RAM configuration

I'm currently using an ASUS P4P800-E Deluxe motherboard running a P4 3.2g Prescott CPU with 2 x 512mb DDR400 2.5-3-3-8 RAM (as indicated by CPU-Z).

Now I've read that I should be getting pretty decent performance gains if I get some 2-2-2-5 RAM so I can turn the Performance Mode in BIOS to "Turbo".

First off, I'm not too sure what those numbers mean but I generally take it that the lower the better. Well, at least it seems like the lower, the more expensive!

Anyway, my current RAM is running in dual-channel linear mode. My motherboard has 4 x RAM slots (A1, B1, A2, B2). Current RAM sticks are sitting in B1, B2. I was just wondering, if I splurged for a pair of Corsair 3200XL 512MB DDR400 2-2-2-5 RAM sticks, can I leave my current ones on and just chuck the Corsair ones on A1, A2? Or do I have to piss off my current ones and replace them with the Corsair?

The way I see it, I should be able to leave the current ones on and add the Corsair ones but I wouldn't be able to turn the Performance Mode to "Turbo", or I can replace them with the Corsair ones and run "Turbo" mode.

Which way would be more effective in improving performance?

PS. Also, if anyone can be bothered, please explain to me the meaning behind those numbers (2-2-2-5, 2.5-3-3-8, etc), or point me to a site that does.

THANKS!

 

Scoob you should be able to lower the latencies in your bios,the most important is the first one cas try lowering it from 2.5 to 2.0 then bring the others down one at a time running the computer after each on is reduced to check stability,my memory came running at 3-3-3-8 but was guaranteed to run at cas 2,it now runs at 2-3-3-5 It will go faster but my comp is in bits at the moment.

Its not a good idea to mix memory,best bet is to sell the stuff you have and get 4 identical sticks,try improving the latecies first though.

 

D3m3nt3d: I am already running 1gb RAM, ie. 2x 512MB sticks.

Rikky: I am not too confident about lowering the latencies manually in BIOS in case I damage something. Looking up on the web, it does seem that my RAM is pretty crap and I really shouldn't try lowering the latencies. They come running at 2.5-3-3-8. Now I'm torn between adding another 1gb worth of the same RAM or scrapping the current RAM and going for 1gb of quality RAM capable of running 2-2-2-5.

Just wondering how much performance gain would I see by going to 2gb of RAM running 2.5-3-3-8 versus 1gb of RAM running 2-2-2-5?

That is my dilemma

 

I could be wrong, but I doubt you'd see a noticable performance increase with either of those upgrades. You'd be better off spending your money elsewhere, like maybe a new video card...

 

Wyatt: Hmm... you think? If so then I'll probably leave them and continue saving for an X850XT ATI Radeon video card

Current RAM sticks are (apparently)
Samsung AL6D8B53T-5B1K
512mb DDR400

Anyone know anything about these? Any chance I could wind them up to 2-2-2-5?

 

Yeah, there's a good chance! Samsung is one of the leading manufacturers of high quality ram modules. Most companies making ram with 2.0 latencies use samsung modules. So give it a try! No, it won't hurt your system. Just be careful not to be running anything you can't stand to lose (unsaved data) the first week or two you're testing out your new lower latencies.

Oh, and I'd consider it winding down lower latency = better.

Secondly you asked about performance gains with lower latencies vs. more ram. As a general rule, lower latency is better.

Think of it this way: What apps do you run that require more than 1gb of RAM? hm... photoshop, ripping dvds, gaming... maybe a few other occasions. These rare occasions are where 2gb of ram will improve performance.

Now, for general purpose: surfing the net, office apps, e-mail, AIM, etc. The lower latency will do ya better. This is because there is less time between when your computer refreshes what data your ram is holding.

So all said and done, if you can get your current RAM running at the same latency as the RAM you want to buy, maybe upgrade to 1.5gb. Then take that extra $100 and... I don't know. Start saving for a mac?

*edit: I always edit. Actually, the best way to spend that cash is by assessing where you computer's bottle-neck is and addressing it with that extra cash. This can be tricky to measure, but SANDRA lite has some general benchmarking tools that might help ya.

 

Moyupae: Thanks for the tip. What risks do I run by winding my current RAM down to 2-2-2-5 from 2.5-3-3-8 other than crashing while running an app/s? Saved data in HDDs won't be affected, right?

Current spec:
P4 3.2ghz Prescott HT
Asus P4P800-E Deluxe motherboard
Gigabyte ATI Radeon 9600xt 256mb VGA card
1gb (2x 512mb) Samsung DDR400 RAM at 2.5-3-3-8
Seagate 7200.7 120g HDD
Seagate 7200.7 80g HDD
Watercooled CPU and GPU
Thermaltake 480w PSU

I'm guessing my performance is currently limited by my VGA card and RAM.

D3m3nt3d: No worries

 

LOL just tried changing latency values to 2-2-2-5 in BIOS, wouldn't even go to POST! Blank screen and just stays there, had to turn off PSU and wait a while before trying again just to be able to get back into BIOS to change it back to 2.5-3-3-8. Got me scared for a while.

Another question: what is DRAM burst length? Current setting is 4 clocks, only other option is 8 clocks.

 

Thanks D3m3nt3d.

Now I just found out the RAM sticks aren't Samsung, they're PSC. Now what in the world are PSC and what do they do? Smells like new RAM is required... Maybe a pair of Corsair Cas2 512MB sticks? Or a pair of Kingston HyperX Cas2 512mb sticks? Hmm... *evil grin*

 

If you feel your ram is really slowing you down, go for the corsair. They seem to be neck and neck with OCZ platinum for most popular high end ram. Just remember, the ram you have now is good. If you find you can sell it to comp a good chunk of the new ram, do it. Otherwise, even without lowering the latency manually, you might get better performance gains by replacing a different part.

 

Scooby you seem to have forgot what I said alread.lol.

Lower one number at a time.

I'm not gonna go into a big explaination of what they all do first lower,the 2.5 to 2.0 tis is the most important it will give your memory a 20% increase in performance,then lower the rest of the numbers one at a time the others arnt as important as the cas latency"the first number",but generally as a rule the lower the better.

 

Hehe nah I haven't forgotten Rikky I tried a few combinations before going for broke with 2-2-2-5 just for fun. 2-3-3-8 yielded stability problems right away, 2.5-3-3-6/7 didn't make much difference, nor did changing DRAM Burst Length from 4 to 8 clocks.

I eventually left it at 2.5-3-3-7 with Burst Length at 8 clocks. Having done even more extensive reading on the subject of RAM latency, I've decided that I'll just stick to my current RAM and just put the money into the VGA card piggy bank

 

Its the luck of the draw some do some don't,good ram improves your luck considerably though,but the performance from high end ram aint worth it,unless your tryin to push every last mhz out of a system,you need a good vid card now for the icing on your sweeeeet rig,a rad 800xt,or an nvid 6800gt will finish it off nice,then if you come accross an opportunity for memory part ex with someone in the future,or you have some extra cash lyin round,a couple of sticks of low latency would be nice,but not neccessary,just as a treat,or you have stability issues if you decide to push your system,you could run memtest from the download section,to see how well your memory is performing?

 

Thanks for the tips Rikky, I'll be sure to keep them in mind. Currently got my eye on a few video cards, it all depends on my budget over the next few months.

Currently considering:

ATI Radeon X800XT, NVIDIA 6800GT or the ATI RADEON X800Pro.

However, I am also keeping in mind that I might want to go for a newer LGA775 socket mobo so that I can go for PCI-e graphic cards and a quicker processor. Current mobo is limiting my options as it's an AGP and 478 socket board.

But then I should be sensible and not go silly on this spree as this system is only 6 months old! I really should hang on to what I have for now and put money towards an upgrade in another year or so... but who can resist the urge!?

 

In that case scoob I have to say get an AMD board and cpu,with your watercooling your system might not even require fans!And you could overclock it to the moon,If your into gaming a64 is the way to go!

 

Heed Rikky's advice on the a64. Intel isn't even competing right now--especially in the dual processor side of things. Though, in most situations, you'll stick with a single core with more mhz for better gaming performance. Anyway, the nice thing about AMD is they're making their sockets so much more upgradable than Intel. I don't know what graphics card you're running now, but I'd wait and upgrade your cpu,mobo, and go pci-x all at the same time for your next upgrade. Waiting will pay off in the long run. Not to metion there are better prices and deals on pci-x graphics cards.
I know it's tempting, but if you really want to stave off upgrading, I've found it helpful to build systems for other people. You pocket some cash, get to play with newer hardware, and learn a lot about configuration and actual performance levels of various hardware.

 

I think your current system is fine,but there is the dilema of agp/pci-e,if you get an agp card its useless if you want to upgrade your mobo,and a new mobo will require you to do something with your current rig.

IMO an agp card will see you through the next year and a 6800gt or 800xt will go well with your current system,then in a year,like moyupae said a full overhaul of mobo and vid card,sayin that if you could get a decent price for your current cpu and mobo,it may be worth getting the pci-e mobo and card,o well,decisions,decisions,I'm going back to the cooling and modding section lookin at your comp,sweeeet.LOL

 

I seem to be swaying towards getting a decent AGP card now, and start overclocking the current system to shits to keep up with newer software/games in a year or so, see if I can hold on to this system for another 2-3 years. Then, I'll ditch the whole setup for a completely new one, new technology will probably be out by then.

If I get a fairly top end AGP card now, I reckon my current setup will probably be capable to hold its own for another 2-3 years before becoming obsolete. Ya reckon?

 

It depends what the future holds and what you want to keep up with,If you wanna play the latest games at high res 1-2 years,but everything else no prob easily 3 years and more,I would leave your setup as it is and throw in a 6800gt,with water cooling you can push it faster than an air cooled 6800 ultra,and you should be able to get 3-4 hundred mhz from your chip,It isnt cost effective to sell a 6 month old rig and get new parts anyway.