Upgrade RAM? Overclocking? Help!  | | 
December 4th, 2005, 10:47 PM
|
#1 (permalink)
| | Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 378
| Upgrade RAM? Overclocking? Help!
The computer I am using is:
AMD64 3200+ 2.2 GHZ
1 GB (2x512) Kingston DDR400 PC3200
ASUS K8V SE Deluxe
Windows XP Pro
Would it be worth adding in another 512 MB of RAM? (I surf a lot of websites and sometimes when I have 30 internet explorers open, the tabs don't display right). Is it safe to just install it - as long as if it's the same ram? Do I need to configure something after I insert it onto the RAM slot?
Are the Kingston HyperX ram better, and would it be compatible with my motherboard? Would it even be safe to mix it, or is HyperX still the same kind?
I never overclocked a computer before, but I'm interested to do so. What would be a safe amount to overclock, and how would I be able to do this?
Thanks. | 
|  | |
December 4th, 2005, 11:04 PM
|
#2 (permalink)
| | Member
Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Australia
Posts: 197
|
If you experience slow loading times while using windows with many programs open it would be worth getting another 512 mb. I would think 1 gig would be enough for more than 30 ie's. Its very safe and easy to install ram. Just chuck it in the slot and thats it, the computer will notice the extra stick and use it. There is nothing else you have to do. If hyperx is more expensive its better. Don't hesitate to use different brands or types, I have 1280gb of ram in 3 sticks that are all different brands and my system works very well.
Overclocking is relatively safe provided you take it slow. Just take it in 5 mhz increments until you have reached a desirable speed. There are heaps of overclocking guides that you can find through google for more detailed overclocking information. | |
| | |
December 4th, 2005, 11:12 PM
|
#3 (permalink)
| | Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 378
|
Thanks for the reply, s4087046 (wow, that was hard to type. lol)
Hmm really? But wouldn't installing a PC4200 on my motherboard not work or maybe even fry up?
The HyperX is slightly more expensive. So it's okay mixing my current Kingston (2x512MB) 3200 with the Kingston HyperX?
And what exactly is Dual mode RAM? How do I know if I'm on Single or Dual? If I have two of the same ram in the first two slots, does that mean I'm in dual?
I thought RAM doesn't actually "speed up" loading times, but just lets you have more programs running??
Sorry for dumb questions. I was just never clear about these things. :\
What are some good overclocking forums? | |
| | |
December 4th, 2005, 11:33 PM
|
#4 (permalink)
| | Member
Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Australia
Posts: 197
|
The hyperX would work with the kingston 3200 i think, however im not completely sure and a more expert opinion is needed. It would most likely default back to 3200 speeds making its superior speeds useless unless it is used in intensive overclocking. Duel Channel ram is where the cpu uses 2 ram sticks at the same time. Usually what happens with a 512mb stick and a 256 stick of ram is that it waits till one stick is full of data before it uses the other. In dual channel mode the cpu uses both ram sticks regardless of whether or not they are full of data. I'm not very good at explaining things haha. Your ram would be running in dual channel mode because they are the same size.
Ram can speed up loading times, i can't really explain how verywell. I know that more ram means you will not have to use your virtual memory as often which is very slow. Maybe when loading something the cpu can load everything on ram which is faster than loading half on ram and half on virtual memory. I think someone else in this forum would be able to clear things up. http://www.extremeoverclocking.com/ have some overlclocking forums. | |
| | |
December 5th, 2005, 04:37 AM
|
#5 (permalink)
| | Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 105
|
Wow I need to enlighten the subject some ^^ this is friendly not bashing anybody just want correct info being spread :P Quote: |
Hmm really? But wouldn't installing a PC4200 on my motherboard not work or maybe even fry up?
|
Quote: |
The HyperX is slightly more expensive. So it's okay mixing my current Kingston (2x512MB) 3200 with the Kingston HyperX?
|
Its ok to mix ram but it can cause issues, diffrent ram uses diffrent IC's and somtimes they dont play well together, it could cause stability issues, or even system falure. Also when mixing ram the weakest (slowest) stick of ram is as fast as any of the others can run.
For a stock system with no overclocking similar ram with mix/match will probably be ok, but for overclocking its a big no-no because it will severly limit the stability and limits of your overclock, if your lucky/unlucky enough to own a DFI board its very picky of what kind of ram will run with it and mixing 2 diffrent kinds will have a high chance of not running at all (no boot into bios or windows)
Quote: |
Duel Channel ram is where the cpu uses 2 ram sticks at the same time
|
That's wrong I think you know what your talking about but stated it wrong, its when the cpu can use the ram on both the up and down cycle of the ram's clock (its a sign wave it goes up and down normally ram is only read on one of those movments not both) as to "using 2 sticks at once" wich would be the case no matter if it was in duel channel or not since both sticks would be used. Performance gains from duel channel are small so its not a big deal to lose it, but it will not work with anything but 100% identical ram, cant be diffrent latencies, IC's ect.. even diffrent revision of the same brand ram might not work, thus why you should alwasy used matched pairs.
Quote: |
I thought RAM doesn't actually "speed up" loading times, but just lets you have more programs running??
|
Well it does speed up load times because everything your computer does uses up memory resources, and when all those resources are taken up your computer uses a "page file" wich means it writes or reads the data it needs to process to your harddrive instead of storing it in the ram wich is much much faster... so hving more ram means less chances of using a page file and thus faster load times and overall better performance.
Quote: |
Usually what happens with a 512mb stick and a 256 stick of ram is that it waits till one stick is full of data before it uses the other. In dual channel mode the cpu uses both ram sticks regardless of whether or not they are full of data.
|
wrong very wrong lol
also when things are getting slow if its been awhile defragment your hard drive, also always close any aplications running in the background that you dont use (windows media player, instant messenger, file share programs, ect ect) and if you want the ultimate speed increase a new format + install of windows usually gives an older system some new life.
edit: oops almost forgot the excpetion below part ^^ - when adding more than 2 dimms to your computer if you dont have one of the newer amd64 cores (venice, san deigo, venis) then you will lose speed on your ram. Instead of DDR400 you will be forced to run DDR333 and with any of the cores you will be forced into 2t command rate vs the 1t with 2 or less dimms. So you take a small performance hit. how big a hit depends on overclocking or not and the peticular benchmark/program/game some react more severly than others. but you realy dont want to go down to ddr333 so try to just buy a nice 2x1gb matched pair kit of decent quality ram and save yourself a ton of trouble.
__________________
Opty 148 @ 2.9Ghz
DFI Lanparty Ultra-D
Mushkin DDR500 @ 515
Geforce 7800GTX @ 498/1200
Aquamark3 100000
3dmark03 20000
3dmark05 9000
Last edited by ViciousXUSMC : December 5th, 2005 at 04:40 AM.
| |
| | | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | | 
Similar Threads | | Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post | | what ram for overclocking? | lazyman4444 | Processors, Memory, and Overclocking | 17 | September 15th, 2005 08:35 AM | | Overclocking my ram!!!!!!!! | DanielMsi | Processors, Memory, and Overclocking | 5 | July 4th, 2005 10:54 PM | | pIII upgrade,ram,hd upgrade | cdz25 | Motherboards | 5 | May 29th, 2003 04:22 AM | | cpu upgrade and/or overclocking | myyardbird | Processors, Memory, and Overclocking | 24 | March 18th, 2003 03:57 PM | | Best RAM for Overclocking? | FlyingHamster | Technical Support | 11 | June 29th, 2002 03:32 PM | |
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | | | Most Active Discussions | | | | |   Recent Discussions  | | | | |
 |
hardware
prices 
