time for a memory upgrade

sneakypenguin

sneakypenguin

sneakypenguin

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Joined
12 Mar 2005
Posts
468
Location
Kings Norton, Birmingham
my system specs are as follows:

Intel qx6700 @ stock speeds
asus striker extreme (with 1303 bios)
creative x-fi extreme audio
BFG 8800gtx oc @stock speeds
1xhitachi 500gig sata hdd
1xhitachi 250gig sata hdd
corsair hx520w psu
2x1gb pc2-8500 ddr2
windows vista ultimate x64

The problem I'm having is my ram is seriously holding back the rest of my system. The system rating in vista is currently at 5.0 because it uses the lowest subscore, which in my case is the ram. My hdd rates at 5.7 and everything else is 5.9.

Any thoughts on what the best ram I can get for a performance boost? and should I go the 4gb route or stay with 2gb?

any other comments of suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

many thanks,
sp
 
You already have a PC8500kit which is one of the fastest DDR2 you can get.

My guess is that because you're running at stock the motherboard automatically downclock the ram to match the fsb speed with very loose timings for maximum compatibility. In your case it's probably at DDR2 533/667, when your RAM is capable of DDR2 1066.

You'll need to manually set the mem divider and timings in BIOS.

You can run CPU-Z to find out what speed your RAM is currently running at.
 
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Personally, until someone explains to me clearly what the Vista experience uses to evaluate RAM, I would not base any major decisions on it. Unless your CPU is maxing out at more than a 533mhz FSB your RAM is not going to hold you back.
 
ok, just had a look at cpu-z and this is what it says:

Type DDR2
Channels# Dual
size:2048MBytes
frequency:400.0MHz
FSB DRAM 2:3
CAS#Latency (tcl)5.0 clocks
RAS# to CAS Delay (tRCD) 5 clocks
RAS# Precharge (tRP) 5clocks
cycle time (tRAS) 18 clocks
Bank cycle time (tRC) 23clocks
command rate (CR) 2T

looking at these timings they seem very very slack, any ideas how I can tighten them up?

thanks

sp
 
Well what is the default timings for your RAM at DDR2 1066 PC8500? Which memory do you have?

Since you have NV chipset and ASUS mobo try going into BIOS and go into "Jumper free configuration and set the DRAM frequency to linked 1:1, that should bring the ram upto its stock speed of DDR2 1066. Also make sure the DRAM voltage is manually set to the default for your RAM.

Timing options should be under the Northbridge menu, to set it manually you must first set the "Configure RAM by spd" option off.
 
right, done a bit of looking and my memory is 1GB x2 Elpida DDR2 1066 DIMM-PC8500. never heard of them so I'll do a bit more research and see what's what and get back to you

edit: just had a look at their site and I can't find my specific ram, but all their ram seems to run on 1.8v +/-0.1v
 
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Elpida makes good memory ICs. But, as I said, your memory is not the problem. If you are running it at DDR800 and not DDR1066 then that is not the memory limiting you. Try the settings above or, try UNLINKED and set the memory to 1066 manually. But, I still would not rely on Vista to be your guide for success or failure. Does the sytem do what you built it to do? Simply increasing your memory speed without OCing the CPU might increase your Vista experience but provide virtually no gain in real world usage.
 
right, had a play in bios and these are the results:

frequency:533.4MHz
FSB DRAM 1:2
CAS#Latency (tcl)5.0 clocks
RAS# to CAS Delay (tRCD) 7 clocks
RAS# Precharge (tRP) 7 clocks
cycle time (tRAS) 24 clocks
Bank cycle time (tRC) 31 clocks
command rate (CR) 2T

Is that much of an improvement or can I get it any better? set the ram fsb to 1066 in bios and increased the voltage to 1.85v in case there is any vdroop (as it's common with thtese boards)

thanks
sp
 
The speed is right but the timings are WAY off. 5-7-7-24! You'll need to find out the timings of your RAM and manually set these four in the BIOS.
 
right, had another play in bios and tweaked the timings:

frequency:533.4MHz
FSB DRAM 1:2
CAS#Latency (tcl)5.0 clocks
RAS# to CAS Delay (tRCD) 5 clocks
RAS# Precharge (tRP) 5 clocks
cycle time (tRAS) 15 clocks
Bank cycle time (tRC) 31 clocks
command rate (CR) 2T

This any better? my system certainly responds a bit quicker and applications load a bit quicker too.
 
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