Memory overclocking/timing questions

[Calefaction]

I picked up a Corsair TwinX pack a few months back, and until recently I really didn't have a need to mess with it much. Lately though I've gotten the urge to tweak my system performance a bit (mostly because of TES IV: Oblivion releasing tommorrow ), and I have a question about my memory timings.

Components:
AMD-64 3000+
MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum
Corsair XMS TwinX 2gb (1x1gb) pack
Award BIOS 1.5 (I tried the latest, 1.B, and it seriously messed the system up. SATA drives wouldn't detect anymore, wierd errors in the NVRAID boot, etc).

The SPD lists the memory at 3-3-3-8 2t, but I think you and I both know this stuff will run better than that. I tried going straight to 2-2-2-6 1t, and the system wouldn't boot. I had to jumper reset the CMOS to get the system to boot up again. I finally settled on 2.5-3-3-6 1t, which boots, has decent bandwidth numbers in Sandra and is stable in Prime95. My question is, what would limit the memory from taking on slightly better timings?

I tried the original aggressive 2-2-2-6 1t settings at both 166 and 200mhz memory speeds. In both cases the FSB was set at the stock 200mhz (though I've recently upped the FSB to 205mhz, also stable).

All that said, should I just be happy with 2.5-3-3-6 1t @ 205mhz FSB, or should I push it more?

(Wasn't sure whether to post this in Memory or OC'ing, went with OC'ing because I ask about upping my FSB as well).

 

[sonnybobiche]

Games will especially from tighter timings, as opposed to higher bus speed. You could increase the voltage to those dimms (up to 3.0V, more would be risking burnout) in order to gain stability with tighter timings.

 

[(cf)Eclipse]

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