Using 3Gb of memory in vista, yes or no?

Fanu · Apr 12, 2008, 12:57 PM

currently i have 2 gigs of ram (2x1gb OCZ gold DC kit, PC6400, 800MHz)

since the memory is cheap i can afford one 1gb OCZ stick (same as above) - however i cant afford 2 of those sticks for total of 4gigs of memory

now, i dont know much about dual channel, but will it work with 3 sticks? is performance boost noticeable (while multitasking and gaming) over 2gigs of ram?

and another question
i have vista ultimate 32bit with SP1 and latest ATI drivers (the ones that come with support for dx10.1) with HD3870 GPU

but dxdiag reports that i have dx10.0 not dx10.1, is this normal or?

rest of my configuration:

Core 2 Duo 7650
2x1GB OCZ, PC6400 800MHz
P35-DS3P
HD3870 512Mb
2x Seagate 250gb 410AS
20.1" LG LCD

tnx

**kris23** · Apr 12, 2008, 01:01 PM

stick with 2GB, youll lose performance with 3GB

***temeteus82*** · Apr 12, 2008, 01:03 PM

Dual channel mode won't run on three sticks of RAM. You need to have paired stick to get it to work.
You might not notice so much increase of performance since the dual channel mode isn't on.
And that dxdiag report is ok.

**MIG-31** · Apr 12, 2008, 01:43 PM

I'm no tech expert.... but familiar with my pc.

Most modern day pc's run far better with the memory set at a Dual Channel set up.This is also a requirement for core 2 duo cpu's.

Most mobos have at least 4 ram slots....but you still need to keep the ram matched,equal speeds and size to make the most out of dual channel.

Id either stick with the current ram set up you have.Or double it,but as you say you can not afford to do so keep your cash in your pocket.

This wikipedia Link may give you a little insight to Dual Channel.

Zelig · Apr 12, 2008, 02:30 PM

I was actually playing with an EVGA E-7150 based rig recently, it doesn't support dual channel memory, and even running benchmarks, the difference was less than I expected compared to a comparable system with dual channel memory.

That being said, if your board actually supports dual channel memory, there's no reason to run otherwise.

Fanu: Not sure about your location, but in NA, 2GB of ram runs around $35, if you need more than 2GB, it shouldn't cost much to upgrade to the full 4GB.

Fanu · Apr 12, 2008, 02:37 PM

2gb (2x1gb) of OCZ memory costs 72$ in croatia - costs me 37$ for 1gb stick

hmm, and what if i get 2x512Mb sticks?

so i will have 1gb,1gb,512mb,512mb

that will work in dual channel yes?

and i doubt i will ever be upgrading current computer, so it doesnt bother me that all memory slots are occupied

edit

the problem i have is that i cant get exactly the same kind of sticks i already have

i can get 2x512mb OCZ platinum ( i currently have gold ), and as far as i can see platinum sticks use different timings (4-5-4-15, opposed to 5-5-5-15 i have now)

would that be a problem?

you might say i am nitpicking about this whole thing
but i have this shit small ammount of money which i can only use to buy additional memory ( i basically have everything else ) - dont really have anything else to spend the money on

**kris23** · Apr 12, 2008, 02:49 PM

why do you want more RAM?

Fanu · Apr 12, 2008, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kris23

why do you want more RAM?

cause its the only addon i can afford/dont already have for my PC

i have this 40 bucks and cant find anything else to spend it on really
i am a student and my lectures involve decent ammount of photo editing (learning to use vector graphics, fontographer, ghostscript, other vector programming languages, etc) so i figured extra memory couldnt hurt..

***temeteus82*** · Apr 12, 2008, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fanu

cause its the only addon i can afford/dont already have for my PC

i have this 40 bucks and cant find anything else to spend it on really
i am a student and my lectures involve decent ammount of photo editing (learning to use vector graphics, fontographer, ghostscript, other vector programming languages, etc) so i figured extra memory couldnt hurt..

If I were you I would just save the money and start saving for next upgrade.

Fanu · Apr 12, 2008, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by temeteus82

If I were you I would just save the money and start saving for next upgrade.

i dont plan on upgrading my PC any further - probably at all and especially in the near future

i have decent ammount of money at my disposal (100 euros) but i have other plans for that money (going camping soon and i am in a need of a decent knife and they dont come cheap)

so basically i am stuck with 40 bucks - its a small ammount and i dont want to spend it on booze or something like that

so, will 1gb,512mb,1gb,512mb memory configuration work in dual mode or not? especially considering different timings 512mb sticks have (4-5-4-15 vs 5-5-5-15)..

if that is truly that useless i'll spend money on some empty media or whatever the fuck comes to my mind (probably nothing usefull)

***temeteus82*** · Apr 12, 2008, 03:53 PM

So don't spend it at all....

Yes the dual mode works when you got 2,4,6,8,10 etc... sticks of RAM. And the RAM will run as fast as the slowest timings are. But in my point of view you are waisting money in here... Just my two euro cent's...

**kris23** · Apr 12, 2008, 05:45 PM

whats with the hostility?

you really are wasting your money, you cant use more than 2GB for ANY 32 bit app, while that 1Gb would help a bit....

its pretty useless compared to the upgrade to 4GB.

but if you are so bent on getting it, then get it, its your money.... but then there was no need to post a bulletin like this in the first place...

every time you run a program, youll see its usage stop at 2GB + whatever the OS may need.

if you really want a boost from your current setup, save your cash, go warez some 64 bit vista disk (since i know $150 is too much for you to spend)

buy a 2x2GB set of RAM, and add it to your 2x1Gb set and youll have 6GB of RAM to use all on 64 bit apps......

dipstick · Apr 12, 2008, 08:35 PM

You can use three sticks on that board and still maintain dual channel functionality. Hell, they can even be different sizes but I would not push my luck like that

Fanu · Apr 13, 2008, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kris23

whats with the hostility?

what hostility? lol
you got the wrong impression

Quote:

Originally Posted by kris23

you really are wasting your money, you cant use more than 2GB for ANY 32 bit app, while that 1Gb would help a bit....

what, there is not one application out there that uses more than 2GB of ram together with vista?

Quote:

Originally Posted by kris23

but if you are so bent on getting it, then get it, its your money.... but then there was no need to post a bulletin like this in the first place...

i posted this bulletin to get information on all tidbits that involve having a 3GB of memory in system and whether or not that is usefull

i did not make up my mind about 3gigs - i am looking into getting more cash for 2x1gb sticks if somehow possible

i am well aware that 4gb >>>> 3gb, but that would require more money and installation of new OS which would be a pain in the ass considering all the driver support that 64bit operating systems have and considering the hassle of transfering all my files/documents/whatever to new installation

i was intrested if i could squeeze out maximum out of 32bit OS i have now, considering rest of my configuration is close to top notch, only thing left for me was to upgrade ram

Quote:

Originally Posted by kris23

every time you run a program, youll see its usage stop at 2GB + whatever the OS may need.

wont that change with installation of extra memory that OS and applications will have access to? what about page file size?

Quote:

Originally Posted by kris23

if you really want a boost from your current setup, save your cash, go warez some 64 bit vista disk (since i know $150 is too much for you to spend)

buy a 2x2GB set of RAM, and add it to your 2x1Gb set and youll have 6GB of RAM to use all on 64 bit apps......

it is too much considering i am a student and have number of things i have to spend my cash on

btw, why go with 2x2gb set of ram for a total of 6gb of ram? i thought 4gb was more then enough, or is it cause 64bit windows use more memory then 32bit windows ?

tnx

Fanu · Apr 13, 2008, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dipstick

You can use three sticks on that board and still maintain dual channel functionality. Hell, they can even be different sizes but I would not push my luck like that

first time i heard of it

please explain how could 3x1gb sticks work in dual channel?

***temeteus82*** · Apr 13, 2008, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fanu

what, there is not one application out there that uses more than 2GB of ram together with vista?

btw, why go with 2x2gb set of ram for a total of 6gb of ram? i thought 4gb was more then enough, or is it cause 64bit windows use more memory then 32bit windows ?

tnx

I general 64-bit applications can use more than 2 Gb of memory. 64-bit Vista can use up to 128Gb of RAM ...

**kris23** · Apr 13, 2008, 10:43 AM

i think dipstick was joking....

anyways, in 32bit windows, there is a RAM cap on 32 bit programs so the maximum RAM use to a program is 2GB and it wont get any higher, 64 bit windows can give i think, at least 64GB of RAM to a single program at a time.....

though were nowhere near that yet so yea.... not too important, 64 bit already goes far above the current 8GB max

32 bits is limited to approximately 3.5GB RAM depending on your system config and VRAM amount.

you really should save your money and go x64 bit if you are serious about what you do...

or you can get that other GB, it will increase it a bit but not by much... hardly matters.

PangingJr · Apr 13, 2008, 10:57 AM

for using more RAM and get an overall better performance from OS and some applications then the 64-bit Edition of Vista should be your first choice.

PangingJr · Apr 13, 2008, 11:36 AM

this information may have been updated from the information that i have with me now.

Quote:

Memory Organization and Operating Modes

The (G)MCH memory interface is designed with Intel® Flex Memory Technology so that it can be configured to support single-channel or dual-channel DDR2 memory configurations.
Depending upon how the DIMMs are populated in each memory channel, a number of different configurations can exist for DDR2:

• Single Channel – only one channel of memory is routed and populated, or if twochannels
of memory are routed, but only one channel is populated; can be either
channel A or channel B.

• Dual Channel Asymmetric – both channels are populated, but each channel has a different amount (MB) of total memory.

• Dual Channel Symmetric – both channels are populated where each channel has
the same amount (MB) of total memory.

The following sections explain and show the different memory configurations that are supported by the Intel 965 Express chipset family.

Single-Channel
The system will enter single-channel mode when only one channel of memory is routed on the motherboard, or if two-channels of memory are routed, but only one channel is populated. In this configuration, all memory cycles are directed to a single channel.

<pic>

Dual-Channel Asymmetric
This mode is entered when both memory channels are routed and populated with different amounts (MB) of total memory. With the aid of Intel Flex Memory Technology this configuration allows addresses to be bounced between channels in interleaved mode until the top of the smaller channel’s memory is reached, allowing for full dual channel performance in that range. Access to higher addresses will all be to the channel with the larger amount of memory populated; thus giving single channel performance through those addresses.

<pic>

Dual-Channel Symmetric
This mode allows the end user to achieve maximum performance on real applications by using the full 64-bit dual-channel memory interface in parallel across the channels.
The end user is only required to populate both channels with the same amount (MB) of total memory to achieve this mode. The DRAM component technology, device width, device ranks, and page size may vary from one channel to another. Addresses are bounced between the channels, and the switch happens after each cache line (64-byte boundary). If two consecutive cache lines are requested, both may be retrieved simultaneously, since they are ensured to be on opposite channels.

System Memory Mode Styles

<pic>

Mixed DRAM Memory Speeds
The (G)MCH will accept mixed DDR2 speed populations, assuming the SPDs on the DIMMs are programmed with the correct information and the BIOS is programmed as outlined in Intel’s BIOS reference code.
In all operating modes (Single-Channel, Dual Channel Asymmetric, and Dual-Channel Symmetric) the frequency of the System Memory will be set to the lowest frequency with its supported speed bin timings of all DIMMs populated in the system, as determined through the SPD registers on the DIMMs. For example, a DDR2-667 DIMM with supported 5-5-5 speed bin timings installed with a DDR2-533 DIMM with supported 4-4-4 speed bin timings should run at 533 MHz with supported 4-4-4 speed bin timings. The DDR2-667 DIMM should downshift to DDR2-533 timings, thus allowing the system to run at 533 MHz with supported 4-4-4 speed bin timings. The DDR2-667 DIMM will only downshift to DDR2-533, if the timings for DDR2-533 are programmed in the DDR2-667 DIMMs SPD.

**kris23** · Apr 13, 2008, 11:41 AM

i dont think all mobos offer Dual-Channel Asymmetric i dont see it too often...

but still, it seems symmetric is the best way to go.

i guess 2x512mb will work if you really need to

PangingJr · Apr 13, 2008, 11:52 AM

actually i think most of newer boards supports Dual-Channel Asymmetric.
it's just it's not what most people use.

Fanu · Apr 13, 2008, 12:31 PM

ok, i will be buying 2 DDR2 1GB PC6400 (800MHz), Kingmax

A-data, GoodRAM, Aneon are the only cheaper memories on the market (well atleast in croatia)

i am going with kingmax as it is a better quality memory then above (it should be right?)

now, to see if kris23 was right and if i will get better performance with 4gigs of ram and 64bit vista =D

tho i forsee alot of problems with 64bit drivers :F

***temeteus82*** · Apr 13, 2008, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fanu

tho i forsee alot of problems with 64bit drivers :F

Or not. I've been running Vista x64 without driver issues.