512M DDR PC2100 vs. 768M SDRAM PC133 on ECS K7S5A

[dodo]

I have ECS K7S5A motherboard with AMD 1800+ and 768M SDRAM now. I have the choice to replace them with two sticks of 256M DDR PC2100. I just wonder whether they worth it. Will I see some difference on the performance after the replacement?

Thanks a lot!

dodo

 

[kuritadelta]

there should be performance gain with DDR rams.
but whether you'll see the difference is a big IF.

In my opinion it's not worth it.. unless you are getting those DDR rams for free.
If you are planning on buying it for a good price.. I'd say forget it and save for future better computer.

 

[JustMike]

I'd take quantity over speed in this case. The performance difference wouldn't be noticeable, IMHO.

 

[CraigRT]

DDR.

SDRAM is poopoo.

 

[dodo]

Ok, I think some more details may help to get some answer,

I have PNY 256M and 512M PC133 SDRAM with 3-3-4CL settings in BIOS.

I just bought two sticks of 256M Kingston ValueRAM DDR PC2100 from OM this morning. Free after Rebates. Then I find out the rebate is one per house hold. Even if it is not a problem to get another address for the mail in rebate, I am not sure whether it is worth the hassle. And I don't want to open them and then return them. So I'd like to see whether I'd get some advice first.

Thanks a lot,
dodo

 

[ThatDumbGuy]

If you could get a second address, I would definitely use the DDR, sell the PC133, and come out getting paid to upgrade your rig. There will be a difference, but I couldnt even speculate as to how noticeable it will be real world.

 

[GonzoDaGr8]

Originally posted by: CraigRT
DDR.

SDRAM is poopoo.

Agreed...
Dump the SDR and go with the DDR. Run some common benchmarks with the SDR and then the DDR.

 

[0roo0roo]

ddr is snappier by far on that system, well i know cuz i've built a load of ecs systems

 

[JimRaynor]

I'd go for the ddr, seems like you get less performance increases after you pass 512 anyways.

 

[dodo]

I decide to go with it. After I installed it I run a test and for CPU benchmark I got almost exactly the same result. For memory benchmark it increased a lot. But I did not see any improvement on the system performance level.

Is that normal? I tried to play around with BIOS but the setting I gave killed my machine once. Now it is back to normal but I think it is better to leave it as default.

So should I keep it? Basically I just won't get it, how come the almost all benchmarks are almost same to each other except the memory benchmark itself?

Thanks a lot.

 

[JustMike]

Just like I said, you'd not notice the performance difference...

 

[JohnPaul]

Since with the rebates you are pretty much getting the ram for free, I see no reason not to upgrade to DDR. As already stated, there will be a performance increase, but how much of a gain is only speculation and nobody can say for sure.

 

[winterlude]

I had 256 SDRAM on my system with the same chip and board as you have. I upgraded to 512 DDR 400, but didn't notice any speed difference.

It seems the board isn't built to optimize DDR performance.

 

[JustMike]

It seems the board isn't built to optimize DDR performance.

No, I think the difference between SDRAM and DDR is not noticeable in everyday usage... people will argue that their benchmark proves otherwise, but that's not real-life.

 

[kuritadelta]

Upgrading just a ram on a most systems won't do much.
It's kinda like getting a performance air filter for a car.. there is a performance gain, but will it make the car zoom? no.. (crude analogy i know.. )
ram upgrade performance on your system is mostly in the "numbers", and doesn't really account much in "real" time.
To see real time performance gain, you'll have to upgrade more parts, which isn't recommended on your mobo.
As I said before, if you have to spend money on it, then it's not worth it to upgrade on ECS mobo..
But as far as just the ram goes, if you do the rebate and end up getting those DDRs for free then I guess why not keep em.

 

[Twista]

well since your mobo can only take ddr2100 like my old shuttle ak32l (same memory options). I not sure if the ddr2100 would have a noticable perfem. if know i did the same thing as you before.

 

[ZL1]

Originally posted by: Twista
well since your mobo can only take ddr2100 like my old shuttle ak32l (same memory options). I not sure if the ddr2100 would have a noticable perfem. if know i did the same thing as you before.

actually it does, I have the same board and with 512mb pc2100 it will run better than with 1gb pc133


D

 

[ZL1]

Originally posted by: dodo
I have ECS K7S5A motherboard with AMD 1800+ and 768M SDRAM now. I have the choice to replace them with two sticks of 256M DDR PC2100. I just wonder whether they worth it. Will I see some difference on the performance after the replacement?

Thanks a lot!

dodo

yes because you wont be using the upper 256mb part of the pc133 ram 99% of the time which means it all comes down to speed and as you know DDR is faster


D

 

[Johnbear007]

I disagree. I have 512MB of crucial PC2100 on an ECS K7S5A..... I saw a noticeable speed difference from 768 MB of PC 133.

 

[InlineFive]

Originally posted by: CraigRT
DDR.

SDRAM is poopoo.

 

[ZL1]

Originally posted by: Johnbear007
I disagree. I have 512MB of crucial PC2100 on an ECS K7S5A..... I saw a noticeable speed difference from 768 MB of PC 133.

a bit confusing
meaning you agree with me that pc2100 512mb is better than pc133 768mb or the other way ?


D

 

[thorin]

Originally posted by: JustMike
I'd take quantity over speed in this case. The performance difference wouldn't be noticeable, IMHO.

I completely agree. Especially with 2K or XP.

Thorin

 

[aka1nas]

Also, CAS rating would be a big deal as well. I would take 768MB of CAS2 pc133 over PC2100 @cas2.5 or cas3. At the clock speeds you are talking about, I don't think the difference in memory bandwith is all that significant in real world use as latency might be.