Soyo Dragon Plus 2 KT600 1024 MB vs. Gigabyte GA-7VAXP - KT400 1536 MB

[statik213]

I had my GA-7VAXP motherboard for a long time and it worked all right. I was getting weirdo problems w/ my system not booting up. I though it was the mobo so i got the dragon but it turned out to be the PSU.

I recently got my hands on a PC3200 512MB DDR Stick and my KT600 is running on 1024 -- 2 PC2700 512MB DDR sticks in dual channel mode. It can take only two sticks so I've got a 512 MB stick sitting around doing nothing.

I still have my old mobo that can take 3 sticks. Would I be better off running @ 1536 MB vs. 1024 MB. The KT400 was a pretty bad chipset as I remember and doesn't have dual channel support. I'm pretty sure that the KT600 was a *huge* improvement over the KT400, but the question is would the added RAM give me more performance? Or should I just save myself all the trouble of ripping the thing apart and putting it all back together?

The only problem I had w/ the KT400 was with my live sound card and the creative drivers. I would get his jarring sound from time to time.... I found this fix:
http://www.georgebreese.com/net/software/#CREATIVE that took care of the problem. I am upgrading to an audigy so it might not be an issue...

I'm a light gamer and I like to have a lot of things running at the same time, so the extra RAM would be really nice. When I work w/ dreamweaver I have a lot of files open w/ several browser sessions and photoshop also.

So, what should I do?

 

[christopherzombie]

Originally posted by: statik213
I recently got my hands on a PC3200 512MB DDR Stick and my KT600 is running on 1024 -- 2 PC2700 512MB DDR sticks in dual channel mode. It can take only two sticks so I've got a 512 MB stick sitting around doing nothing.

I never been a big fan of VIA socket A chipsets, even though I have two Chaintech KT-600s in my kid's computers. Your KT-600 doesn't run DUAL CHANNEL. The KT-880 is the only VIA socket A chipset to run it's RAM in DUAL CHANNEL.

 

[statik213]

But... when I boot up it says 'Dual Channel DDR 333' on the POST screen. WTF?

 

[statik213]

anyone else?

 

[christopherzombie]

Maybe I'm wrong, so here's a link:
THG KT-600 review

Figure it out, and let us know.

I'm not sure if the KT-600 is dual channel or not. Neither of my Chaintech KT-600's are dual channel, maybe cuz I got the Summit and not the Zenith trim. The KT-600 is still a bit better than the KT-400.

 

[christopherzombie]

Originally posted by: statik213
But... when I boot up it says 'Dual Channel DDR 333' on the POST screen. WTF?

Alright, I found it:
VIA KT-600
The KT-600 is NOT dual channel. Click on the VIA chipset comparison chart near the bottom of the page. The KT-880 is the only socket A VIA chipset to support dual channel RAM.



RAM Features

VIA KT880 - DualStream64? - Dual Channel DDR400/333/266 SDRAM w/ECC

VIA KT600 - FastStream64? - Single Channel DDR400/333/266 SDRAM w/ECC

VIA KT400A - FastStream64? - Single Channel DDR400/333/266 SDRAM w/ECC

VIA KM400A - FastStream64? - Single Channel DDR400/333/266 SDRAM w/ECC

 

[statik213]

OK... sorry abt that, I could've sworn I saw dual channel on my post screen... I checked and ...

So what does this still say about my original question? Would I be better of w/ 1.5gb vs. 1.0 gb?

 

[christopherzombie]

Originally posted by: statik213
OK... sorry abt that, I could've sworn I saw dual channel on my post screen... I checked and ...

So what does this still say about my original question? Would I be better of w/ 1.5gb vs. 1.0 gb?

BTW, keep the KT-600 installed. You don't want to reinstall Windows. Even if they use the same VIA-Hyperion driver, you'd still want a fresh start.

What CPU are you using? If you have a 400 FSB (XP3000+ @ 2.1ghz or XP3200+ @ 2.2 ghz) CPU, use the single stick of PC3200 512MB, IF you have a 266 or 333 FSB (XP3000+ 2.167ghz and lower and all Semprons) CPU, use both PC3200 and PC2700 1.5GB and run at 333mhz. Or try to over clock your PC2700 to 400mhz by lower the CAS to 3.0 or 2.5 and use all 3 with a faster/overclocked CPU. If it's already 3.0 @ 333mhz, you'll have errors @ 400mhz. Have you tried overclocking your CPU?

 

[statik213]

Haven't really tried overclocking my machine. I defintely need to have at least 1gb of ram. So If i'm sticking w/ my current setup I'll try to OC one of my PC2700 stick to PC3200... I noticed an almost 3x perf. improvment in Doom3 load times when I went from 512 to 1024, and it really helps with just about everything else I do.

both my pc2700 512 sticks have stickers saying they can do CL2 but the SPD detect sets it to 2.5......

My Specs are:

Athlon XP 2500+ -- Barton Core
w/ an older Zalman AlCu `flower` heatsink & 92MM fan on bracket
Soyo KT-600 Dragon Plus 2.0
Available RAM Sticks:
PC2700 512MB Ultra w/ Heat Spreader -- sticker says CL2, mobo detects @ 2.5
PC2700 512MB (Micron? -- not sure of brand) w/ Heat Spreader -- again sticker says CL2, mobo detects @ 2.5
PC3200 512MB Patriot -- no heat spreader, -- sticker says 2.5 mobo detects @ 3.0
ATI Radeon 9000 128MB
1 x 7200.2 80GB IDE
1 x 7200.8 160GB IDE
Creative Live Value
DVD-ROM
DVD-RW
56k modem (for fax)


I haven't overclocked my cpu but it's a barton 2500xp+, so it should overclock well.... i think....


I' contemplating going back to my GA-7VAXP w/ 1.5gb of ram and run all the sticks at PC2700. So, I'm not really sure if the extra 512 would give me a boost.... and I don't really want to take the whole thing apart to find out that things aren't better....

So what do you think? Thanks for all the feedback thus far!

 

[imported_Kensai]

It will give a performance boost if the programs you run actually draw that much memory.

 

[christopherzombie]

Originally posted by: statik213
I haven't overclocked my cpu but it's a barton 2500xp+, so it should overclock well.... i think....

When was your 2500+ fabbed? If it's week 39 2003 or lower, the multi. should be unlocked. You'll be able to run it as a 2800+(12.5x166) while keeping CAS 2.5 @ PC2700, and run in sync. If it's newer than week 39 (like my old 2500+) just boost the FSB to 200 (3200+ 11x200) and raise the RAM CAS to 3.0 (it could do fine at 2.5 though). You may need to jump up the vcore to ~5-10% for stability. Are you using the stock HSF, and does it have a copper core? It may overclock faster than 2.2ghz. My post week 39 XP2500+ topped out at 2.4ghz with a 10% vcore boost on a CoolerMaster HHC-001 HSF. My crappy Chaintech KT-600's don't have vcore selectable under the BIOS, and the FSB adjuster is a jumper on the board. I hope your set-up is easier to adjust. I used my Asus A7N8X for XP2500+ overclocking. I have two 2400+ Semprons overclocked to 2.0ghz (10x200) on my KT-600's, but Semprons are great for overclocking on stock vcore. I tried 2.33ghz with stock vcore without success, and 2.16ghz is 90% stable.