RAM information/question

cozumel

I would be surpised if you didn't see a noticeable improvement not just to graphics but everything else (especially as you're increasing from 512 to 2048MB). As for temps - I've never really bothered to check if it impacts on GFX when increasing RAM...

drivehard454

I was just wondering, as my video card keeps freezing during play, I'm told it's overheating. I have a 120mm case fan blowing on it and it helps. I can play longer, but it still gets an attitude once in a while.

cozumel

Have you tried turning the fan round so that it exhausts the hot air from the card away and out of the case? This may also reduce overall temps inside the case. If that doesn't work maybe also try putting a cheap little Akasa exhaust fan in the slot next to the card.

drivehard454

I looked into the slot fan. I may get one. This big fan is noisy! I put a switch on it so I can shut it off when I don't play games. I also have to leave my side panel off.

Is there software that will monitor card heat while playing and then you can read the data when you stop? I have touched it and it really doesn't feel extremely warm at times when it freezes.

Thanks

cozumel

I use AtiTray to monitor my card temps on the system tray and with an on screen display when I'm gaming. But it'll only work if your card is manufactured with the temp sensors and I haven't got a clue if yours has.

drivehard454

Always a catch. thanks.

drivehard454

I got my new ram and installed them. They are Corsair TWINX1024-3200C2PT 1GB DDR400 XMS3200 Dual-Channel Memory w/Platinum Heat Spreader. I notice that my two sticks of 256 are PC3200 also. Is it recommended to install these with the others and have 1540 Ram or does it not help out any that way.

Any advice?

Thanks

Dyre Straits

Those are some excellent sticks of Corsair you got there.

Are the other two sticks identical? If so, they 'might' work in Dual Channel mode if installed correctly. I'd suggest installing just the two new Corsairs for now and make sure you see the Dual Channel mode during POST. If you do, then shutdown the system and install the other two in the remaining slots and, again, pay close attention to the POST indication. If you no longer see Dual Channel mode, I'd leave them out.

drivehard454

Please excuse my lack of knowledge here, buuuut what do you mean by POST? I have no idea. The only method I know to check RAM size is properties in MY computer. Or is this in BIOS?

Thanks again DYRE

cozumel

POST stands for Power On Self Test. It's the basic tests your system performs when you boot. The single beep you get shortly after powering up is a message from POST to say that everything is ok.

Anyhow...

I can't reboot to check the exact msg as I'm running something. But when you boot you get the Energystar logo and mobo, BIOS version etc

Then the system performs a visual memory check and should say Dual Channel. Once its checking the IDEs etc you've gone too far. Like Dyre said check that the Dual Channel is displayed with Corsair installed and if ok then install the other modules and check again.

drivehard454

My system boots way too fast. I barely get a glimpse. Is there a way to slow it down?

cozumel

It will be way before XP starts loading - literally beginning as you hear the POST beep after you've powered up. I think you can hold the pause button on your keyboard to slow things down (maybe) but it shouldn't go too fast while its checking you HDDs, DVDs & floppys etc. I've never timed it but I'd say you have between 4/5 seconds at least.

Dyre Straits

It may be that your BIOS is setup to NOT show the Initialization of the devices. That happens on some systems when only the LOGO shows and hides the actual initialization screen.

You can go into the BIOS and find the setting that indicates whether to show the LOGO screen or not. Set it to Disable. If there's another setting to show Initialization or not, Enable it.

Otherwise, while you're in the BIOS, you can check the Memory settings there, too.

drivehard454

Cozumel Here is what I get in order

Restart

Nvidia Geforce FX550 BIOS
Version 4.34.20.54.00
Copyright(C) 1996-2003 Nvidia Corp
256.00 MB RAM

Then the ASUS MOBO PICTURE

Then I get two same tone quick beeps, then one a diferent tone.

Then the windows screen.


Dyre,

I did look in the POWER section of BIOS and saw that it does register as 1GB RAM. but that is all it says. No other discription. I will go back and se if there are any other descriptions.

Thanks again guys

Dyre Straits

Yeah, if you're seeing the ASUS logo screen, you need to Disable that so you can see the initialization screen. Then you'll see the settings, IDE drives, etc, during the boot up.

drivehard454

K thanks. I will try it after work in the morning.

drivehard454

Guys, I shut down the MOBO start up screen logo and checked the RAM description. All it says is 1024MB RAM, that is it. I can hold the screen with the pause button, but once I let go, the rest of it just zips by and I can't read everything else that is there below screen level. I don't think there is anything there about RAM anyhow, I try to scan it a few times as it whips by.

I am getting good performance all around already. I haven't had time to try my game yet to see if the new sticks help.

Is there a way to test my power supply voltage and wattage output? I would like to see if it may be a little weak. I am running two HD and wonder if they may be sucking up most of the power. My PSU is a 400 watt POWMAX and may not be enough.

Thanks

cozumel

You should confirm that you are using Dual Channel as it more-or-less doubles bandwidth. I posted a link for your manual a while back on either this thread or your other thread when you were updating mobo drivers. Refer to the RAM section and make double sure you are using the slot configuration to enable Dual Channel.

When you said about the current performance gain I was wandering how it is when you're using games? (This was your original area of concern).

For the PSU I always use software to monitor voltages. The other test I use is the heat given off by the PSU. If its blasting out hot air and the PSU is hot to touch then it could be sick or maybe at max output and ready for replacement. Dyre will probably be far more technical than this so l would listen to his PSU advice over mine.

drivehard454

If I may ask, what software do you use to monitor the PSU?

As far as the correct configuation, I am sure it is right. I did look up the info on my MOBO too. I have four slots, two, one yellow, one blue, then two, one yellow, one blue. To have duel channel, it states that I need to use the first two slots of the same color. I could not find info on whether adding two more sticks changes the duel channel mode. It does state that the MB and speed do not matter, and that the speed will be of the lowest rated RAM. But the two 256MB sticks I pulled out are the same 3200 as the new ones I bought. That is why I was wondering about just putting them in. Just wasn't sure if it actually will help or not.

I haven't had time yet to sit down and try the game. Been quite busy lately. We are in the process of getting ready to move from GA to WI. I will post as soon as I find anything out with the game performance. I would however like to check out my PSU, if I could find out the easiest mothod.

Thanks again cozumel.

Dyre Straits

I wrote up a review of an ULTRA 800W PSU published a couple of weeks ago.

ULTRA 800W Pro PSU Review

The software monitoring is generally provided by the motherboard. If you still have the Driver CD for the motherboard, the utility should be on that. OR, you can download one from the website for your motherboard....USUALLY.

The testing of these PSUs for reviews, however, involves actually using a Digital Multimeter to check voltages. It's not that difficult and it's much more accurate this way. There's an excellent guide here on DH as to how to do it if you're really interested in it.

Do you know what the +12V AMP rating is on that PSU of yours? Should be located on the label attached to the PSU itself.

drivehard454

Will check it out(AMP rating). I don't believe I have the disk any longer on the Motherboard.

I can check the voltages with a multimeter too. I will attempt to get a reading, if I can figure out the correct wires to be checking. I have quite a few coming out of the PSU. Never really looked at it that close, so I need to take another look and see what I can figure out. I assumed using a meter would be the way to go, but I thought maybe there was some nifty software to use.

What got me wondering about the power drain, is I notice that the 30GB HD sure seems to get hot. I know as components get warmer they tend to use up more amps/watts. I put a small case fan next to it to help cool the surface. I will check back to my motherboard website and see what I can find.

As always, thanks.

Dyre Straits

Wiring vs Voltage is really easy to remember.

Orange
Red
Yellow

(Alphabetical Order)

3.3V - Orange
5.0V - Red
12.V - Yellow

(Ascending Order)

If you have a SATA power plug in that system, use one of those to get to your Orange lead from the backend of the plug.

EDIT: For the Red and Yellow, just use a vacant power plug (Molex) for one of the harddrive/CD/DVD drive connections.

drivehard454

Excellent thanks. I will take my meter home this morning and check that out! I do have a SATA plug also. So all is good.(I hope)