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Aurora R1 - Max Memory/Speed
I have an old Aurora R1 i7 930 with 3 memory banks. What is the maximum memory and memory speed I can use? I know I can run 24GB at 1333, but how about other configurations? I have been told the max memory support gets halved for each step faster by dell, and that 1866 MHZ is the max speed. I have also been told I can run 24GB of 1866.
E.g. can I run 12 GB (or more) of Corsair Dominator (1866 or faster?)
Cass-Ole
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December 11th, 2013 21:00
"1) that the best (or only) configuration for higher speeds is using the first set of 3 (1,3,5)."
Can you elaborate what you meant by that? I'm lost at the moment, lol.
I don't own an r1, & because I don't, I don't want to steer you in the wrong direction. I can already tell you'll want someone else's advice here. But, here are a few nuggets:
TechSpot review: http://www.techspot.com/article/131-intel-corei7-memory-performance/
I can sit here and type a while to pass time, but I don't know how much more help I can be personally, sorry! ... most people will tell you that if you clock your memory over 1600MHz, things get dicey, unpredictable & even unreliable, so ...
Set xmp on, see if it posts, if not, set xmp off, set multiplier, bump up uncore, leave everything else (timings) on auto. If you want to play with tighter timings after it posts, try it ... the memory will either post or it won't ... if not, the oc will fail, and you'll have to try timings which are looser ...
Rule of thumb, the best memory has the fasted rated oc speed, the lowest "tightest" timings, and the lowest volts (1.5v rated is preferred over 1.60 or 1.65v rated ram, to my knowledge) all things being equal. Therefore, what you want to do will also come down to what brand ram you buy, yes? Your oc goals might best be met with memory rated at a lower 1.5v, on this board.
My best advice, buy 2000 or 2133MHz rated memory, with the tightest timings & lowest volts. When it gets there, using this MS x58 board, understand that you are assured it will kick 1600, might kick it at 1866MHz tops using the recommended procedures. If it posts at 1866, feel lucky ... then try to bump it to 2000MHz, see if it posts. If it does? You got luckier. You might even try 2133, but, do not bet on it.
If it posts at 1866, you can try to tighten the standard timings, (say 9-9-9-27 etc to 8-8-8-27 etc), perhaps even drop the command rate to 1T, see if it posts. What we know is that no one at Alienware ever told us to max uncore volts past +200mv, so, I never go over +200.
I read where a guy said he'd prefer memory at 1600 with tighter timings than 1866 with looser timings, soooooo ... the point being 1600 running tighter might be equivalent to 1866 forced to run looser (in order to "post") ... even if you max out on this board at 1600, you can still probably tighten the timings at 1600 right? Not too shabby ...
I do suspect that you can oc memory at 12Gb faster than at 24Gb on these boards ...Otherwise, Im tapped out of info for the Aurora. As I said, I do not own one, so definateky wait for another opinion and keep digging, there's alot to consider.
Cass-Ole
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December 11th, 2013 15:00
Info in this thread:
http://en.community.dell.com/owners-club/alienware/f/3746/t/19495424.aspx
Info in this thread:
http://en.community.dell.com/owners-club/alienware/f/3746/t/19348977.aspx
Info:
http://en.community.dell.com/owners-club/alienware/f/3746/t/19375273.aspx
Search "Aurora memory" in this forum, you will get hits all day long.
On the Area 51 with tri-channel memory for the i7 x58 chipset skt 1366, to run @ 1866, we are told to run 3x2Gb max, turn off XMP profile, multiplier set to 14, (133x14=1866), uncore volts set to +100mv, +150mv, +200mv (whichever will boot - usually +150/+200 does it).
To run memory at 1866, we are often advised to buy memory which is rated at 2000 or 2133 - but run it at 1866.
Someone said in here they got their memory to run at 2000MHz, (xmp off, multiplier at 15, uncore at +200mv.)
I would buy 2000 rated memory, and it will either dial in at 2000, 1866, or at worst, 1600 ...
Keep digging for info & wait for 2nd opinion ... but what I posted here is a push in the right direction ...
I've run Kingston HyperX t1 @ pc3-14900 & Corsair Dominator @ pc3-15000; neither post with XMP on, must manually dial it in. When buying tri-channel 1866 memory - maybe get a set rated @ pc3-15000 :) Good advice will say to get a factory matched tri-channel set - to forgo compatibility issues with someone's mix-n-match (used) set ...
Archetas
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December 11th, 2013 19:00
Cass-ole, Thank you for the response.
Yes, I've read two of those threads - thank you. Third was new. Problem with some of my searches was narrowing it down to the R1. I've noticed variances in i7's for OC speeds, etc. Yes, I plan to OC to 4+, and I know memory will me a restricting factor. I was hoping to confirm two things: 1) that the best (or only) configuration for higher speeds is using the first set of 3 (1,3,5). Then 2) that the faster the memory the better, as it will clock down to my speed. If not, I need to know the limit and or timing issues I may need to consider. I'm hoping my first restricting factor will be my cooler.
I was reading on the 12 GB (3x4Gb) configurations and wanted to make sure that wasn't a problem either. So, while my end goal is overclocking (and I'm still reading) I was looking for the ideal memory setup so I wouldn't be memory limited when it came to overclocking on my system.
Like the Area 51 you mentioned, I have the x58 chipset running A11 bios. I know that all power saving and most auto settings will need to be disabled.
i7 930 (Bloomfield) @ 3.37, currently running 24GB of DDR3 10700)
Archetas
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December 12th, 2013 10:00
Thanks again, Cass-ole. That was a good site supporting what I read elsewhere about tight memory timings being more beneficial than simply faster speed memory.
Here's the quote I was reading from: "Aurora manual mentions that I can use all 6 slots for 1066 and 1333 memory, and only slots 1,3,and 5 for 1600." http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/278031-30-memory-upgrade-aurora
Type Slots
1066 MHz and I333 MHz DDR3 Slots 1, 3, and 5 or slots 1 — 6
1600 MHz XMP Slots 1, 3, and 5
The italics I pulled directly from the pdf manual to support his quote. The AuroraAurora ALX R1 had 6 memory slots, and the R2 had 4 mem slots. Of course, all this was written (and many posts I've read) before faster memory was available, which is why I posed the question. It appears that the other 3 slots can't/don't support higher speeds. I guess I'll try a set of 4x3 or 2x3 at the fastest speed possible with some of the tighter timed, lower rated latency I can find (and afford) :)
Thanks again!