I tried setting my HT bus to 800MHz, and it still crashed, right as soon as I launched a game.

[Midknyte]

you can try setting the command rate to 2T, but you'll take a performance hit.

[JediOfDarkness]

OK, I tried both 2T command rate and 800MHz HT bus speed at the same time, and it made it slightly better. My games no longer hard locked my system, but it did crash the game... any more ideas?

Do you think that it could be faulty RAM? That I should request an RMA?

[Midknyte]

you can try running memtest on it. I'm not sure what the criteria would be for OCZ, since they could always blame it on your MB or CPU.

[JediOfDarkness]

OK, I ran MemTest overnight and didn't get a single error...?

[Midknyte]

did you run memtest with the system OC'ed or not?

you can try increasing the voltage on the ram, but be careful. I think the OCZs are rated up to 2.9v, but double check that.

[JediOfDarkness]

I tested it while it was OC'd.
And the Asus board I've got will only go up to 2.8v or else I would have tried that already. The RAM is rated for DDR500 @2.8v, I checked that before I bought it, and it's only at DDR480 now.
Also, I tried running my processor at 2.4GHz and my RAM at 200MHz and it worked fine, and I'd keep it there like that but then it really wouldn't be any better than my old RAM...

[JediOfDarkness]

I just thought of something, could this be related to a lack of power? I've only got a 350W Allied PSU and have been thinking about upgrading to a 480W TT or Enermax. Do you think that may solve the problems I'm having?

[Midknyte]

only a 350!?! yeah that can definitely limit your OC.

[JediOfDarkness]

OK, figured so. I get a paycheck in the next few days, so I'll order me a new PSU then. Any suggestions on a good one?

I was looking at this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817153007
It's a good price and has good reviews, what do you think? Any power supplies you'd rate higher than that one around the same price range?

[Midknyte]

The thermaltakes seem pretty solid. Enermax also.

Do you need 20 or 24 pins? You might want to invest in a 24pin PSU if you plan on keeping it for a while.

[JediOfDarkness]

I've got a 20pin power connection, with an added 4 pin. I looked at the power cables in the picture and it shows that it's got the extra 4 pin.

But I'm gonna go ahead and order that one then, unless someone else has another suggestion?

[Midknyte]

that's not what I meant. There are 20 and 24 pin main connectors with an additional 4 pin ATX12V.

http://www.tomshardware.com/2004/12/...nce/index.html