Best DDR3 slots on GA-890XA-UD3 ?

[r0jj]

Hi,

I'm installing 2x2GB DDR1333 (OCZ Platinum 7-7-7-20 spec'd) into my GA-890XA-UD3 and am wondering which slot pair to use, 1&2 or 3&4.

I thought conventional wisdom was that the slots closest to the processor were best but the AMD Dragon Performance Tuning Guide states that the slots furthest away should be populated first and I've also read that slots 3&4 also need to be used to achieve DDR1600.

So it appears to me that I should be using 3&4, anyone have any good reason why this might be so?

Thanks,

Dom.

[Dark Mantis]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Your memory modules shouldbe installed in slots 1&2 nearest the processor. Only if you were using overclocked RAM would you need to use the 3&4 socket first. If you check your manual page 16 it shows where the memory should be inserted.

To reach DDR3 1866 MHz or above, you must install two memory modules and install them in the DDR3_3 and DDR3_4 memory sockets

http://download.gigabyte.eu/FileList/Manual/mb_manual_ga-890xa-ud3_v2.0_e.pdf

[r0jj]

Thanks for the response.

I currently have them in 1&2 running at 7-7-7-30 and they pass Memtest so I will try pushing the TRES down to the specification (20) tonight.

Any idea why 3&4 need to be used for overclocking?

Regards,

Dom.

[Dark Mantis]

The one thing I would say is have a read of this thread before you go pushing your memory up past 1333. It can do damage to the memory controllers on the CPU even if it appears to run fine

http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,2515.0.html

[r0jj]

Hi,

Thanks for the warning. I'm not going to bother trying to exceed the mfgs. specs (1333, 7-7-7-20, 1.65V), just still trying to achieve that with the greatest stability.

Domino.

[Dark Mantis]

Quite right Domino, stability is king! 

[r0jj]

Yup, once I've got this thing shut up I don't want to have to think about it again for as long as possible.

Dom.

[Dark Mantis]

Come on give a bit of love to the puter! Needs a bit of cleaning out once in a while. Besides you would only get bored if you are like me. I no sooner finish the build than I am customising some aspect of it.

[r0jj]

That's true, the dust cleaning never ends, especially with pets around.

[autotech]

Why is use the haf 932 and the kids have the 922 haf. Slower fans cool temps and clean once every two months.

[Dark Mantis]

Why is use the haf 932 and the kids have the 922 haf. Slower fans cool temps and clean once every two months.

  Where did this come into the equation?

[autotech]

That's true, the dust cleaning never ends, especially with pets around.

about right there.lol btw i have 2 dogs also and i know how hard it is with pets around. When i used 4 x 120mm fans in my haf 932 i had to clean at least 1 time a month is why i switched over to the bigger fans.

[runn3R]

(...) Any idea why 3&4 need to be used for overclocking? (...)

Hi r0jj (Dom)

It appeared after many tests which we've done that these 2 slots are best to choose from when you want to have better stability and easier OC to 1800 MHz and higher speeds.