RAM help

Schotzy · 09-20-2009, 06:14 PM

Hi. I built my first rig several months ago. I have a intel q9550 cpu, a gigabyte ep-45-ud3p motherboard, and 4 gb of 1066 gskil RAM. I am having a hard time getting my cpu past 3 ghz. I increased the voltage and I got it to boot at 3ghz and I ran Prime 95. It stopped instantly and said I had a hardware problem. I ran Prime 95 again, but this time I just tested the cpu and not the RAM this time it was completely stable.

These results led me to the conlusion that my RAM is holding me back. Any advice on what I should do? I

I have good cooling and a 850 watt psu so these aren't issues.

**greenbrucelee** · 09-20-2009, 11:29 PM

just because you have an 850w psu doesn't mean anything, if it is a bad brand then it could mean everything. What brand is it?

When you overclock the FSB your ram frequency will go up or down depending on your setting you need to keep the ram frequency within its range i.e I have 4GB 1066 ram but have overclocked to 3.91 and my ram is at 886 because my FSB is at 443.

Schotzy · 09-21-2009, 07:53 AM

Sorry. My psu is an 850 watt corsair.
I think my problem was my RAM getting overclocke because I left the modifier on auto. What should I change it to? I have read that you want to achieve a 1:1 ratio. How is that calculated?
Please help.

Schotzy · 09-21-2009, 08:01 AM

Now I have another problem. I reloaded my optimized defaults and now I can't get into windows. It loads up and POSTs fine but when the desktop should load up the screen remains black but I can see my mouse cursor in the screen. How do I fix this?

I am using Windows 7 rc for my OS.

**Tyree** · 09-21-2009, 09:40 AM

Clear the CMOS.

**greenbrucelee** · 09-21-2009, 10:06 AM

a 1:1 refers to the ram speed being double the FSB speed.

I have two 2GB ram in my system which is rated at 1066MHz however I have my FSB set to 443MHz x 9 which gives me a cpu speed of 3.91GHz so my ram is set to 886 which is 1:1

to achieve this you must be running in dual chanel mode.

Schotzy · 09-21-2009, 10:24 AM

OK thanks for explaining the RAM ratio. Now I cant get into windows. It goes to the windows 7 loading screen but it only dislplays a black screen when the desktop should appear. I can still see the mouse cursor but nothing else. I have all my BIOS settings on default. I dont know what to do now.

**greenbrucelee** · 09-21-2009, 11:54 AM

As Tyree said clear the CMOS.

Schotzy · 09-21-2009, 12:05 PM

If I clear the CMOS will I lose all my installed programs and data? I am running the default BIOS settings now.

Phædrus2401 · 09-21-2009, 12:17 PM

No, all of that is stored on the hard drive, which isn't affected by the motherboard. Clearing the CMOS is kind of like a hard reset for the motherboard, and makes it re-evaluate all of its default settings.

Schotzy · 09-21-2009, 12:41 PM

All of my BIOS settings are at default now. Do I still need to clear CMOS?

Phædrus2401 · 09-21-2009, 12:44 PM

If you can't get into Windows at default settings, then you need to clear CMOS.

If you *can* get into Windows now, then you don't have to.

09-20-2009, 06:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
Schotzy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 58 OS: xp	RAM help Hi. I built my first rig several months ago. I have a intel q9550 cpu, a gigabyte ep-45-ud3p motherboard, and 4 gb of 1066 gskil RAM. I am having a hard time getting my cpu past 3 ghz. I increased the voltage and I got it to boot at 3ghz and I ran Prime 95. It stopped instantly and said I had a hardware problem. I ran Prime 95 again, but this time I just tested the cpu and not the RAM this time it was completely stable. These results led me to the conlusion that my RAM is holding me back. Any advice on what I should do? I I have good cooling and a 850 watt psu so these aren't issues.

09-20-2009, 11:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
greenbrucelee Mentor Hardware team Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,774 OS: XP SP3 My System	Re: RAM help just because you have an 850w psu doesn't mean anything, if it is a bad brand then it could mean everything. What brand is it? When you overclock the FSB your ram frequency will go up or down depending on your setting you need to keep the ram frequency within its range i.e I have 4GB 1066 ram but have overclocked to 3.91 and my ram is at 886 because my FSB is at 443. __________________ Microsoft certified professional, Network +, A+ certified

09-21-2009, 07:53 AM	#3 (permalink)
Schotzy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 58 OS: xp	Re: RAM help Sorry. My psu is an 850 watt corsair. I think my problem was my RAM getting overclocke because I left the modifier on auto. What should I change it to? I have read that you want to achieve a 1:1 ratio. How is that calculated? Please help.

09-21-2009, 08:01 AM	#4 (permalink)
Schotzy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 58 OS: xp	Re: RAM help Now I have another problem. I reloaded my optimized defaults and now I can't get into windows. It loads up and POSTs fine but when the desktop should load up the screen remains black but I can see my mouse cursor in the screen. How do I fix this? I am using Windows 7 rc for my OS.

09-21-2009, 09:40 AM	#5 (permalink)
Tyree Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: May 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 5,356 OS: XP Pro-7RC-Mandriva My System	Re: RAM help Clear the CMOS. __________________ Posting your PC specs will help us to help you quicker and more efficiently.

09-21-2009, 10:06 AM	#6 (permalink)
greenbrucelee Mentor Hardware team Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,774 OS: XP SP3 My System	Re: RAM help a 1:1 refers to the ram speed being double the FSB speed. I have two 2GB ram in my system which is rated at 1066MHz however I have my FSB set to 443MHz x 9 which gives me a cpu speed of 3.91GHz so my ram is set to 886 which is 1:1 to achieve this you must be running in dual chanel mode. __________________ Microsoft certified professional, Network +, A+ certified

09-21-2009, 10:24 AM	#7 (permalink)
Schotzy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 58 OS: xp	Re: RAM help OK thanks for explaining the RAM ratio. Now I cant get into windows. It goes to the windows 7 loading screen but it only dislplays a black screen when the desktop should appear. I can still see the mouse cursor but nothing else. I have all my BIOS settings on default. I dont know what to do now.

09-21-2009, 11:54 AM	#8 (permalink)
greenbrucelee Mentor Hardware team Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,774 OS: XP SP3 My System	Re: RAM help As Tyree said clear the CMOS. __________________ Microsoft certified professional, Network +, A+ certified

09-21-2009, 12:05 PM	#9 (permalink)
Schotzy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 58 OS: xp	Re: RAM help If I clear the CMOS will I lose all my installed programs and data? I am running the default BIOS settings now.

09-21-2009, 12:17 PM	#10 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,706 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: RAM help No, all of that is stored on the hard drive, which isn't affected by the motherboard. Clearing the CMOS is kind of like a hard reset for the motherboard, and makes it re-evaluate all of its default settings. __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for.

09-21-2009, 12:41 PM	#11 (permalink)
Schotzy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 58 OS: xp	Re: RAM help All of my BIOS settings are at default now. Do I still need to clear CMOS?

09-21-2009, 12:44 PM	#12 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,706 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: RAM help If you can't get into Windows at default settings, then you need to clear CMOS. If you can get into Windows now, then you don't have to. __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for.