RAM Optimization

Guide Information
Guide Title: Optimizing RAM modules

Created by: Aztec Blank

Contact: aztec_blank@hotmail.com

Summary
This guide will help you tweak your laptops ram run stable at 200 MHz instead of 166 (default value) using the A64 Tweaker.

It wouldn't be any problem for our Athlon 64 and for our VIA chipset having the RAMs at a higher speed, the only problem we could have is system locks when our RAM modules can't take the higher speed (cheap modules designed for 166 MHz could not work). I've tested it with two PC2700 (166 MHz) Samsung modules, 256MB each, and everything's running fine.

As far as I've seen during my overclocker life the modules won't be damaged in the process so don't worry too much, but if any component of your laptop gets damaged I can't take the responsability. This is the first time I've overclocked a laptop so I don't know too much about the risks involved in it.

Procedure
This is the main screen with the default values of the M6810 motherboard*:

* If A64 Tweaker doesn't show these settings even hitting refresh try downloading CPU-Z and have it running when opening A64 Tweaker. I've had this problem with Windows Server 2003 + SP1. Using Windows XP + SP2 I didn't had it.

We have to change four settings here, I won't go into a definition of what does each of them, check the credits if you want to know:


 * Cas Latency: The default value for 166 Mhz modules is 2.5 but when using them at 200 Mhz I suggest setting this to 3.0.
 * Min RAS active time: default value for 166 MHz is 7. For 200 MHz it is 8.
 * Refresh Rate: this value seems to make a significant difference but for gamers it could 1 or 2 FPS =P just set it to “200 MHz 3.9us”.
 * MEMCLK Frequency: this is the most important value of all and is the one that makes the memory work faster. The first two are setted to a lower value (higher number means a lower value in RAM timings) to be able to keep the system running stable (or just running). We must set it to 200.

These values must be set all at the same time, if not the system could hang and we will have to reset the machine holding the power button.

Remember that all electronic components are different so the values that worked for me could not work for you, if that's the case try changing some other of the other riming settings to lower values.

Just if someone wants to get more optimization you could try setting the timing parameters to lower values, but the system could hang when doing it.

Just for reference I'll post benchmarking results with my laptop (M6810). The software used for benchmarking was CrystalMark:

With Windows XP + SP2: with the 200 MHz settings got 4780 points.

With Windows Server 2003 Enterprise + SP1: with the 200 MHz settings got 5185 points. With default 166 MHz settings 4785 points.

Conclusion
Final words: hope this helps all of the community and sorry if my english is bad, my nativa language is spanish.

Any questions or sugestions to: aztec_blank@hotmail.com

Thanks and credits:


 * Wawa III (my laptop).
 * FiZi for hosting the guide.
 * CodeRed for making a useful software like A64 Tweaker. Visit http://www.xtremesystems.com/index.php for future references.
 * And finally http://www.dewassoc.com/performance/memory/cas_latency.htm and http://www.rojakpot.com/ because these two helped me a lot in learning about RAM and MOBO settings.