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Questions about GIGABYTE products => Motherboards with AMD processors => Topic started by: needspeed on June 22, 2012, 04:45:13 am

Title: AM3 motherboard with plenty of DDR voltage headroom
Post by: needspeed on June 22, 2012, 04:45:13 am

Hi All,

I found some very nice DDR 3 RAM that runs at 1.90 volts (OCZ 4GB DDR3 PC3-10666 Kit ReaperX HPC SDRAM Memory Module OCZ3RPX1333EB4GK) and although I tried to install it on my present motherboard, the computer ran like it was straining to suply the RAM with enough power. My motherboard tops out at 1.9 volts, the memory's stated required voltage.

So, my question is this:

Does Gigabyte manufacture an AM3 motherboard that has plenty of spare DDR voltage headroom so that it will handle this power hungry memory without straining itself or other components?

I thank you for your input and look forward to your answer.

Title: Re: AM3 motherboard with plenty of DDR voltage headroom
Post by: Vezina on June 22, 2012, 06:44:44 am

You have made some mistakes in this case.

1.First of all you ve bought OCZ memory :)
2.You ve bought factory over-clocked memory ( it requires 1,9V volts to run opposed to the usual 1,5-1,65V).

JEDEC states 1,50V for DDR 3.On the market you may also notice memory fed at 1,65V at high speeds (for factory overclocked ram) .
That 1,9 Voltage for DDR 3 memory is quite high.
You should use the JEDEC timings and voltage for the moment with what you have and buy new RAM unfortunately.I am not sure if that high voltage may damage the CPU memory controller in time.The RAM VRM may also go bad using that ram at that voltage.

Having in mind this aspects i wouldn t blame Gigabyte for memory related issues ,the ram is simply "wrong" as you are trying to use it  :)

Is that a motherboard build with overclocking in mind ?!

Maybe you should share with us your full system specifications.

Title: Re: AM3 motherboard with plenty of DDR voltage headroom
Post by: needspeed on June 23, 2012, 11:59:54 am

Hi Vezina,

Thank you for your input, it's much appreciated!

Anyhow, the memory was going to be installed on a 970A-UD3 and although I bought the OCZ memory in question and found it attractive on account of its very tight timing (6-5-5-18) I didn't stop to consider other factors. I did briefly mount it on the motherboard, but removed it promptly because I observed the motherboard struggling to work with it, since I felt that leaving it installed was only going to invite damage to some of my other components.

I was also deceived by the name of the manufacturer (OCZ) and thinking that they wouldn't sell a product that not only was way out of the DDR3 specification, but could also damage your motherboard and other components.

In the final analysis manufactures that should know better do produce misguided and dangerous products and not all that glitters is gold.

Thanks!