OCZ DDR Booster = Crap?

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Neo_Cloud_99

Limp Gawd
Joined
Apr 18, 2001
Messages
466
Has anyone else gotten ahold of one of these to try it out? So far it doesnt seem to be affecting my FSB gains with my RAM. Maybe im just not using it right or maybe my RAM has reached its limit no matter how much voltage I pump into it.

Anyways I'm using the NF7-S v2.0 and some Corsair XMS 3200XLL series? Its rated at 2-2-2-5. Using a modded BIOS I'm able to hit around 230 FSB at the lowest timings with no errors and at 2.9vddr. So I try pumping the voltage up with the DDR Booster to 3.2 or even 3.4 and I cannot get it stable at 235. Ok yes this RAM is getting pretty high up there but hell I would figure with that much voltage it would at least squeeze out another 5 points.

So I dunno if I dont have this thing installed right or what. I have tried it in DIMM slot 3 and 1, both seem to have the exact same effect, and I prefer to keep it in DIMM1 so I can keep Dual Channel Enabled. I know they say to use DIMM 3 but it doesnt make a difference from what I've seen. I have it all hooked up right with the ATX power adapter and the 2 power cables that plug into the chip itself. I have tried using the MBD vddr setting of 2.9 vs. using the Booster vddr of 2.9 and they both seem to work equally well. No matter what I try though it just wont go past 230.

Any suggestions/comments?

Thanks
 
Id like to get my hands on one of these boosters but I cannot and OCZ wont reply to my email asking about how to do so :mad:
 
createcoms,

Where are you sending mails to, because I handle support e-mails? There is a lot of vendors selling them now, FrozenCPU, SVC and ExcaliberPC to name a few. I would have easily provided you this e-mail if you sent it to me. For future questions, e-mail sean at ocztechnology.com, I will respond very quickly.

As for the issues Neo_Cloud_99 is having...The Samsung ICs are not really dependent on voltage and it sounds like you've just reached the limit of your memory.
 
Neo that ram doesn't like voltage. The corsairs sticks use samsung TCCD IC's that don't like voltage. They don't scale with voltage. You could put 4V into them and fry them, but they will never scale like bh-5/6 or OCZ EB ram. So your thread should be called corsairs XL....crap with more voltage
 
Well...... so the RAM has reached its limit then I suppose... thats fine, at least I know what the cause is.

What type of memory could I get that would allow me to up the voltage and possibly try to reach a FSB of 250?
 
OCZ EB memory and Winbond BH-5 or BH-6 based modules is what everybody is using, as they are tolerent of more voltage.
 
hrmm...does the same philosophy applies to all Corsair memory?

I mean, I did find that I was perfectly Prime 95 stable with only 2.7Vdimm (with the timings in sig), while raising to 2.8 made Prime 95 stop in only 11mins!!

Tell me I didn't buy the wrong RAM...argh
 
Can someone post some links to some good BH-5 and BH-6 memory? I have no idea how to determine what each memory has.
 
The problem might not be the memory at all. The NF7-S v2.0 is notorious for not being able to go over about 230 FSB (if even that high) without mods.
 
Parja said:
The problem might not be the memory at all. The NF7-S v2.0 is notorious for not being able to go over about 230 FSB (if even that high) without mods.
Click to expand...
This is what I would be investigating. Voltmod your NF7-S if you really want to hit the high FSBs, 1.7v to the NForce chipset is not cutting it.
 
The problem with the Booster is that it's a mirage in most cases. In order for it to help you and still be practical you need:

* Memory that likes voltage
* A motherboard that won't fry or work improperly with the Booster installed
* A motherboard that tracks VTT properly
* Good cooling around the RAM slots to cool the RAM and the Booster
* A motherboard with enough space around the RAM slots for it so you aren't limited to one stick of RAM
* AND even if you have the space, a motherboard that isn't finicky about RAM slots used in case you're forced to use a particular slot due to those space constraints

I'm sure there are more. If you have all of these things going for you, then good for you. I don't. I wish I did because it's a fine idea for sure.
 
Ok what is VTT tracking? and how would I go about volt modding the board? I hope it doesnt require any soldering as I've never done that before but I guess it cant be too hard right, I mean I've watched other people do it etc.

I have one question though... I did change out my North Bridge HSF with an all copper one and it seems to do well, I dont even have to have 1.7v to stay stable at 230FSB it does that at 1.6v.. so would it really be a volt mod I need to do? or maybe the RAM really just is at its max?
 
As I understand it you Vdimm should be set to Auto in order for the booster to work correctly
 
Auto you say? Well you can put everything on auto which is chipset, memory, and AGP... but you have to put them all at auto. I know it defaults the vddr to 2.6 so I tried setting it manually to 2.6 and still no change.

I've come to the conclusion in my not so experienced overclocking expertise that either the RAM has reached its limit or something else has reached its limit... maybe my modded BIOS (I might try a different one later), or my chipset voltage? but chipset voltage of 1.7 or 1.6 seems to make no difference so I doubt its that.
 
Neo_Cloud_99 said:
I've come to the conclusion in my not so experienced overclocking expertise that either the RAM has reached its limit or something else has reached its limit...
Click to expand...

Like someone said earlier, the TCCD has reached its limit. It doesn't like voltage.
 
Hello, PMFJI, but first things first,

Anyways I'm using the NF7-S v2.0 and some Corsair XMS 3200XLL series? Its rated at 2-2-2-5.
Click to expand...

Probably a typo, but there is no "XLL" series, you either have XL or LL..

I have a gig of 3200*XL* running at 250 1:1, w. 2.5-3-3-6 timings. ROCK SOLID! at default voltage. I believe the comments re voltage; at least with these Corsair sticks. They aren't all that response to voltage inputs.

In any event, if you've got the XL, from my experience (and reveiws) it isn't your memory that's holding you back. Its either your motherboard or your memory timings. Don't know anything about OCZ's DDR booster, but, again, in my experience, voltage increases are NOT going to get these sticks to 250 with 2-2-2-5 timings and 1:1 ratio.

From my experience and what I've read, 215 - 220 appears to be the range limit for 2-2-2-5 at 1:1; and I've ONLY seen reviewers get to 220 (and that may have been with 2-3-2-6, my recollection fails).

Good Luck!
 
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