4GB on A8N-SLI (nForce 4)?

[Aquila76]

I'm playing around w/ Windows 7 x64 Beta (running fantastically on this rig, I might add) and wonder about adding more RAM. My ASUS A8N-SLI mobo only takes DDR(1), which I believe only comes in 1GB max per DIMM. To get up to 4GB, I would have to populate all 4 DIMM slots, which I've read in some articles creates a performance hit (something about having to drop down to a 2T command rate). Would the amount of RAM be a tradeoff, or would the slower command rate really noticeably bog the system down? Would it kill the OC I'm running (currently @ 2.8GHz) on my Opty, too?

I currently have 2GB, and honestly, it seems to be performing just fine under Win7x64. I'm really just looking for any kind of 'drop-in' parts to tide me over until the end of this year, when I plan on building a new system from the ground up. RAM seems to be by far the cheapest and most effective option at this point.

 

[poohbear]

i have an opty @ the same speed on a DFI expert, and on this mobo i couldnt get 4x1gb to run even at stock.🙁 other people have been successful, most of them from what i read, but sometimes populating all 4 dimms just doesnt work.🙁 the bios simply refused to recognize it even w/ the memory hole remapping option in the bios on (u hafta turn that on in your bios for 4gb to be recognized). In XP i didnt need 4gb, but in vista 64 i noticed some games were sluggish, so the 4gb would've been nice. if you dont notice a difference in windows 7 64, then there's no need to upgrade.

as for the 2t timing, i used 2t and have'nt noticed any difference in performance. Try 2t yourself and see if it makes a diff for you before deciding. good luck.

 

[Aquila76]

Thanks. This is what happens when I try to do things at 11PM after a 10 hour day at work. *off to try 2T in BIOS*

 

[Denithor]

Originally posted by: Aquila76
I'm playing around w/ Windows 7 x64 Beta (running fantastically on this rig, I might add) and wonder about adding more RAM.

If it runs fantastic with 2GB, why rock the boat? Seriously...

 

[Painman]

Performance class DDR1 is quickly dropping off the face of the earth, and what's left isn't all that cheap, esp. compared to DDR2. I was recently in this quandary, wanting to eke a little bit more out of my Opty rig, but when I saw the price of quad core + mobo + 4 GB of DDR2, I jumped ship. It was $320 after discounts and rebates.

Bottom line: save your $ for your next big upgrade, it's better spent that way IMO. Core 2 platform slaps the A64 around badly.

 

[Denithor]

Originally posted by: Painman
Performance class DDR1 is quickly dropping off the face of the earth, and what's left isn't all that cheap, esp. compared to DDR2. I was recently in this quandary, wanting to eke a little bit more out of my Opty rig, but when I saw the price of quad core + mobo + 4 GB of DDR2, I jumped ship. It was $320 after discounts and rebates.

Bottom line: save your $ for your next big upgrade, it's better spent that way IMO. Core 2 platform slaps the A64 around badly.

If you go for good quality parts and a 45nm dual-core you're going to be right around $300. A Q6600 or Q8200 would add about $20 and a Q9400 would add $100.

e8400 $165
P43/45 $80
4GB $25AR
500W PSU $25AR

 

[Aquila76]

Thanks guys. Yeah, I'm just going to leave it as-is for now. More money at the end of the year for the next Core i# chips and such!

As an FYI, I (eventually through Google) found this thread by Zebo showing that on avg, there's a 2% difference between 1T & 2T. I hope the upcoming vBulletin upgrade fixes the damn search function.