ASUS A7N8X Dual Channel Help

[RyansComputer]

Hi Guys,

Can someone please help me with my Dual Channel Setup.
I have 2 512 DDR400 Kingston Chips (Exact Same)
and an Athlon 2800xp with a ASUS A7N8X deluxe MB.

My Computer starts up and says memory running at 200mhz Dual Channel Mode

But when I bench mark it I am only getting 3049MB/s not even close to what others get when running Dual Channel. I am not sure what my Settings in the bios should be, maybe one of them is stopping it from running at the right speed.

Can someone please help me my msn is maisto@hotmail.com if you can add me and msg me that would be great too.

Ryan

 

[mechBgon]

To start with, your 2800+ uses a DDR333 bus speed, which is 166MHz base speed. You should bring your RAM down to 166MHz too. Your real-world performance will go up when the RAM is sync'ed to the CPU, even though the RAM is running slower. You can confirm that for yourself by running some UT2004 Demo benchmarks at low resolutions so the video card isn't the limiting factor. Sync = good.

As for RAM timings, at 166MHz/DDR333, try for 11-2-2-2 (to use Asus's ordering) at 2.6 volts and see how that goes. To set RAM timings on an A7N8X, go into the BIOS to the Advanced menu, then to Advanced Chipset Features, and change Memory Frequency to Sync and Memory Timing to User Defined, so you can set the remaining timings by hand.

If you're using something like SiSoft Sandra for benchmarking, uninstall that junk and run some UT2004 Demo Botmatch, or some HalfLife2 or Doom3 benchies, or some SuperPI, or something at least semi-real-world.

Welcome to the Forums

 

[RyansComputer]

I thought my bus speed is 400...it says on my box 400Mhz on my MB I guess cpu is a diff speed is what your saying? Do you have an instant messaging program so I can talk to you on my laptop while i go in my bios on my desktop?

 

[mechBgon]

I don't have an IM program but I'll be around a lot here at the Forums and see if I can help with anything. Basically, if the BIOS options that you want to change are greyed out, something near them needs changed from "Optimal" to "User Defined."

All AthlonXP 2800+'s use a 333MHz bus speed. The only 400MHz-bus AthlonXP's are the 3200+, and one variant of the 3000+, as far as I know.

 

[RyansComputer]

I still dont get why 1 chip benchmark will give 3049MB and if i put 2 Chips apparently running at 200Mhz Dual Channel Mode (Bios says that when i boot up) I still get the same score.

 

[RyansComputer]

Also What should my mutiplier and other settings like that be...right now its 166 x 12.5
Isnt 200x10.5 better?

 

[3chordcharlie]

Originally posted by: RyansComputer
I thought my bus speed is 400...it says on my box 400Mhz on my MB I guess cpu is a diff speed is what your saying? Do you have an instant messaging program so I can talk to you on my laptop while i go in my bios on my desktop?

Your motherboard 'supports' 400mhz (and 200/266/333 as well). But it will only run at 400 if your chip is supposed to do so, or you manually set it to 400 (with your chip, which I believe has a locked multiplier, you will not be able to run 400fsb).

Definitely set the memory speed to 166 (333 ddr), to match your CPU's bus speed, and you will get better performance.

Edit - if the multiplier isn't locked, then yes, you would get slightly better performance if you can run it at 400fsb with a lower multiplier.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: RyansComputer
I still dont get why 1 chip benchmark will give 3049MB and if i put 2 Chips apparently running at 200Mhz Dual Channel Mode (Bios says that when i boot up) I still get the same score.

Probably because the two memory controllers are independent of eachother on nForce2 Ultra400, and the program is only benchmarking one of them, regardless of whether one or two are in action. If there's a buffered v. unbuffered mode in the benchmark, you might try toggling that setting.

Big picture: dual-channel mode might make a big bar in a benchmark but it's only good for about a 5% performance boost in most gaming situations. The change from non-sync to synchronous, on the other hand, may net you 10%-15% boost in gaming framerates, depending where the bottleneck lies (video card versus CPU/memory).

 

[RyansComputer]

So I guess ur giving me the best setting for gaming which is what I want

My computer wont start up with these settings
"As for RAM timings, at 166MHz/DDR333, try for 11-2-2-2 (to use Asus's ordering) at 2.6 volts and see how that goes. To set RAM timings on an A7N8X, go into the BIOS to the Advanced menu, then to Advanced Chipset Features, and change Memory Frequency to Sync and Memory Timing to User Defined, so you can set the remaining timings by hand. "

 

[mechBgon]

If it won't start at those settings, try 7-3-3-2.5, which would probably be pretty close to the module's pre-programmed timings for 166MHz, methinks.

 

[RyansComputer]

It worked with the above settings should i be using 10x200 cpu settings or 12.5x166?

Just wondering... My Ram still does not come anywhere close to what ive seen ppl get with dual channel ....im only getting 3049 megs still

 

[mechBgon]

1) where did you see them getting it, and in what, and does their system do any better than yours in something that actually matters in real life

2) If you want to overclock your CPU, then go for it. Keep the RAM set to "SYNC" and it'll follow the CPU's lead. The higher the CPU's bus speed, the "fatter" the memory pipe will get and the better the system will perform at a given MHz.

 

[RyansComputer]

So using 200x10.5 is the best bet?

If i change the 10.5 to anything else my computer does not boot up, does that mean I cant over clock or maybe my cpu is locked?

When you say the higher the bus speed the better thats reffering to the 200 right?