Memory way too slow

AndyTX

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Aug 9, 2001
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18,510
Here's my problem: 3dmark 2001 was going very very slowly on my sister's computer and it got a score way below what everyone else of the same configuration got. Just FYI, her computer is this:

Pentium III 933
VIA Chipset (693 I think)
256 MB PC133 RAM
Voodoo3 3000 AGP (Replaced shortly)

Anyway, I eventually tracked what may be causing the problem to the memory. In Sandra 2001 it benchmarks at about 150. This is dreadful as it falls back to the PC66 days range! I messed around with BIOS settings, swapped in different memory (from my computer, which is only PC100 and it gets 340 in Sandra easily) and installed the newest VIA 4in1s, but nothing seems to make a difference. No matter what I do, it gets those exact numbers (within 2 points).

I am completely stumped by this one. I also admit that I know very little about VIA chipsets, so any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot!
 

FatBurger

Illustrious
Read Tom's BIOS tuning guide <A HREF="http://www4.tomshardware.com/howto/01q3/010725/index.html" target="_new">here</A>. It should help your memory scores a lot.

-----------------------
Quarter pounder inside
 

AndyTX

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Aug 9, 2001
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Thanks for the reply, but I've already read the article and tried everything in it. In fact, I even checked every possible combination of the memory BIOS settings to try and fix the problem, but all seem to give the same result... a very low score. Changing BIOS settings so far has only changed the Sandra score by, at most, 3 or 4 points.

Ideas anyone? Thanks.
 

phsstpok

Splendid
Dec 31, 2007
5,600
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25,780
Does the BIOS have 4-Way interleave? If not try H.Oda's Wpcredit and Wpcrset. <b>Update:</b> Is that an Via Apollo Pro chipset that you have there? You'll need the correct PCR file.

You can get Wpcredit at <A HREF="http://www.h-oda.com" target="_new">http://www.h-oda.com</A>. If the mem tweak works then you will have to obtain Wpcrset from another source as the download is blocked.

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by phsstpok on 08/10/01 03:36 PM.</EM></FONT></P>
 

AndyTX

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Aug 9, 2001
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I did try it i my computer and it worked fine, even though mine is only set for PC100 at the moment (on the motherboard). Also, it clearly states PC133 on it... hmm I don't know. Thanks though.
 

AndyTX

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Aug 9, 2001
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I think hers in an Apollo Pro, and I looked breifly at the memory interleave. I wasn't entire clear on what it was, and the setup looked a bit difficult. I also didn't want to risk messing anything up, as it isn't incredibly important to her.

By the way, VIA provides those two utilities on their site free.