How much performance am I loosing with PC133 RAM?

[rcurley55]

So, I'm running an XP1800+ but with 512mb of PC133 ram - how much performance am I loosing?

 

[SneakyStuff]

Well that all depends on what you are doing with your computer, download the program AIDA32 enterprise edition, and run a memory check, this EXTREMELY handy utility can help you diagnose all your pc questions. If your memory is at a level deemed acceptable by you, then you are fine, 512 MB of ram is an adequate amount to begin with. But keep in mind other things affect system performance, your hard drive transfer rate, your video card, etc.. But if you were to compare 2 IDENTICAL systems one with DDR 266 and one with SDRAM 133, there would "supposedly" be a 50% improvement. But let me just say, I owned a PC with pc133 ram before I got my newer pc, and the difference even now is neglegable. I hope this was of some help to you.

 

[Ionizer86]

It depends on the chipset. If you're using an SiS735, the difference is probably about 5-10% in overall performance, but of course newer chipsets like the KT266A onwards (up the the nForce 2) will be tons faster. But you'd have to upgrade your board to enjoy the performance of DDR beyond what your Sis735 offers (I'm assuming you use this chipset since boards like the K7S5A are very popular and have both slots).

 

[PanzerIV]

Originally posted by: SneakyStuff
Well that all depends on what you are doing with your computer, download the program AIDA32 enterprise edition, and run a memory check, this EXTREMELY handy utility can help you diagnose all your pc questions. If your memory is at a level deemed acceptable by you, then you are fine, 512 MB of ram is an adequate amount to begin with. But keep in mind other things affect system performance, your hard drive transfer rate, your video card, etc.. But if you were to compare 2 IDENTICAL systems one with DDR 266 and one with SDRAM 133, there would "supposedly" be a 50% improvement. But let me just say, I owned a PC with pc133 ram before I got my newer pc, and the difference even now is neglegable. I hope this was of some help to you.

Words of wisdom. Same concept of using Dual Channel. Yeah, it gives you a little boost but I guarantee nobody using the "feel test" on an AMD baord will notice a thing. Still, a lot of us do it because we can

 

[robcy]

Id say 5 - 10 % not matter what system you compare it with that is running DDR2100. While DDR2100 is supposed to be twice as fast, I have yet to come across a HD that can put out 2.1gbs of info per sec, hell I havent seen one that can do 1gb (pc133). 512 is 512 no matter what type of memory it is, and will hold the same amount. You will see a slight difference with programs that have already loaded onto memory, and then only if they are very large. Photoshop is a good example, and 3d games. If you where to keep everything you have and only change to a NF2 MB with DC DDR2100 you will be hard pressed to notice a difference 95% of the time unless all you do is game. Now when you compare a PC133 system with a DC DDR3200 system then the diffrence is very noticeable.

I saw almost no difference when I went from 512mb PC133 to 512mb DDR2100 on a K7S5A with a XP1600+.

 

[JBT]

I donno what you guys are smoking but I can tell the difference between a system with PC133 and DDR PC2100 esspecially for games or anything else fairly intensive. It surely isn't 50% faster but I think it is more than 5-10% esspecially with the highier speeds than just PC2100. Many programs open faster and boot times go down as well. If you aren't doing anything intensive and feel that YOU are getting enough speed from your system then fine do NOT upgrade if you feel like your system is dragging a bit it may be worth while upgrade. If you have an older hard drive that may be a problem as well cause I know some of those things are VERY slow. If you have the urge to upgrade, money to burn, and play games and run other demanding software go for it if not it isn't a big deal.

 

[Ionizer86]

On the same chipset (SiS735) the difference probably is 5-10% but if you do something radical like compare a KT133's overall performance to that of a nForce 2, then it's going to be pretty big, maybe 20 or more %.

 

[rcurley55]

First off, thanks for all the responses.

Here's some background: I only do some limited 3d CAD (Pro/E), some image editing, and the rest is really web surfing and office type applications with very large (50mb) excel files, etc. I also want to start ripping my entire cd collection to MP3.

As some have guessed, the 1800 is on a K7S5A Pro (yeah it was a fry's deal). I'm adding a Maxtor 80gb 8mb drive and I'm running dual screens with a GF2Ti and a GF2 MX440 PCI card. I'm using onboard sound and lan as well.

I'm wanting to do a few things, but I'm trying to decide if upgrading to a 2500 barton + a NF2 board + some good ram will make a significant improvement. I really don't want to spend the money, but if it will give me a significantly faster machine, then I'll think about it....

Notice...I don't game

 

[Ionizer86]

Your PC is fast enough unless you notice stuff running slow. Yes a 2500+ will help you out, especially when run at 3200+, but if everything is already smooth, then you're set as-is.

 

[rcurley55]

ok, well then if I'm doing pretty well with this system, I think I'll wait a while for an upgrade...I think I want to concentrate on making my system quieter.

Has anyone used a matrox G550...I want to see if that would be a good card to use in my system because for the most part, I only do 2d work....that and it's a passively cooled card.

 

[bigpow]

Originally posted by: rcurley55
So, I'm running an XP1800+ but with 512mb of PC133 ram - how much performance am I loosing?

A LOT!


Especially for gaming!

 

[aka1nas]

Leaving the CPU and mobo aside, going to DDR would net you a 30% boost at best in a few applications. Most will give you something like 10%. The the poster who said he could feel a difference: did you compare systems where everyhting esle was the same aside from the RAM? A slower athlon with pc133 is of course going to feel much slower than a newer AthlonXP with PC2700.

 

[bigpow]

Originally posted by: aka1nas
Leaving the CPU and mobo aside, going to DDR would net you a 30% boost at best in a few applications. Most will give you something like 10%. The the poster who said he could feel a difference: did you compare systems where everyhting esle was the same aside from the RAM? A slower athlon with pc133 is of course going to feel much slower than a newer AthlonXP with PC2700.

Check my sig.

over 30% difference with 3DMark 2001