DFI NF4 BIOS Memory Guide

[SubZero]

Great info!!! Thanks John!!!

[Eldonko]

Sticky? and bumparoo

[RangersFan]

Wow, i don't own the DFI, but this is very nice. Maybe you should sticky it. Very comprehensive, it might start me on the path of learning how to overclock.

[Sierra_abx]

It was stickied at one time. I had unstickied it because I thought people had lost interest. Stickied again.

[Dionysus_abx]

nice guide super informative. thanks

[XJ.]

WOW
And all I wanted to know is if memory dividers were still in place like my nf2 boards. Nice job Johnrr6!!

[MrSeanKon]

No doubt it is an excellent guide.
Although I don't have a DFI mainboard I played with tRRD using A64 Tweaker.
Moreover I can tweak some other settings which are not included in BIOS.
The mainboard (ASUS AN8-E v2.0) does not include an option in BIOS for tRRD.
The default value is 2 and system could not pass 16M SuperPi.
Setting to 4 system passed 32M SuperPi (Vdimm, FSB, Vcore, multiplier and other timings all fixed).
The RAM performance ---> Slight Influence on Bandwidth as the original poster said above.

BTW let's play with RAM simple optimizer...
It is very important to calculate the G.Cs of basic timings.
This photo shows the timings and scores (Sisoft Sandra RAM benchmark):



The other advanced timings were tRC=22, tRFC=24, tWR=3 and tRWT=6.
Multiplier was 8X and FSB=201 MHz.
Only one RAM module --> single channel (1*512MB size, Kingston HyperX PC4300).
All these parameters were fixed during measurements and 2T always.
The output is:



Well CAS Latency (tCL) and Cycle Time (tRAS) are almost equal and this is strange...
Normally tRAS does not effect the RAM performance.
The paradox for tCL caused of single channel.
Here are other measurements using 2*256MB OCZ PC4000 (10*201 MHz, tRC=14, tRFC=12, tRWT=4, tWR=3 and 2T again):



Output:



Now tCL is the most important parameter following by tRCD (high negative percentage again).
tRAS is the less important timing (second time).

Conclusion
1) RAM Optimizer not only helps to calculate the G.Cs, estimates other timings combinations (based on internal model) but shows you the most important parameter for stability.
I think that OCZ dual kit loses more MHz if CL=3.0 --> CL=2.5 instead of tRCD=4 --> tRCD=3.
Unfortunately I did not seek for RAM MSFs (this was a sample kit for beta testing).
2) BTW I know that my single module Kingston HyperX PC4300 do not work if tRCD=2 or tRP=2.
Setting tRCD=2 system could POST (beep codes) and with tRCD=2 it entered in Windows and crashed....
3) This analysis can be performed for any chipset (AMD/Intel).

---> P.S. <---
Before using OcBible read the manuals inside I think you should avoid asking me in this thread for this program (it is off topic).
This program is supported at ABXzone also.
I posted this info just to show you a different approach for RAM tweaking.

[tarrcm]

So expertly done MrSeanKon! Thank you.
btw, is your avatar a pic of you? The real S. Con. has been my favorite actor for many years.

[MrSeanKon]

tarrcm of course my avatar is the famous actor not me.
Anyway I do not want to present here more stuff for OcBible and Guidemania.
Both of them are available and supported here --> follow my sign.

[MacGyverSG1]

Could someone update the guide to include new options in 0406 BIOS, please?
Thanks