Crucial 256MB Cas2 Stick + Abit KT7 Raid

[jimmygates]

I finally got off my lazy ass and installed SiSoft's Sandra benchmarking program. I updated the program to the latested build and benched marked my system. Almost everything was on par and the scores where around what I expected it to be for this system. The only thing that surprised me was the memory scores. My memory score was:

ALU: 375
FPU: 406

Looking at the comparisons, it was kind of low. The memory is Crucial's 256MB stick running @ CAS2 133mhz. I took the software to my roomates computer and benchmarked his memory setting. His computer was a Athlon 650 classic with 2x128mb sticks @ 100mhz. His score beat my score by like 10 points in both ALU and FPU. I was wondering if my memory defective or am I not doing the settings right? I followed most of the settings from the ABIT KT7 FAQ and the scores are still the same. Any help is appreciated. Thanks


-Jimbo

 

[jimmygates]

Anyone?


-Jimbo

 

[Lightingguy]

Did you set the memory to Turbo? What speed are you running the memory bus at - should be Host clk + PCI clock. What's your FSB speed? If its 100, you should easily hit 105+ Mhz, and give both the memory and CPU scores a boost.

I get 500+/600+ with Sandra on my rig.

 

[jimmygates]

I have the bus speed at 100mhz. I'm running the memory at 133 (Host Clk + PCI Clk). I set the memory speeds to turbo and I got a small boost. My timings where on FAST before. Anyone other methods I can use to try to speed up the memory. I don't really want to increase the FSB since I don't want to loose stablity. I heard alot of people hit around the 500 area with Mosel's but for some reason, Mosel's crash my system. (Tried Mushkin Rev 2 and Mosel Vitalic and both sticks are unstable in my system for some reason) I would think that my Crucial 256MB stick is quality enough to hit atleast in the 400's area. I'm only getting 392 with Turbo enabled.



-Jimbo

 

[Davegod75]

i find setting the memory to "configure by SPD" works better than setting it to PC133 2-2-2 manually

 

[Animefreak]

u turn on 4-way interleave? there's a few other settings...my cas2 micron pc133 128 megs gets between 500-600, can't remember exactly anymore.

 

[jimmygates]

I have the Abit KT7 RAID and I can't find the "configure by SPD" in my BIOS setting. I tried turning on 4-way interleave but I get BLUE SCREENS and Windows Protection Error. I tried 2-Way interleave and I get the same instablity. Is there something wrong with my memory or dimm slots or is it because I use 1 256MB stick and can't use 2/4 way interleave. Someone help me out, I'm going bats..!#


-Jimbo

 

[Animefreak]

I'd try another stick of ram and see what happens.

also here's an odd question you have a kt7-raid but all your storage devices are scsi, why?

 

[jimmygates]

Oh..I didn't list I have IBM 75GXP 45GB in RAID..my sig was getting too long...


The only other stick I have is PC-100 and the results of those are about what I expect to see from PC-100. I may think that I have a defective DIMM slot considering EVERYONE who has a ABIT KT7 can use Mosel Vitalic memory except me...=( Everytime I use Mosel Vitalic memory, Windows works for about 5 minutes and then I get Windows Protection Errors.



-Jimbo

 

[jimmygates]

After numerous other changes, my scores are still mediocre. Anyone else have any other ideas?


-jimbo

 

[Hanpan]

YOu just may have a bum mobo/dimm slot. YOur scores are kinda low. ANd 4 way interleave should work. Besides mosel's are the best. Dunno but maybe a new mob is in order.

 

[woodsman]

Try and move your ram to the difference slots,and see if it makes a difference. I have the Abit KT7 and have used various good memory, mosel cas 2,kingston 256 cas2(samsung chips)and get 500+ and 600 for memory.You have to get the the 4way interweave to work, that is a big difference.
woodsman

 

[jimmygates]

I'll try moving the ram stick to other slots and see if 4-way interleave works in one of the other slots. Funny how 4-way interleave would crash my system. What does 4-way interleave specifically do? I would hate to have to return this ABIT motherboard back if it is defective..


-Jimbo

 

[davidkay]

I have 128Mb of Crucial CAS 2 RAM on my KT7. 4-way interleave works fine, maybe its cause mine is only 128Mb - I dont know

 

[jimmygates]

Maybe. I'm thinking interleave depends on type of ram you have? I have 1 256mb stick and I read somewhere that Interleave needs 2-4 memory banks to be filled in order to work. I'm assuming that's the reason why you have 2-way and 4-way interleaving? My brain is really fried trying to figure this out. I JUST WANT IT TO WORK DAMNIT.!@!(



-Jimbo

 

[jimmygates]

I fixed the problem so thanks for all your input. The problem turned out to be the "Memory hole at 15-16MB" setting in BIOS. With both "Memory hole at 15-16M" and 4-way interleave enabled, my computer would go to mush. I would get BSOD and I would have to restart. After I turned off "Memory hole at 15-16M" everything worked fine. My scores are now,


ALU: 501
FPU: 575

I would like to thank all the people who responded.


-Jimbo