BIOS: Memory timing settings (old PC)

pmartin86

Colin_Maybe wrote: »

Unless you're running test scripts or benchmarks you will never ever notice the difference. It's the equivalent of how high up a wall you can wee.

Have you never wee'ed up a wall? It matters! Ive got an old Athon 9800 running at 3.9GHz...the hell would I ever put strain on it, but the point is, it runs, sometimes its about the chase...

System

esuhl wrote: »

The BIOS settings have reset due to a flat CR2032 battery, but yeaaars back, I remember I had to set the memory timings manually.

What's the easiest way to identify the RAM I have and its timing settings?

You've never ever had to set the memory timings manually, the motherboard reads a chip on the RAM stick which identifies them. You may have done if you were overclocking but for normal use you don't.

The timings will be on the sticker on the RAM and will be something in the format like 4-1-1-1.

esuhl

Tarambor wrote: »

You've never ever had to set the memory timings manually, the motherboard reads a chip on the RAM stick which identifies them. You may have done if you were overclocking but for normal use you don't.

The timings will be on the sticker on the RAM and will be something in the format like 4-1-1-1.

No - I definitely had to set the memory timings as the BIOS defaults were wrong... even without overclocking.

And, alas, there's no timing sticker on the RAM itself. I seem to remember the timings were indicated on the retail packaging, but I think I've thrown that away now.

Chino

esuhl wrote: »

Any idea what the following should be set to...?

Row cycle time (Trc)
1T/2T Memory Timing

Don't know if you still need this but this post:
http://www.tweakers.fr/timings.html#tRC
states that:
tRC = tRAS + tRP which, using your numbers, is 6 + 3 = 9
Regarding the Command Rate, perhaps first try with this set to the slower of the two settings (2T)?

esuhl

Chino wrote: »

Don't know if you still need this but this post:
http://www.tweakers.fr/timings.html#tRC
states that:
tRC = tRAS + tRP which, using your numbers, is 6 + 3 = 9
Regarding the Command Rate, perhaps first try with this set to the slower of the two settings (2T)?

Awesome, thanks! I've set those values, with a 1T Command Rate (I vaguely remember this was 1T, but...)

Anyway, I'm just running MemTest, and it's looking good so far. I guess it will take an hour or two to complete... fingers crossed!

Thanks again, everyone! :beer:

esuhl

All tests passed without errors! Nice one :-)

onomatopoeia99

John_Gray wrote: »

In 45 years of using PCs, I've never had to touch anything in the BIOS to do with memory timings! Have I lived a sheltered life?! :A

45 years? Going to work on the basis you mean "personal computer" for "PC" rather than the computer architecture derived from the IBM PC. How did you get to the BIOS menu on the Altair 8800? (released 43 years ago in 1975 and generally considered the very first personal computer, long before International Business Machines released theirs)