Timing Issues

**icu222much** · #1 15th Dec 2008, 15:51

Lately when I have been playing online FPS, my computer has been crashing a lot. Earlier, I went to take a look at my BIOS and noticed that my memory timing was configured to 5-7-7-20. My memory is rated for 5-5-5-15. Should I change my BIOS settings to match my memory timing?

**Hybr!d** · #2 15th Dec 2008, 15:53

If you are not overclocking I would set it to auto.

**icu222much** · #3 15th Dec 2008, 23:02

So playing around with the timing is for overclocking?

**Carbon** · #4 15th Dec 2008, 23:21

Setting the timings to what the RAM manufacturer has on the box, as long as the voltage is the same, should be fine. It won't make much of a difference either way tbqh.

**icu222much** · #5 16th Dec 2008, 10:38

Sounds good :)

What my current problem is (I have had this problem for quite a while - I made another post of this somewhere a month ago on computerJuice) is that my computer is crashing when I am playing games. My memory (OCZRPR10664GK OCZ Reaper 1066 DDR2 2X2Gb)is suppose to run at 2.15 volts with 5-5-5-15 timing. My BIOS default was set at 1.80 volts at 5-7-7-20. I changed it to my memory requirements but my computer started freezing within a few minutes into Left4Dead. I started deceasing the voltage by increments of -0.02 volts. I am currently am at 1.96 volts and I can now last for ~30 minutes in Left4Dead.

What I've noticed is that when my voltage is set to above 2.00, my entire system will crash (ie my computer would freeze and I would have to perform a force restart by holding down the power button on my case). When my voltage is below 2.00, my game will just crash and I can ALT+CTRL+DEL and end the process. In addition, my system seems to be more stable when my voltage is lower. Is this suppose to happen?

I am currently asking for help on the OCZ tech support forum, but I would like to get a second and third opinion. Tech support said that it is possible that my board is sending more voltage to my memory that I specify (I ask it to send 2.00 volts but it sends 2.10 volts). That explanation sounds a little weird to me.

**Carbon** · #6 16th Dec 2008, 20:03

Yeah, it is very weird, considering if anything it might be *lower* due to a phenomenon called vdroop. I would assume OCZ has no idea what they're talking about, I already don't have much faith in them as a company.

I would try checking for BIOS updates and reflashing the BIOS. If the memory has to be loosened and with lower voltage to work properly and you're at a current BIOS just RMA that RAM.

**icu222much** · #7 19th Dec 2008, 11:08

I just ended up going back to my dealer and had them replace my memory for free (it failed Memtest). Once I got my new memory in place, I updated my BIOS and ran Memtest and it passed!

I went to play some Left4Dead, but then I started getting some really choppy graphics and my computer would freeze for several seconds at a time.

**Carbon** · #8 19th Dec 2008, 16:42

The freezing thing is a known issue - try mat_queue_mode 0 in console.

**icu222much** · #9 19th Dec 2008, 17:48

Thank you. I tried it and it worked! Played for an hour and no crash :)

Just wondering, what does entering that code do?

**Carbon** · #10 19th Dec 2008, 18:13

L4D has some problems with multi-core threading synchronization, that just restricts it to one core. Shouldn't see any decrease in FPS unless your CPU is ancient.