Gonna upgrade from avg. pc3200...suggestions?

[ltj311]

MSI K8N Neo Platinum
Athlon 64 3200+ Newcastle
Apacer 512mb pc3200
9800nonpro

I don't know much about timings, but this is what CPU-Z reads:

Cas: 3.0
Ras: 4
Ras Precharge: 4
Tras: 8
Trc: 12
Dram Idle timer: 16

I know these are slow timings. My ram doesn't have a heatspreader on it. I would just like to know if I should keep this brand and get another stick. I want 1 gig, but I would like to know if I should get another one of these, or scrap it and get a better brand.

Secondly, should I lower my timings? Would that make much of a difference?

I have the choice of setting my timings to 2T or 1T, right now its at 2T. Should I go to 1T?

Thanks.

--

"I'm a rageaholic."
(<i>starts crying</i>)
"I just can't live without rageahol." - Homer Simpson
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by ltj311 on 07/20/04 03:18 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[ltj311]

(Meaningful Bump)

I was thinking about just getting another 512mb pc3200 Apacer stick. I'm just not sure it's worth it to get 1gig of all new memory. Since that would cost me over $100 more.

But then again, I don't want to buy the stick, then find out that I should have plunked down for all new memory, as opposed to upgrading so-so memory.

--

"I'm a rageaholic."
(<i>starts crying</i>)
"I just can't live without rageahol." - Homer Simpson

 

[Cybercraig]

Set your Vdimm at 2.7v. Set your timings manually at 2.5,3,3,7 - 1T. If it runs here it may be worth adding a second stick. If it doesn't run, get some decent memory. Those are god-awful timings for a 200mhz speed. You don't usually see 3,4,4,8 until 250mhz speeds where pure horsepower makes up for slower timings.


Abit IS7 - 2.8C @ 3.4 - Mushkin PC4000 (2 X 512) - Sapphire 9800Pro - TT 420 watt Pure Power
Samsung 120gb ATA-100 - Maxtor 40gb ATA - 100
Sony DRU-510A - THAT'S MORE LIKE IT, MSI!

 

[xeenrecoil]

heya Itj311;

I recommend you buy 2x512MB of Crucial pc3200, the timings are 3-3-3-6. Also you wont have any trouble whatsoever with compatability as micron is the very definition of industry standard, and have built their company on stability and compatability.
If you want faster timings then that Crucial has their own High performance line of memory called Ballistix, check those out as well, Crucial is running a special right now on their modules, $8 off on the second regular module, or 4% off on the second Ballistix module.
<A HREF="http://www.crucial.com" target="_new">http://www.crucial.com</A>

 

[ltj311]

Thanks for the responses guys.

Ok craig, I did what you recommended and changed my timings to 2.5,3,3,7 1T. I also set Vdimm to 2.7v. I'm glad you didn't say to set it higher because 2.75v was flashing red. lol

Well, it seems stable. I ran 3dmark2001 just for the heck of it before I adjusted timings and I got 17,396. After setting the new timings I got 18,043. Wasn't even sure if I should've expected a perfomance gain on this bench, but I was pleased.

So, are the any programs that I can download which will verfiy that these timings will be stable? Or since they posted and I was able to run a benchmark successfully, does this tell me they will be fine?

I suppose if it remains stable like this I will just get another Apacer stick. Now if I do, will this second stick automatically run at 2.5,3,3,7 1T or do I have to set it to these timings? Probably a stupid question, but the only BIOS I've ever had before was a sh*tty proprietary Comnpaq BIOS which didn't let me do crap.

Thanks.

Xeen, I appreciate your suggestions and I will still strongly consider them. I'm always skeptical when I adjust things in the BIOS, and I'm not totally sure that these timings will remain stable. Though I'm not really sure when or how I can be sure of that.

--
MSI K8N Neo Platinum
Athlon 64 3200+ Newcastle
512mb Apacer pc3200
ATI 9800np 256-bit 128mb

 

[Cybercraig]

Google Memtest86 and prepare a bootable floppy with it. Run it for a while and see what happens. I have a feeling you will pass. Those aren't bad timings for a NEO. If you pass, try 2.5,3,3,10 and see if you get any faster. This has been reported to work well with that board.


Abit IS7 - 2.8C @ 3.4 - Mushkin PC4000 (2 X 512) - Sapphire 9800Pro - TT 420 watt Pure Power
Samsung 120gb ATA-100 - Maxtor 40gb ATA - 100
Sony DRU-510A - THAT'S MORE LIKE IT, MSI!

 

[ltj311]

Ok, now I'm a little worried. I ran memtest and wasn't getting any errors. But just now I was closing down an ie window and I got a blue screen error and the computer restarted.

Everything seems fine now, but do you think this is related to my lowered timings?

I guess maybe it could be a random blue screen, but usually they mean something. Makes me wonder if these timings are going to remain stable. I guess I will keep them like this until I get another blue screen. (crosses fingers)

--
MSI K8N Neo Platinum
Athlon 64 3200+ Newcastle
512mb Apacer pc3200
ATI 9800np 256-bit 128mb
3dMark01: 20,371 3dMark03: 6334 Aquamark3: 46,310

 

[Cybercraig]

Just run it for a while. A BSOD on a new build could be any kind of conflict. Keep your eyes peeled and check device manager for any conflicts.

Abit IS7 - 2.8C @ 3.4 - Mushkin PC4000 (2 X 512) - Sapphire 9800Pro - TT 420 watt Pure Power
Samsung 120gb ATA-100 - Maxtor 40gb ATA - 100
Sony DRU-510A - THAT'S MORE LIKE IT, MSI!

 

[ltj311]

Well, I've come to a decision. I was hell-bent on upgrading my graphics card to a x800xt or 6800gt. But since they are so damn hard to find, and prices are so inflated right now, I'm just gonna wait till they become more available.

So I've decided to spend some good money on a pair of good quality 512mb pc3200. I've narrowed it down to these offerings:

<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-145-450&depa=0" target="_new">Corsair XMS Twin Pack</A> : $236.00 @ Newegg.com (frontrunner)

<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-144-114&depa=0" target="_new">Kingston Hyper X</A> : $282.00 @ Newegg.com (kinda pricey)

<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-146-883&depa=0" target="_new">OCZ Enhanced Latency</A> : $241.00 @ Newegg.com (these heatspreaders rule)

<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-146-290&depa=0" target="_new">Mushkin Level One</A> : $249.00 @ Newegg.com

Have you guys had any experience with any of these? I would love some recomendations. Thanks.

--
MSI K8N Neo Platinum
Athlon 64 3200+ Newcastle
512mb Apacer pc3200
ATI 9800np 256-bit 128mb
3dMark01: 20,371 3dMark03: 6334 Aquamark3: 46,310

 

[ltj311]

Well, I decided to go with the Corsair XMS pc3200. It was between this and the OCZ, but after reading some of the reviews for the OCZ, they were getting alot of DOA's.

Corsair's on the other hand were all nearly flawless. I hope I get a good pair. Can't wait.

--
MSI K8N Neo Platinum
Athlon 64 3200+ Newcastle
512mb Apacer pc3200
ATI 9800np 256-bit 128mb
3dMark01: 20,371 3dMark03: 6334 Aquamark3: 46,310

 

[ltj311]

Do I need to reset the timings in BIOS before I install the new sticks?

Also, I've read of some people putting their 2nd stick into slot 3. Is there something to this?

Thanks.

--
MSI K8N Neo Platinum
Athlon 64 3200+ Newcastle
512mb Apacer pc3200
ATI 9800np 256-bit 128mb
3dMark01: 20,371 3dMark03: 6334 Aquamark3: 46,310<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by ltj311 on 07/20/04 09:21 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[Cybercraig]

Set your timings to AUTO and work from there. I've had to RMA some DOA OCZ too. Once you get a good pair though, they are hard to beat and run in ANY board! If you put the second stick in the third slot the least you will do is run a little cooler. It shouldn't matter much to this board.


Abit IS7 - 2.8C @ 3.4 - Mushkin PC4000 (2 X 512) - Sapphire 9800Pro - TT 420 watt Pure Power
Samsung 120gb ATA-100 - Maxtor 40gb ATA - 100
Sony DRU-510A - THAT'S MORE LIKE IT, MSI!

 

[Prof133]

I've read of some people putting their 2nd stick into slot 3. Is there something to this?

It helps in addressing the memory corectly. Failure to do so may result in random errors that are not the fault of the memory.