2.2v+, ok?

[sandeepb]

Hi guys,

Ok I'm facing stability problems with my ram and I really want that 1120 @ 5-4-5-18 so I raised my ram up to 2.22v would it be ok even though it's rated at 2.1v?

I have the airflow fan connected and also a Scythe Slipstream (110cfm) fan blowing at them on the side, would it be fine?

[CssOrkinman]

I really don't know if thats safe for that ram or not. Sure wish i could get that kind of speed out of my OCZ 1066 fatality stuff. It starts getting shaky at about 1000mhz and refuses to run higher than 1020.
I am really confused as to what the safe voltage on it is, when i bought it the spec was 1.8 volts. However the website says its good for 2.05 volts ( EVP is what they call it extended voltage protection) .
Then when it arrived the sticker on the side of the modules read 7-7-7-20 @ 2.2 volts. I have operated it at 1.8 to 2.2 volts, and it seems to run best at 1.9 V. on a 5-5-5-15 timing.
I wish i knew more about it, so many variables that it dizzys my feeble mind.

[Timeset]

I wouldnt go above what the mfg recomends. They usually have a range i.e 1.8v - 2.1v. It might work for a while but your putting yourself at risk.

[sandeepb]

I guess your right, It is stable at 2.22v though, I guess I should just stick with 1066 5-5-5-15 2.08v

[Vengeance]

Mines are at 1066 5-5-5-15 2.18v down from 2.2v (what it's supposed to run at)

[sandeepb]

Yeh different ram needs different voltage, my previous OCZ Reaper's needed 2.24v to stay stable at 1066, they're still surviving, and use them as a backup if I need to change my ram.

I think if I do have enough airflow they will be alright at 2.22v since it isn't a massive amount of voltage to put through and won't destroy them.

[eligray]

I'd be totally fine with 2.25v with that cooling, and up to 2.35v for 24/7 would be my choice if it helped.

I've personally benched DDR2 at up to ~2.52 volts for hours and hours, no issues. Extreme overclockers bench 2.6-2.7 all the time.

Saying that the manufacturer makes it for 2.1v is like saying Intel makes their CPUs for 1.25v - true, but conservative.

[sandeepb]

o ok that's great, the max i would go for is 2.24v, but come on who wouldn't want 5-4-5-18 1120Mhz right? I'm getting a 44.1ns latency

[mimart7]

There usually is a little margin, when a mfgr states their specs.

[sandeepb]

And what's the margin for my ram, am i within it?

[eligray]

You never know. Neither does the manufacturer. Sticks that they rate for and voltage are using modules that were produced, indtended to be used with 1.8v. They just pick a spot where it helps them sell a lot more DIMMs, but they don't get too many extra RMAs

I'd say to see what it takes to get those are the speeds you want. Don't be afraid at all to try at least 2.3v. I'd personally be willing to try up to 2.6 or 2.7 if I wanted to see what my RAM could do.

Additional Comment:

BTW: Can't wait to see what my new DDR2-1200mhz RAM can do when voltage is boosted from 2.1 to 2.5+

[sandeepb]

O Wow, let me guess, the Flex Ex's? I had them before and they didn't work out for me, so a rma and a replacement to dominators later here we are.

BTW I think it's ok at 2.22v so would that be ok to run 24/7?

[mimart7]

Just remember if something is over volted for an a long period of time ie ram, cpu, etc, it takes even more voltage to maintain the speeds yuo want to run it at. If you replace your ram on a regular basis, it might be ok. Just keep an eye out for bsod's, and adjust accordingly.

[sandeepb]

Yep just been doing that, and I got sick of the BSOD's, I guess if your running RAM at that speed with timings that tight you'll expect it right?

Anyway I've gone back down to 1066 5-5-5-15 and will try and tighten those timings, at least it won't be all that bad. I might just try 1000 5-4-4 hopefully.

I'll post back when I've done it.

[Timeset]

ddr2 is pretty cheap just rock it till the doors fall off.

[CssOrkinman]

Is there any risk to other components when you overvolt your ram?

[treymacdaddy]

my XMS2's handled 2.3 well. not that i would advise it. they had the dominator fan on them.

[mimart7]

Originally Posted by CssOrkinman

Is there any risk to other components when you overvolt your ram?

Not sure about that, possibly. When you over volt anything, you risk damaging other components.

[eligray]

I skipped the Flex and picked up the Reapers

My advice on the matter is to run it like that, and not sweat it. Though mimart is right regarding electromigration, he appears to be misinformed on the extent of the damage it does. I don't have any articles on hand, but if you have to bump by .05v for every year of runtime, I'd imagine you could handle that.

As mentioned above, torture the stuff till it dies if you want, and DDR2 is still dirt cheap. I got 2x2gb Ballistix 800 4-4-4-12 2.0v for $20 on black friday

[mimart7]

Thanks for the correction.