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Installing new Ram...

Fingolfin269

Fingolfin269

Lifer
Okay, I know how to install ram just fine as far as the hardware is concerned, but it seems as if the world of ram is a bit more complex than it used to be as far as the bios goes. I know I will have to back off on the timings to accomodate the addition of some crappier ram into my system but I want to try it out just to see what kind of luck I have.

Here's the deal. I'm looking for what you guys might consider to be the best way to tackle this. I'm going to leave the FSB at 166mhz so all three sticks will be underclocked as far as mhz speed goes. Here are some general questions:

1) What timing suggestions do you think I should use for the most stable first boot up? I know I will use CL2.5 and 166mhz but other than that I'm clueless.

2) What's the best way to determine the ratio? I'm running a 2100+ at 166mhz (it runs without a hitch at 166) and I plan to go no higher. In this case will I want to set my ratio to something along the lines of 1/1, 2/2, 3/3, etc?

3) Would I just be better off pulling the Kingston and running the Corsair VS in dual channel mode? I know the Kingston is better ram but if the performance gain from 1gb to 1.5gb is not worth the hassle then I won't bother with it. I can always sell the Kingston and upgrade my 9500 Pro...

BTW, my board is an Abit NF7S-1.2 (I'm about 90% sure it is a 1.2) if that matters to you guys. I may need to flash my bios to get this stuff to work with mixed sticks anyway.

Thanks for the help!!

Lance
 
1) At 166MHz you might as well try something like 2.5-3-3-8 and not fret about it. You're not going to notice anything different in the real world if you manage to squeeze it down to 2-2-2-5 or etc.

2) A 1:1 ratio is desirable. There shouldn't be a difference between 1:1, 2:2, etc, although I remember someone saying something to the contrary.

3) If it's happy running it all, then run it all. It's still going to be in dual-channel mode on an NF7-S with 1.5GB installed, since it's nForce2 Ultra400, and you may notice improved performance in some situations (BF2, heavy Photoshop-type stuff, SimCity 4, anything that likes >1GB).
 
Originally posted by: mechBgon
1) At 166MHz you might as well try something like 2.5-3-3-8 and not fret about it. You're not going to notice anything different in the real world if you manage to squeeze it down to 2-2-2-5 or etc.

2) A 1:1 ratio is desirable. There shouldn't be a difference between 1:1, 2:2, etc, although I remember someone saying something to the contrary.

3) If it's happy running it all, then run it all. It's still going to be in dual-channel mode on an NF7-S with 1.5GB installed, since it's nForce2 Ultra400, and you may notice improved performance in some situations (BF2, heavy Photoshop-type stuff, SimCity 4, anything that likes >1GB).
Click to expand...

1) Okay, I'll make the changes prior to popping in the new sticks and see what happens. Any idea or suggestions on using the SPD setting?

2)I'll try out the 1:1. I know that the ram should be able to clock in at PC2700 speeds but wasn't sure how ram typically reacted to being clocked from 400mhz standard to 333mhz.

3) So the board will automatically run two sticks in dual channel mode if I put them in the dual channel slots? If that is the case would I want to be sure to have the two corsair sticks in the dual slots since they are most closely matched?

Thanks again.

 
I'm not sure if it's worth keeping the Kingston unless you're doing heavy photoshopping or some such that requires a lot of memory. Upgrading the vid card would give you a lot higher performance gain in games than a gig of extra RAM, plus it saves you the headache of running mixed sticks.
 
Originally posted by: suszterpatt
I'm not sure if it's worth keeping the Kingston unless you're doing heavy photoshopping or some such that requires a lot of memory. Upgrading the vid card would give you a lot higher performance gain in games than a gig of extra RAM, plus it saves you the headache of running mixed sticks.
Click to expand...

Yup that's the debate. It actually won't be an extra gig of ram since I'll be running 3 512mb chips. So if I lose the Kingston and keep the Corsair VS ram I can then sell that ram plus my old vid card to get something along the lines of a 6600GT. I'm pretty sure my hyperx has the good ram chips on it so I think it still actually holds some decent value too.

I guess it boils down to 1.5GB ram + Radeon 9500 Pro vs. 1GB ram + ~6600GT (maybe something a bit better depending on certain factors).
 
I have one gig of RAM and a 6600GT and can run HL2 on medium-high detail. If you're a gamer, then definately go with the 6600GT.
 
1 gig of ram and the 6600gt vs. 1.5 gigs of ram and a 9500 pro.

Think you are going to have to add around $40.00-50.00 dollars to get to the first.
 
Well I'll be selling the 9500 Pro and a stick of 512mb HyperX PC3000. I would hope I could get close to $150 for both which would be close to the price of a 6600GT.

Anyway, I fired up World of Warcraft with 1.5gb and wow what a difference. Walking through Orgrimmar used to be a slideshow and now I just get a hiccup or two when I first enter the area and then it's smooth as silk. Anyone know of a good way to monitor just how much ram I'm using when in games so that I can determine how much of a hit I'll take dropping from 1.5 to 1?
 
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