Crucial Anniversary 5400

[Highland3r]

Finally sold the last of my AMD kit (feel awful knowing LDBHE 0601 X2 is gonna run stock for the rest of its life :'() and in the process of migrating 24/7 rig over to Core 2 (E6300, AB9, Crucial, etc...)

The prices of DDR2 at the mo are frankly shocking, 240 quid for 2gb GSkill HZ? Erm no thanks!

So, decided to plump for something a little "cheaper", after seeing the results from the Crucial, and knowing how good D9 xxx IC's are couldn't resist a kit. 186 quid inc shipping from crucial direct (thats including a coupon code, PM me if you want it) seemed like a bargain!

The ram's rated to 333 mhz @ 3,3,3,8 timings (although SPD shows Cas5 for some reason!). It booted fine at these speeds in the AB9 but stock isn't where this rams going to run. The below are just quick "stick it in and run" tests. The AB9 doesnt have a huge range of timings available in bios, but seems to run the memory pretty agressively (*sp) based off memset.

First attempt was 400 FSB 3,3,3,8 2.2v. Instant no boot. Damn.

2nd attempt was 400FSB 4,4,4,8 2.1v, booted and into windows fine.

3rd attempt was 443 FSB 4,4,4,8 2.1v. Again booted to windows and passed 100% windows memtest.

4th attempt, 443FSB 4,4,3,8 2.1v. This is where it's currently sat running windows memtest again.

Note, I'm using memory dividers/chipset straps to increase the memory speed due to the board not having working multi controls (although dropping multi would max the chipset anyway so wouldnt gain a thing) there maybe different results once the 6300 goes in and things are run 1:1.

Will do some other testing over the course of the day but so far the ram doesnt look too bad at all.

Also note, via DMM the vDimm is showing as 1.99v need to verify this but if its correct then very nice ram indeed

 

[Highland3r]

Voltage was 1.99 real.

Passed windows memtest @ 443

Now running 460 4,4,3,8 2.03v.

 

[fatty]

nice work mate I still have the adata stuff and haven't actualy bought any for myself yet

 

[Highland3r]

Finally E6300's arrived and can test some 1:1 running.

Mobo's FSB limited ~ 450 FSB with 1.57 vMCH. Low for a 965 board but the AB9's *seem* to retain the 1066 strap above 400 FSB.

Rams running 1:1 4,4,4,8 2.3v at the mo, 54 minutes into Orthos. Also passed 150% run of windows memtest. The ram *should* tighten up a little and hopefully 2.2v will be enough for 450 FSB at these timings.

Not quite as great as initial looks showed though. The limiting factor could be this motherboard, further tests in the P5B are required to confirm either way. If things stay as they are, for 186 quid there maybe better ram out there. Seems fairly well matched to my GSkill HZ, however as HZ kits go mine are a bit crap! No TRP 3 over 500 FSB which Persivore kit seems to do with ease.

<edit> Update - 450 4,4,3,8 2.07vDimm running Orthos ok so far. Want to get a base set of 24/7 settings before pushing the ram, will look to push the ram a bit more soon. Also need to run some high vDimm tests at somepoint </edit>

<edit 2> 450 4,4,3,8 2.04 vDimm Orthos stable for 2+ hours. Tried 560 w/ 4,4,4,8 2.4v and could'nt get past DMI pool part of boot. Needs more work though </edit 2>

 

[Highland3r]

~ 2.15v.

~2.25v. Yet to run memtest here, CPU temps are a bit of a problem.

 

[K404]

Those are better numbers!

 

[Highland3r]

557 FSB, 4,5,4,8 timings with 2.3v Pi 1m stable.

Somethings maxed here though, don't think its the ram as more volts/looser timings don't seem to help with stability. Think its mobo or CPU, but no real way to find out lol!

Jokester over at OCUK has had GREAT results with his on 680i, 600 FSB 5,4,4,6 memtest stable with 2.2v :drool:

 

[K404]

if you`re on a 4:5 divider, the P5B, AFAIK, doesnt play nice after 440ish FSB

 

[Highland3r]

Thats running 1:1 atm.

Cheers for the tip mate, will have a prod about and find out what divider was being used before!

Wanna get this stuff to 600mhz

 

[Highland3r]

Finally bit the bullet and got a mobo capable of actually clocking ram decently. It's only a cheap board (P5N-E SLI) but boy does it clock well

Only pi 1m stable here, dropping timings didnt help either. Voltage was 2.41 (dmm)

Bit more stability here, same voltage etc as above.

Prime stable shot, ignore crappy CPU speed can't quite make orthos stable @ 3.5ghz on stock cooler with this CPU (despite low volts - damn hot running B's)

Voltage dropped to a more 24/7 friendly ~2.3v.

Yet to test 1T running on this board. 400 FSB 4,4,4,8 1T w/2.1v was fairly stable but wouldnt pass memtest, that was only a quick test though.

 

[stocky]

Good stuff. I'm interested in that motherboard; how does it behave/ compare to the P5B-D? What FSB can it do 1:1?

 

[Zaltan]

Looks good. I'm after 2GB of DDR2 ATM and this was on my list (This and Cellshock 800MHz). Is the coupon still valid?

 

[Highland3r]

Can hit 1:1 at 500 FSB, maybe a touch over (talking 5, maybe 10mhz tops). Might well go a bit further with decent NB cooling.

Clocking wise, it's pretty simple tbh. It's nice and easy to clock - voltage stability is a bit poor (it's an Asus so this is kinda to be expected). The memory and voltage options are decent, nothing special though. Guess that's what you get for paying < 80 quid for a mobo tho! Async clocking is a decent feature (tho it's not truely async, the memory dividers avilable just cover a wider range than the intels do). Strap change (1066 > 1333) is at ~ 425 FSB. 1T running is a bonus too - hoping to test that out later today, will be nice to see what it's capable of!

Overall decent board. Shame the FSB cap is so low, a decent 6600 will be board limited for sure under phase or colder.

A certain other shop are pretty much the only place you'll find this stuff now which is a shame. Crucial have removed it from their site and afaik you can't even get it by ringing them. Shame really, it was a much better price direct from them

 

[stocky]

It's almost worth me investing at that price as I'm still on water. It's just my phase system may be ready soon, so I may be better off waiting as I hear some new boards are due out soon. I'm quite interested in what DFI may pull out of the bag