3FUN

Hi All. I have recently installed windows 7 to check my Windows Experience Index. And here it is.
And now my question is why is my memory scoring so low? Can please someone help me find the cause, is it the size of 2GB(2x1GB) or the timings 7-7-7-20 or something else (check my System Specs). I would really like to make it at least 6.0/6.1. I am willing to buy new memory.
p.s. the HDD is just temporary.

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craig5320

What make is the ram, specific model, use cpu-z and post the screenshots of the settings. That does seem low for DDR3, my DDR2 scores 7.3

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3FUN

Kingston KVR1066D3N7_1G

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SeraphicSorcerer

Judging by your screenshot, it could be your memory operating @ 2T instead of 1T

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kris23

i forget but doesnt most DDR3 operate at 1T?

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Judas

typically with 2 or 3 modules (dual or triple channel) 1T is normal... and faster...

it's when there is more modules then the dual/channel setup initially is setup to run are installed.... say for a board with 4 slots for dual channel, and 3 or 4 modules installed... or for a triple channel board with 6 slots.. and 4 - 6 modules installed ....

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3FUN

First I dont understand what 2T means. What do you sugest, do i buy new memory and what should i look for.

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SeraphicSorcerer

It's probably a setting in your bios you need to change, I don't know your board/bios but if you're comfortable it'll be in one of the more advanced menus.

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PH3N0M

Shouldn't this be in the Windows 7 forum since the poster is inquiring about a Windows 7 issue?

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3FUN

How can this be in bios. My motherboard is asus P5E3. And in bios most of my settings are set to auto. Is there a way to find a detailed report in windows 7 experience index about my memory and why it gived it a low score?

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SeraphicSorcerer

Well obviously you'll probably have to go to manual settings, and that requires reading research, and being able to understand What your timing should be...

As for should this be in the Windows 7 Forum, Possibly but he'd get the same results in Vista, as he's obviously got a memory timing/performance issue related to the fact that his Memory isn't set up to be optimum.

I suggest you read up on setting your bios settings for memory, and try the recommended settings from your ram manufacturer's website.

But first and foremost make sure you understand the bios settings you are changing, Rojak's (Sp?) Bios guide is a great place to start... Don't have the link handy but that's where google comes in.

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Judas

By default... most memory doesn't set it's specified timings and settings.... be default quite often it picks a fail safe set of speeds and timings...

to change this...reguardless of ram.. you must go into your bios and manually change these specific settings.. however if you set the wrong settings... the system will not boot or become unstable....

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Mac Daddy

It is your Command Rate check your manufacturers specifications for it. I see it is set too 2T in your screen shot so would leave it unless your manufacturer specs say otherwise.

Since this has become primarily a RAM issue not at this time mate

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"My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance." - Tim Allen

3FUN

Ok from the manufacturer I cant find anything about Command Rate 1T/2T. Also nothing in the memory manual. So I guess I will try the change in the bios and see what happens. I will post my results later.

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Tipstaff

From what I remember command rate is chipset related (can't recall if it's to do strictly with the chipset though). With DDR/DDR2, most times you will see the chipset set the command rate to 1T for buffered RAM (ECC), and 2T for unbuffered RAM (standard modules). With that RAM I've seen different command rates show up with different setups. I've seen it set to 1T when using 1 stick, 2T using 2 or more sticks, 1T on some AMD chipsets with 1 stick, 2T with more ram sticks.... pretty much seen the spectrum, and different command rates with different board manufacturers (usually always 2T on Intels own boards). At any rate, my understanding is that the chipset sets the RAM to 2T for compatibilty/stability reasons when using standard modules, and for no other reason. Now, as I mentioned, this was usually always the case with DDR/DDR2, however I can't say for sure about DDR3, because as Kris23 has pointed out, most DDR3, from what I've also seen, is rated at 1T. The reason memory manufacturers probably write that information down now is probably just a gimmick. That, or it's to clear up any confusion of whether their memory is 1T or 2T for the people buying one set of RAM over another only because of that fact.

It's also tough to judge what one chipset will do over another. Given that you are using an X38 chipset, it could be an Intel design decision. Something of interest here is that every time I've sold a board based on an X38 chipset, and running DD3, I have always seen the memory set to 2T. Always. So it's no surprise to me that this is what the board has done in your case.

Just realize that your board may not work at 1T, and/or it will be unstable. Knowing that, just be prepared to reset your bios, and be sure to run Memtest for a while to make sure it will run stable set at 1T. If it doesn't, it's back to 2T.

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3FUN

Ok. So I have finished changing the bios setting to 1T. Then run memtest, here is a photo of it. There were no errors.

Then I played UT3 to make sure that everything is ok, and it is. But then when I recheck my windows experience index
As you can see the memory score hasent changed, BUT the processor increased from 6,0 to 6,1.
So now I am thinkin I should buy new memory?

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kris23

hmm..... thats kinda odd.... i dunno how much bandwidth DDR3 can put out at the same Mhz and latencies as DDR2 but thats really low....

my new Crucial 2x2GB memory scores 7.0 at DDR2 860 5-5-5-15 2T

its possible that the motherboard just isnt as optimized for DDR3 as it would be for DDR2?

my motherboard is X38 based as well.... Maximus Formula

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[hobo]eclipse

have you any experience the the program Memset? fire it up hit the speeds button on the top of the timings box and the arrows pointing right.

this will show you the timings set for each individual stick of ram (if the differ) and the spd tab will show you all the speeds available to you on that ram and the timings .

heres an example on a P45 with DDR2-1066 oc to DDR2-1120

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3FUN

P5E3 supports only DDR3 memory.

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mkk

The memory simply isn't very fast by todays standards and the score is fine. I would buy some memory in order to get more rather than faster. With todays prices it's fortunately not as bloody expensive as it used to be, to get a good amount of faster memory even for DDR3. 1333 or 1600 -speed memory depends on where you might be going next upgrade-wise, if anywhere. Your system doesn't need faster RAM than what you've got, but more is always useful.

[hobo]eclipse

couldnt he get abit more performance by tuning the system in accordance with the jedec#3 settings?

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OldBuzzard

OK, I am "Officially Confuzulated"

I just ran CPU-Z and what I'm seeing just isn't making sense. I'm getting a decent score in the WIN 7 index, but these memory timings are nowhere close to what I was expecting. I have EVERYTHING in regards to the memory in my BIOS set to AUTO, except CR which I set to 1T. the AUTO setting puts it at 2T, but I get the same index score at 2T as I do at 1T. I also ran CPU-Z with the 2T setting, and it still showed the same numbers. Can anyone give me some sort of explaination as to what's happening here?

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When looking for a reason as to why things go wrong, never rule out sheer STUPIDITY

Tipstaff

With Vista each test was pretty straight forward, or rather very basic. With RAM the first thing was that the more you had, the higher the score (in fact the amount you had gave you a set score from the start, so if you had 512MB of memory you'd always start at a score of 2.9). After that was speed. Increases in speed netted minor increases in score.

With Windows 7 it's not exactly the same, but some of basics are. There are a couple things to note though: 1) Microsoft keeps changing the WEI with each build they put out. I remember people bitching how they were getting higher, or lower scores with pre-7100 builds, but are now getting opposite scores. 2) With the constant changes to WEI the scores you get for how much RAM you have keep changing. Partly because they keep changing it, but also because it's buggy. With me I was getting 5.9 with 4GB of RAM (4 sticks of 1GB DDR2-800 CL5) on build 7229, and now that I have 8GB (4 sticks of 2GB DDR2-800 CL5) I'm at 7.1. A friend of mine, however, has 4GB of 1333mhz DDR3 (can't remember the CAS), but is getting less than a 5 for his score on the same build of 7. Then you get results like Kris23, where he's got 4GB of DDR2 yet he's netting a 7.0 for the Memory score. Doesn't make sense, does it?

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I wouldn't be too worried about the scores. The simple matter of fact is that Windows 7, just like Vista, runs better with more RAM, and that's based on my RWEI. 1GB minimum, 2GB pretty decent, and get 4GB or more to have Vista, as well as Windows 7, running damn smooth. So, if you want to increase your speed, increase your RAM. If you want to increase your score, wait until Micrsoft stops messing around with the WEI.

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3FUN

Thanks. But now my question is what configuration to buy 4x1GB or 2x2GB and will windows 7 recognise 4GB of ram. Here is a clip from my motherboard manual

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Mac Daddy

Are you running 32 or 64 bit Win7?

On configurations I am running both 4 x 1G and 2 x 2G. Using 2G modules will allow you to further upgrade. Using 4 x 1G will fill all available slots not allowing further expansion.

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"My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance." - Tim Allen

OldBuzzard

The 64 bit version will see all 4GB, the 32 bit version won't.

I'd recommend 2x2GB, which would allow for expansion to 8GB by going to 4x2GB. Win 7 64 bit (and Vista 64 bit), really rocks with 8GB RAM.

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When looking for a reason as to why things go wrong, never rule out sheer STUPIDITY

Tipstaff

In this case, though, since the idea would be to add 2 more sticks to what 3Fun has, then that would be cheaper. However, if you could sell off your current RAM (or can use it elsewhere), then consider buying 2 sticks of 2GB as that would allow for future expansion as Mac and OldB suggested (some dealers, like smaller Mom & Pop shops, will sometimes trade up with you).

Edit: Something just occurred to me. If you are using the 32bit version of Windows 7, then buying 2 more sticks of 1GB RAM would be cheaper for you. If, however, you are using the 64bit version, go with the 2 sticks of 2GB, and keep the 2x1GB sticks you have as that would bring your total to 6GB. If you want to go up to 8GB later on you just dump the 2x1GB sticks for 2x2GB sticks. For best performance be sure to pair up the 2x2GB sticks first, then the 2x1GB.

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3FUN

I am runing 32bit vista/win7
I am thinking of geting 2x2GB
About the 64 bit I'll have to do a litle research about all of my programs and their 64 bit capabilities and my hardware.
ps Does any of you have experience with 64 bit windows and what are the problems to expect.

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Mac Daddy

I have run both 64 bit Win7 and Vista Ultimate on an ASUS P5E3 Deluxe Wifi using an E6550. I have used both my NV 9600GT and ATI HD4870 with that build no issues of a serious nature.

You will notice a difference in performance with 64 bit though especially using 4G or more of ram.

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"My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance." - Tim Allen

Tipstaff

Questions like this is why I've got THIS page bookmarked.

A few things to note:
- 16bit games and applications will not run in 64bit, and some games and applications may not install on 64bit either, not because they won't run, but because their installer is written with 16bit code.
- sometimes you will find that you can't take your saved games from when you ran the game in 32bit, and use them with the 64bit version, and vice versa (Half Life 2 comes to mind here)
- device drivers are your major concern: you may not find 64bit device drivers, and even if you do, you may find they never get updated, or are not updated as much as the 32bit version. This is really an issue with older hardware that you might have (game controllers, printers, monitors, old sound cards, odd devices like calibration hardware, or devices not made by a major manufacturer)
- games or applications optimized for, or written natively for 64bit will, for the most part, run better than their 32bit cousin. Photoshop CS4, for instance, runs much smoother, and is much faster/more responsive when being run with it's 64bit executable. However, you may also find that some games/applications don't run any better at all.

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