underperforming ram

[recallbush]

Can anyone help me out here? I just built my first computer and the ram doesn't seem to be performing like it should. I have 512mb of buffalo tech. pc3700. I used a freeware program called fresh diagnose to benchmark it, and it's only performing about 50% better than their reference for pc1600 128mb ddr. Here are the numbers: integer assignment 12,970; real assignment 13,282; integer split 21,033; real split 19,378. I can get these numbers a little higher by setting the timings to aggressive, but not by much, and it seems to make the computer slower. If I set the timings manually and try to go any tighter, the system won't boot. The monitor just stays on standby.


Here's the rest of my specs:
DFI LANPARTY NF2 ULTRA B
2500+ ATHLON XP LOCKED
120 GB WD CAVIAR HD
POWERCOLOR RADEON 9200SE 128 MB

 

[Fern]

Hmmm, not familiar with that proggie. What bench numbers were you expecting and why?

What speed are you running that ram at? If the cpu is not OC'd and is in synch (as it s/b for better performance) with the ram; then the ram s/b running at pc2700 speeds (not pc3700). Would that account for the bench scores? If it's not in synch, that may be ur prob.

Some mobo's are a little strange about what ram timings work best on them. For ex. an Abit NF7 likes 2-2-2-11, which will be faster than 2-2-2-7 May need to find a forum for ur specific mobo to determine what it prefers.

EDIT: got all ur chipset drivers installed/updated? May have to check out BIOS updates for ur mobo too. Again, these are good topics to research at a mobo specific forum.

 

[0roo0roo]

sounds about right, look at the memory timing article on tomshardware.com

 

[recallbush]

I have all the latest drivers, and it's running in synch at 167 mhz. I would've expected it to do about 60% better than the 1600. I guess it's not so bad though, because I downloaded AIDA32, and it's running right in the middle of their 2700 references at 2358 mb/s. Although it is running 250-450 mb/s below the other nf2 boards, which I assume I should be matching.

One other thing that I know won't really affect my speed since I'm running below spec, but cpu-z detects my memory as ddr-sdram pc3200 instead of 3700. Does anyone know why? Could it be that newegg sent me the wrong ram?

 

[zookeeper820]

are u using 1 stick or 2, if only 1 the ram is only running in 64 bit mode. While 2 sticks is running at 128, if i understand ddr ram.





my rig

biostar nf 400
amd 2200 at 1.8
512 meg 3200
160 gig maxtor 8 meg cache
nec 1100 dvd rw 4x +-
elements case 350w
32 meg video nv ti 200( ati 9200 just ordered newegg of course)

 

[recallbush]

I'm only using one stick; do you think adding another one would really make up all that difference?