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Upgraded RAM and the Vista Experience Score went down

Last response: in Motherboards
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Hello All,

First post on this board but I have recieved a multitude of help from the communities input so first and foremost I would like to say THANK YOU to each and everyone of you!

So into the issue -

My system info:
Processor(s)

Number of processors 1
Number of cores 4 per processor
Number of threads 4 per processor
Name Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
Code Name Kentsfield
Specification Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz
Package Socket 775 LGA
Family/Model/Stepping 6.F.B
Extended Family/Model 6.F
Core Stepping G0
Technology 65 nm
Core Speed 2399.9 MHz
Multiplier x Bus speed 9.0 x 266.7 MHz
Rated Bus speed 1066.6 MHz
Stock frequency 2400 MHz
Instruction sets MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, EM64T
L1 Data cache (per processor) 4 x 32 KBytes, 8-way set associative, 64-byte line size
L1 Instruction cache (per processor) 4 x 32 KBytes, 8-way set associative, 64-byte line size
L2 cache (per processor) 2 x 4096 KBytes, 16-way set associative, 64-byte line size

Chipset & Memory

Northbridge Intel P45/P43 rev. A3
Southbridge Intel 82801JR (ICH10R) rev. 00
Graphic Interface PCI-Express
PCI-E Link Width x16
PCI-E Max Link Width x16
Memory Type DDR2
Memory Size 8192 MBytes
Memory Frequency 533.3 MHz (1:2)
CAS# Latency (tCL) 7.0 clocks
RAS# to CAS# (tRCD) 7 clocks
RAS# Precharge (tRP) 7 clocks
Cycle Time (tRAS) 24 clocks
Command Rate (CR) 2T

System

System Manufacturer Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
System Name EP45-DS3L
System S/N
Mainboard Vendor Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
Mainboard Model EP45-DS3L
BIOS Vendor Award Software International, Inc.
BIOS Version f9
BIOS Date 09/22/2008

Memory SPD

Module 1 DDR2, PC2-8900 (555 MHz), 2048 MBytes, Micron Technology
Module 2 DDR2, PC2-8900 (555 MHz), 2048 MBytes, Micron Technology
Module 3 DDR2, PC2-8900 (555 MHz), 2048 MBytes, Micron Technology
Module 4 DDR2, PC2-8900 (555 MHz), 2048 MBytes, Micron Technology

Software

Windows Version Microsoft Windows Vista (6.0) Ultimate Edition Service Pack 1 (Build 6001)
DirectX Version 10.0


I recent upgrade my RAM from 4GB's of PC-6400 to 8GB's of PC-8500, I was baffled to say the least that my Vista Experience Score dropped from 5.9 to 5.6. Now the computer obviously runs faster/smoother but this is one of those things that I cant let go of and it just nags me in the back of my mind.

Did some searching and came up with a few answers, one of which has to do with frequency and clock speed. The 6400 was 333MHz with a 4-4-4-12 clock and the 8500 is 555MHz with a 7-7-7-24 clock. I'm no pro when it comes to RAM so if this is the source of my issue stop me here; I personally believe that it is and have begun to mess around with the BIOS utility in order to test different configurations of Frequency and clock speeds with no results, I find at best the system boots and CPU-Z gives me statistics identical to the ones posted above as if I have made no changes.

While I know the Vista Experienc Score is nothing to live by and I should just be happy with the overall performance of my computer I am looking to you for your advise on ways to improve the performance with what I have. Thank you all for your time, and I look forward to your answers.

Screen Shots:













Just to note, I can NOT run the Crucial Memory Scanner, it crashes my system (BSOD) I can post those logs if someone thinks it may be helpful.

More about : upgraded ram vista experience score

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Motherboard Master

Have you tried to run at 400 Mhz and 4-4-4-12 timings (assuming the modules can handle those timings)? You have PC2-8900 memory with SPD timings that are very high. I guess that's how they can overclock it to that speed, but it won't be faster than 800 Mhz memory at 4-4-4-12 timings.

Well I've been messing with it and I think I have it figured out. My MoBo is clocking down to the FSB speed of the processor and this is not allowing the RAM to function at full capacity, I upped the processor to 3.2GHz using manufacturer supplied MoBo tweaking utility and did nothing to the RAM and my score is now 5.9 all across the board.
The RAM is now running at 400MHz now; I have an idea in my head about the change that occured but I cant put it into words that make sense to all of you.

FYI
My processor before was running at 266 x9 and is now running at 400 x8.

My personal thought process is that this allow the RAM to run at 400MHz which allows it not to reach its full potential but a higher level, well screen shots are below of the current setting and Im off to run memtest; any thoughts and input will still be greatly appreciated as I do not want to blow my machine up








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GhislainG said:
What are the timings at 400Mhz?


Well XPU-Z still shows them as 7-7-7 24 but Easy Tune says 6-6-6 18

I dropped the FSB to 333 which only puts the processor at 2.67 but the RAM clock drops to 5-5-5 15 and still gives me the results I am after

400MHz FSB caused the system to crash after about 3 hrs of online gaming and then running a stress test, I had the cpu case exhaust and case fans all on high and temps were inline so I just figure that it was jacked up too high to be stable. Needless to say she is responding better to the lower RAM clocks and I personally am more comfortable with these settings as well.

Funny that the Easy Tune has a stage 3 setting that jacks the processor all the way up to 3.52 from 2.4, maybe some of you more exp people can elaborate of verify the success of this but I figure that when I get my Q9*** series processor I would like to pass on my q6600 to my kids and archive their dual core for emergency purposes.
Motherboard Master

Don't use EasyTune6. Set the FSB to default (or whatever you want to use if overclocking) and set the memory to 400 Mhz along with timings that work with your memory directly in the BIOS.
Motherboard Authority

You may also have to up the voltage slightly to get the ram running at the rated specs with all 4 slots populated.
Many boards do underclock your memory to a slower buss by default when you use all 4 slots. Why? Because it is simply much harder to get all 4 sticks working at their rated speed than 2. It is a common issue.

GhislainG said:
Don't use EasyTune6. Set the FSB to default (or whatever you want to use if overclocking) and set the memory to 400 Mhz along with timings that work with your memory directly in the BIOS.


jitpublisher said:
You may also have to up the voltage slightly to get the ram running at the rated specs with all 4 slots populated.
Many boards do underclock your memory to a slower buss by default when you use all 4 slots. Why? Because it is simply much harder to get all 4 sticks working at their rated speed than 2. It is a common issue.


Good morning all,

I didnt use easytune to set the FSB to 333 x8 as its not even an option so as it is right now all setting have been made in the BIOS (*Note - my FSB:D RAM ratio is now at 5:8 vs. 1:2). I was unable to duplicate the setting adjusted by EasyTune to get the FSB to 400 x8; upon POST the I would get memory errors and the BIOS would reset itself. I didnt think about upping the voltage when I was duplicating the EasyTune settings so I will try that now, when I think about it I believe EasyTune was upping the voltage of the RAM to 2.0 from 1.8 - I will report back in a few.

Summary -

I am going to try and set the RAM to 400MHz and clock to 6-6-6 18 and up the voltage of the RAM to 2.0 in the BIOS and return the FSB to normal which is 266 x9, brb

All seems to be fine, guess I was just missing the bump in voltage, thanks ! Still have to memtest it :hello: 

Weird that cpu-z still shows the memory at 555MHz, anywho the FSB:D RAM ration dropped back to 1:2

Chipset & Memory

Northbridge Intel P45/P43 rev. A3
Southbridge Intel 82801JR (ICH10R) rev. 00
Graphic Interface PCI-Express
PCI-E Link Width x16
PCI-E Max Link Width x16
Memory Type DDR2
Memory Size 8192 MBytes
Memory Frequency 533.4 MHz (1:2)
CAS# Latency (tCL) 6.0 clocks
RAS# to CAS# (tRCD) 6 clocks
RAS# Precharge (tRP) 6 clocks
Cycle Time (tRAS) 18 clocks
Command Rate (CR) 2T

EDIT: Looking back at your ealier post ghislaing; should I try to drop the clock to 4-4-4 12 and see if it will boot? The lowest rating I've seen for this RAM is 5-5-5 15 and thats at 333MHz...
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