Why is more RAM slowing down my system?

[AFurryReptile]

Parts of it run faster, like multitasking stuff, but other things, such as World of Warcraft, run 20-30 fps slower than it did on only 2gb. What's the problem?

My computer is the one in my profile.

 

[blackangst1]

Why did you make 2 threads about it?

 

[AFurryReptile]

I might have found the problem, but I don't know how to fix it.

The SPD tab in CPU-Z is reading slot 1 and 2 exactly as they should be, but 3 and 4 are only registering as PC2-5300(333mhz).

It's not a problem with the RAM, because I've tried each individually, and each worked alone like it should. It's not the slots either, I've tried just using 2 gb, and CPU-Z has been able to read it in slots 3 and 4.

Just thought I'd note, too, that running 3gb brings performance much worse than 2 gb, but I'm assuming that's from not running dual channel.

Anyone able to help now?

 

[Nothinman]

There have been a number of cases on lkml where a crappy BIOS marks a chunk of memory as uncacheable so every access of that portion of memory requires a full read/write instead of using the CPU's cache and that's extremely slow. Those cases were also full system slow downs because the portion that got marked so was also where the kernel ended up but I have no idea if that's the case here or even how to determine that in Windows.

 

[chizow]

Make sure to get the latest BIOS for the P6N Platinum. If you haven't updated at all that would probably explain your problems. I couldn't even run games with 4GB with the v1.00 BIOS it came with, although it ran everything fine with 2GB. Flashed to 1.03 or whatever and everything went back to normal. Latest is v1.05 I believe.

MSI P6N Platinum BIOS

Also, the SPD timings you're seeing in CPU-Z shouldn't matter unless everything was defaulting to the slower SPD speeds. Even then it shouldn't result in a 20-30 FPS drop unless it also lowered your CPU clockspeeds (FSB:RAM linked). AFAIK the 650i chipset (or any chipset) can't run RAM at different speeds.

 

[AFurryReptile]

The only reason I haven't flashed my bios yet is because all of the instructions that come off of their website say I need to have a floppy disk, when I don't even have the drive. There is an automatic bios updater on the site, but it only says it supports up to Windows XP, so I'm a little reluctant to try that one. Plus, I've never flashed ANY bios in any of my builds, but I have heard that you can really screw things up if you don't do it right.

Does anyone know of a way to do this without using a floppy disk?

 

[chizow]

Easiest way I found was to:

• 1. Download BIOS and AWDFLASH utility from site
  2. Unzip them to a directory, ex. c:\test
  3. Boot using a DOS CD or USB drive, just need to get to a C: prompt
  4. Once at a prompt, go to C:\test and follow the readme instructions

I believe the syntax is something like AWD1405 MSI0001234.BIN, where the first is the name of the AWDflash.exe and the second is the BIOS image.

You may want to pull the extra 2GB before you flash, but it shouldn't be a problem. Everything should be back to normal afterwards, although you may have problems if you have an X-Fi and certain USB devices/drivers afterwards. Make sure you check Windows Update after you patch, as there's tons of Vista hotfixes addressing more than 2GB and Vista 64 problems.

 

[Throckmorton]

Funny. Since I put another 2gb in my system (for 4gb total), my computer has locked for a minute at a time when loading a folder full of thumbnails, opening uTorrent, and some other things. It's WinXP 32 bit so only 3gb shows up, but I didn't think any performance problems could result.

 

[Mr Fox]

Originally posted by: AFurryReptile
Parts of it run faster, like multitasking stuff, but other things, such as World of Warcraft, run 20-30 fps slower than it did on only 2gb. What's the problem?

My computer is the one in my profile.

NVIDIA Chipsets do not like All 4 Slots Populated... you are lucky that it even boots.....

you need to look at 2x2Gig if you want to run 4Gigs...

 

[AFurryReptile]

Really??? That sucks a lot if that turns out to be true...

I"m still going to flash the bios, I just haven't gotten around to doing it yet, see if that's the problem. If not, I guess I'll be ebaying my 1gb sticks and buying some more 2gb ones.

 

[Mr Fox]

Originally posted by: AFurryReptile
Really??? That sucks a lot if that turns out to be true...

I"m still going to flash the bios, I just haven't gotten around to doing it yet, see if that's the problem. If not, I guess I'll be ebaying my 1gb sticks and buying some more 2gb ones.

There are three open posts on this forum right now, and they are no-post conditions.
there have been at least 20 others in recent weeks since people are trying to run 4Gigs.

This is why I went away from NV chipsets about a year ago, and have not looked back, along with a long laundry list of other issues.

NVIDIA still is the best AMD Chipset... but they Suck when it comes to Intel CPU's

 

[AFurryReptile]

I've now got 2x2gb of G-Skill, and still I am having the same problem. But, it seems to only slow down 32 bit games like World of Warcraft and the Sims 2. Other, 64 bit ones, like Crysis, seem to be running better. WTF???

Maybe it's a Vista thing, and not my RAM at all...

 

[taltamir]

Did you flash the latest bios?

 

[AFurryReptile]

not yet, people on these forums have said not to unless I am absolutely sure I know what I'm doing... and I'm not. I've tried to learn, but it's all confusing to me. Do you think if I took it to a local computer shop, they could do it?

 

[googly]

Could someone please explain this. "Mr Fox" said that NVIDIA chipsets don't like seeing all 4 memory slots occupied. Then why do mobo manufacturers put 4 memory slots on the mobo?

 

[Nothinman]

Then why do mobo manufacturers put 4 memory slots on the mobo?

Manufacturers of everything include things that don't quite work the way the docs say they should, is this really a surprise to you?

 

[SunSamurai]

Flashing the bios results in shit going terribly wrong as often as it results in something like this actually being fixed.

 

[chizow]

Originally posted by: googly
Could someone please explain this. "Mr Fox" said that NVIDIA chipsets don't like seeing all 4 memory slots occupied. Then why do mobo manufacturers put 4 memory slots on the mobo?

Probably because the chipset is capable and its viewed as a necessary feature that they can list in their specs in order to be competitive with similar boards. However, once you get into lower-priced boards, I've noticed the components can be lower quality on "bonus" or less-likely to be used features like additional dimm slots. On the P5N-E for example, the physical slots themselves used different dimm brackets for the 2nd pair. Whether or not this translates into lower performance from an engineering stand-point is anyone's guess, but it wouldn't surprise me.

At the very least, most boards will ship with a BIOS that isn't fully functional or suits the needs of the majority of users, with updates addressing any problems seen by the few that push the board beyond the typical, but "supported" configurations.

Originally posted by: aeternitas
Flashing the bios results in shit going terribly wrong as often as it results in something like this actually being fixed.

.....

Most modern BIOS have a fail-safe boot block nowadays, but refusing to flash your BIOS for fear of mishap is like refusing to see a doctor because you're scared they'll blood-let you or prescribe you arsenic for your cold.

Anyways, looks liked the OP did get around to flashing his BIOS, would be nice for him to update his results.