Hi guys,

Newbie here. I really hope someone leads me somewhere else if I am in the wrong section here.

Just to ask some questions regarding overclocking. I have a shared PC at home and trying to use it to start learning about overclocking. Specs are:

[Motherboard] Asrock Z77 Extreme 4
[Processor] Intel Core i5 3570K
[RAM] Gskill SNIPER 2x4GB DDR3 2133mhz (currently only at 1333MHz) - Stock timing (if that's what it's called) is 11-11-11-28 @ 1.6V(Based on CPU-Z readings)
[PSU] Seasonic X650 Full Modular PSU

I am very interested in RAM timings (mostly), but I read from articles that OCing the RAM is interrelated with CPU OC, is that correct? Here are other questions:
1. I know I can tweak the timings (lower is faster) but may cause stability issues or you PC will not even boot up. So how do I go about this?
2. Does OCing my RAM need any kind of cooling? Or will normal airflow suffice?
3. Is it even possible for me to go for lower timings?

I know some of these questions will make some of you pros go asking what the heck am I asking, but hey, I gotta start somewhere. Haha. It'd be sweet if I could be directed, anywhere, to take a step ahead in understanding this.

Thanks in advance!

from bios, you can set the XMP (OC Profile) so your ram can run 2133Mhz

btw you can try manually set the speed by adjusting the ram divider.
try explore your bios, find something related to speed like 1333, 1600, 1866, 2133.

from 1333, try set to 1600, let the timing at auto

1. tweak timing ram a.k.a OC the ram timing - different chip has different behavior.
this one, you should figure it out yourself and do share here as i not familiar with your ram
some ram with good chip can easily set to lower timing.

let say default/ stock speed and timing : 1600 9-9-9 2T 1.5V(i always choose 1600 as benchmark)
good chip can do
1. 1600 7-8-7 1T 1.5V
2. 1600 6-8-6 1T 1.6-1.65V

1T vs 2T, some ram cannot even stable at 2T

bad chip cannot do even 1600 8-8-8 1T 1.65V


2. OC any element; ram, processor, gpu - all need active cooling.
some casing that have good airflow will do the job, but i strongly suggest to put any fan to blow the ram


3.again, you need to try to figure it out yourself
since you are using ivy k series, you can try OC the ram speed 1st by using ram divider/ ram multiplier

for timing, normally i set at 1600, then adjust the timing
you can start with 9-9-9 1T <-- set 1T 1st (command rate)
then try 8-9-9, 8-9-8, 8-8-8. if you are facing any instability issue, pump the vdimm a bit
safe range for ram voltage is 1.5-1.65V

good luck

This post has been edited by lengchai86: Feb 8 2013, 11:50 PM

nice info tq TT

Wow, thank you so much. Will give this an experiment. Will definitely try after CNY.

thank 4 da info friend...going to try it