RAM upgrade resulting in worse performance?

hj2k_x

hj2k_x

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Added a single 2GB stick of Transcend Jetram to the original 2 x 1GB TeamElite RAM that was in my machine, and my Vista Performance rating went down from 5.9 to 5.3 on memory, even though I have 4GB total instead of 2GB.

I get that Vista is only seeing a bit more than 3GB of it, but still.

How reliable is this rating? Should I be worried?
 
The rating isnt that reliable. Just to understand something... You're running 2x1GB + 1x2GB ? 3 Sticks ?
 
LabAnimal said:
The rating isnt that reliable. Just to understand something... You're running 2x1GB + 1x2GB ? 3 Sticks ?
Click to expand...

Yes. The 2GB stick is the new Transcend one.

The 2 x 1GB are about a year old, but are TeamElite that I got from Prophecy for like R1700 back then :eek:
 
Nope dont worry, Vista rating is full of **** anyway.

You'll probably find that the timings are worse on the transcend, making the teamelite run at the same as the transcend. Not a trainsmash
 
Brawler said:
Nope dont worry, Vista rating is full of **** anyway.

You'll probably find that the timings are worse on the transcend, making the teamelite run at the same as the transcend. Not a trainsmash
Click to expand...

I see. I have heard about timings before. I thought it was not that big a deal unless I plan on heavy gaming or overclocking - is this still the case? And how do I find out what the timings are? :confused:
 
Use CPU-Z to see the timings. I suspect the fact that the RAM is no longer running in dual channel mode is what caused the drop. But Vista's ratings aren't very reliable :D
 
Just rebooted... At the POST screen it detects all 4GB of the RAM but says that it is single channel, whereas before I am sure it was dual channel. Is this cos I have three sticks and not two? Would it go back to being dual if I had four sticks?
 
hj2k_x said:
Just rebooted... At the POST screen it detects all 4GB of the RAM but says that it is single channel, whereas before I am sure it was dual channel. Is this cos I have three sticks and not two? Would it go back to being dual if I had four sticks?
Click to expand...

Either two or four, all of the sticks have to be the same size if I recall correctly :)
 
WKJ?:beanie said:
Either two or four, all of the sticks have to be the same size if I recall correctly :)
Click to expand...

I see. :(

And is the performance benefit very great? I must say I cannot really notice much difference doing general day-to-day things between 2GB dual channel and 4GB single channel :(

I am running a 32 bit version of Vista Ultimate though...
 
WKJ?:beanie said:
Either two or four, all of the sticks have to be the same size if I recall correctly :)
Click to expand...

You recall incorrectly ;) You have to have to have a set of 2 sticks in dual channel mode, they do not need to be the same size in order to have dual channel functionality, but you can't have 2 in dual channel and 1 on single channel.

In other words, sell the 2GB stick and buy two 1GB sticks.
 
teraside said:
You recall incorrectly ;) You have to have to have a set of 2 sticks in dual channel mode, they do not need to be the same size in order to have dual channel functionality, but you can't have 2 in dual channel and 1 on single channel.

In other words, buy another stick.
Click to expand...

So, you reckon if I buy another stick, no matter what size, then the four sticks will run in dual channel mode which is better?

Like if I pick up another 1GB DIMM or even another 2GB at the prices RAM is going for now, then the resulting 5GB or 6GB RAM will be running dual channel again?
 
hj2k_x said:
I see. :(

And is the performance benefit very great? I must say I cannot really notice much difference doing general day-to-day things between 2GB dual channel and 4GB single channel :(

I am running a 32 bit version of Vista Ultimate though...
Click to expand...

I'm not entirely sure. I don't think you'll notice it in your day-to-day things though :)

teraside said:
You recall incorrectly ;) You have to have to have a set of 2 sticks in dual channel mode, they do not need to be the same size in order to have dual channel functionality, but you can't have 2 in dual channel and 1 on single channel.

In other words, sell the 2GB stick and buy two 1GB sticks.
Click to expand...

True, but what I meant was both of the sticks in the channel have to be the same size (once again, that's if I recall correctly). Or am I mistaken again? :o
 
hj2k_x said:
So, you reckon if I buy another stick, no matter what size, then the four sticks will run in dual channel mode which is better?

Like if I pick up another 1GB DIMM or even another 2GB at the prices RAM is going for now, then the resulting 5GB or 6GB RAM will be running dual channel again?
Click to expand...

No, that's not what I'm saying.

Dual channel works like this. You can have two 512mb sticks and two 1GB sticks as an example.

In order to have dual channel, the RAM must be exactly the same in that channel, but it's not a neccessity to have the same size across your dual channel setup ;)
 
WKJ?:beanie said:
I'm not entirely sure. I don't think you'll notice it in your day-to-day things though :)



True, but what I meant was both of the sticks in the channel have to be the same size (once again, that's if I recall correctly). Or am I mistaken again? :o
Click to expand...

That would seem to make sense...meaning I would need to buy another 2Gb stick :p

Then the 2 x 1GB and the 2 x 2GB sticks would all work in dual channel....
 
teraside said:
No, that's not what I'm saying.

Dual channel works like this. You can have two 512mb sticks and two 1GB sticks as an example.

In order to have dual channel, the RAM must be exactly the same in that channel, but it's not a neccessity to have the same size across your dual channel setup ;)
Click to expand...

Yeah. See what I just posted. I think I get it now :)

So I would need another 2GB stick then really?
 
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