DDR2 - Underclocking to achieve tight timings

[RonaldoGomez]

Hi,

I'm just about to build myself a mATX system. I'm sick of these big, bulky boxes! I'll probably be using an Asus M2NPV-VM or a Gigabyte GA-M51GM-S2G motherboard. These are both socket AM2. I'll only be plugging an Athlon 64 3200+ in. This has an operating frequency of 2.0GHz. I have no intention of overclocking or anything like that. I'll only be using the system to word process, surf the web, play MP3s, encode the odd DVD and I won't be doing any gaming at all. I'll be using the onboard graphics in the first instance - I may plug in a GFX card later. I plan on using a Zalman CNPS8000 CPU cooler.

What I want to know is this:

A - I've heard some dodgy reports about the Asus board. Has anyone on here had any good experiences with this board?

B - If I use Corsair TWIN2X1024-5400C4 RAM (which operates at 4-4-4-12 timings) will I be able to underclock this to DDR2-4300 and operate it at 3-3-3-8 timings?

C - Will I notice a difference between operating at 5400 and 4300 speeds? That is, does an Athlon 64 3200+ need all that bandwidth?

D - Will I notice a difference between the 4-4-4-12 and 3-3-3-8 timings?

E - Is 1 GB of RAM sufficient if some of this will be going to the onboard graphics?

F - Will any RAM slots be blocked by the Zalman cooler. I've checked both the Asus and Zalman sites but I'm still in the dark. What I need is first-hand experience from someone who's used this set-up.

Thanks.

Ronaldo.

[ripken204]

well i know for s939, there were test done and higher bandwidth was better than tighter timings. im assuming the same is true for am2 but not many people have it yet. i wouldnt underclock it tho, if you dont plan to overclock then just keep the bandwith the same and try to make the timings lower.

[puntoMX]

Hi Ronaldo, welcome to the MSFN.org forums

A - I've heard some dodgy reports about the Asus board. Has anyone on here had any good experiences with this board?

It´s a good board but not ALL RAM will work, download the user manual from the ASUS site and look at the compatible modules that they are advising; Any thing that is similar to these modules should work, most of the time they prefer 64Mbit ships.

B - If I use Corsair TWIN2X1024-5400C4 RAM (which operates at 4-4-4-12 timings) will I be able to underclock this to DDR2-4300 and operate it at 3-3-3-8 timings?

Yes, but you have to see if you will have a performance gain from it, just play with that when you have the combo. I think I saw Corsair RAM in there list that I mentioned in “A”

C - Will I notice a difference between operating at 5400 and 4300 speeds? That is, does an Athlon 64 3200+ need all that bandwidth?

See “B”

D - Will I notice a difference between the 4-4-4-12 and 3-3-3-8 timings?

See “B”

E - Is 1 GB of RAM sufficient if some of this will be going to the onboard graphics?

Depends what you do with it, but you are not a hardcore gamer I think else you would buy directly a better video card

F - Will any RAM slots be blocked by the Zalman cooler. I've checked both the Asus and Zalman sites but I'm still in the dark. What I need is first-hand experience from someone who's used this set-up.

No it will not, not even if the RAM-banks would be 1mm from the CPU-brackets (black thing around the CPU to hold the cooler in place)

I´m using these motherboards and I´m happy with them, even the onboard video can run most games at 800*600 very well, some games even on 1028*768 like HL2 and NFSU2. I hope I helped you a bit .

[RonaldoGomez]

Yes puntoMX you have helped a lot. Thanks! I'll download the manual to see which RAM is compatible.

I'm surprised that the Zalman cooler won't block any RAM slots though.

Thanks very much for your help.

[puntoMX]

If you look at the cooler from beside then you will see that the base isn´t that big

[RonaldoGomez]

How about if I were to put a ThermalRight SI-120 or SI-128 on there with a Papst 120mm fan? Do you think that would fit in a Silverstone Temjin TJ08 case? The case appears to be only a little more narrow than most cases which makes me think that it will fit. And I think that then I will have no RAM clearance problems. I also like the idea of 120mm fans that cool the board too.

Cheers once again.

Ronaldo.

[puntoMX]

The Cooler will fit, but I don’t know what kind of power supply you use. The cooler fan will be very close even touching the bottom of the power supply. Nice small case with BIG fans as intake and outtake.

[RonaldoGomez]

I'd use a Enermax Liberty 400 WT modular power supply. Do you think this would fit?

I'm a little worried that there wouldn't be enough room for the fan to push air. That is, it may be a bit cramped to take air from. It's a very good cooler tho'.

[puntoMX]

So, what you have is 1 12cm fan in the back sucking away air from the cooler and the power supply also will suck air away from the cooler with another 12cm fan.

Blocking those fans will give you more noise be course that’s what you are going to do; block the fans with the 1" high side of the cooler fan although the cooler fan is not going to touch the other fans.

My idea: By a cooler with a 8cm fan, those CPU´s you will use are not going to be that hot, even the stock cooling will do fine. Why would you go for another cooler (directly and not later) any way?

[RonaldoGomez]

XP-90?

Probably a good idea. I just like the way the XP-120 cools the RAM quit well on my current board. I also like 120mm fans in general due to their lower noise. I also like having a really cool CPU.

I like the look of the Zalman CNPS8000 low profile cooler but am worried that it will block RAM slots. Any ideas if it will? I've checked the specs from both Zalman and Asus but am still in the dark.

Thanks again for all your help puntoMX.

[puntoMX]

Take a look from the side of the Zalman CNPS8000 and you will see that only the heatpipes could block your DIMM slots.

[RonaldoGomez]

That's what I'm worried about. Will they block the slots?

Thanks for all your help by the way.

[puntoMX]

Dude, it will fit . Almost all cooler that you buy now are well designed not like in the past that you needed to cut out parts of your cooler to fit on your motherboard when capacitors are placed in the way. This is why they found out the retention bracket so coolers will fit. The only thing I was worried about is the 12cm that will come close to the other 2 12cm fans .

[RonaldoGomez]

Nice one.