RAM question

Amba_Gambla

so will a 256 and a 512 work together then?

John_Gray

Provided they are compatible!

John

Amba_Gambla

how do you know if they're compatible? Apart from buying them from crucial.com?

akmodi

HI Foxey,

For best results -- buy 2 x 512 from Crucial, use a seperate graphics card.

foxeymoxey

Okay, it sounds like a matched pair is the way forward.

I use the integrated graphics card, although rarely (if ever) use any 3D programs. So am I right that I shouldn't experience too much noticeable lag?

When converting audio/video, I just leave the pc running and don't try to multitask, usually just wait for the encoding to finish. The only thing I use it for apart from downloading/burning is watching films on my TV through the S-video out.

MajorR wrote:

You're talking about using the memory as dual-channel, and extending the band width, for which you need 2 memory chips the same. In other words do you want Option1 (2x256)512Mb runing at 666MhZ or Option2 (256+512)768Mb running at 333MhZ. Well what is your CPU running at because nothing is going to run faster than that, if the FSB is only 400MhZ you're not going to get the benefit of the dual channel.

How do I tell what the FSB is? I had a quick look at the BIOS but couldn't see an obvious heading?



I can't afford 2x 512Mb modules at the moment as I also need to buy a new hard drive, so for the time being I'll run with 1x 256Mb and 1x 512Mb. As I only have 2 DIMM slots, I think I'll get a 512Mb module now, and will get a second one in a few months time.

akmodi wrote:

you only need PC2700 memory -- but buy the PC3200 -- as it will run at PC2700 speeds

Is this correct? If so then I guess I should get the PC3200 type so that when I finally add a second then it will all run at the faster speed?

T4i

With regards to getting PC2700 or PC3200, you only need PC2700 so if its alot cheaper than PC3200 I would just go for PC2700. If the prices are the same then getting the PC3200 is fine as it will run at a lower speed with no problems.

If you goto crucial.com and scan your p.c it will tell you all the info about your p.c

If you look down the left side you will see FSB (front-side bus speed). Report back.

foxeymoxey

Ahh, I thought I'd seen it somewhere!

FSB is currently 100MHz

The CPU is only an AMD Athlon 1800+ (I think) - its running at 1252MHz.

So now I've got a new question, should the FSB be faster than that, and if so, how do I go about changing it?

It definitely sounds like I won't be able to use the benefits of a matched pair of memory if FSB is not going to go any higher!

T4i

ok, for a start then your p.c is running way slower than it is designed to.

Your FSB should be 133Mhz, and your 1800 CPU should be running at 11.5x mulitplier giving you:

133(fsb) x 11.5(cpu) = 1533Mhz

So basically you need PC2700 RAM. If you were to run your FSB at 166Mhz then you would need PC3200 RAM but this would mean overclocknig your system well above stock.

Turn your p.c off, turn back on and keep pressing del button until you enter the BIOS (blue screen - think you already said youve had a look in here) in here look for a heading 'advanced chipset settings' (i think - could be totaly diff. on your setup) in there you should see a FSB or front side bus setting.....it should be at 100 at the mo, highlight it and use page up or enter to change the value. Change it to 133.

Press escape once and choose save settings and exit, your p.c should now reboot with its new speed.

You should see a difference in performance!