A7V8X-X slow memory performance

[tired]

I just replaced a fried MSI KT3 Ultra with a new A7V8X - I kept the
Samsung 512MB PC2700 RAM from the MSI and am using it in the Asus.
Problem is, my Sandra 2004 memory benchmarks are well (500-1000)
points below those I saw on the MSI KT3 board - keeping in mind that
this is the same memory and same CPU (2200+). What gives? All other
scores are on par (CPU, HDD, etc)... but memory performance is crap.
Is it the KT400 or Asus that is to blame? I'm sure the memory is
running at 333Mhz and I have not touched any BIOS settings, no O/C or
nothing. I have the newest BIOS as of right now, 1006 - saw the same
performance with 1005 which came on the board.

Tweaking suggestions? Buy a new motherboard?

 

[Paul]

I just replaced a fried MSI KT3 Ultra with a new A7V8X - I kept the
Samsung 512MB PC2700 RAM from the MSI and am using it in the Asus.
Problem is, my Sandra 2004 memory benchmarks are well (500-1000)
points below those I saw on the MSI KT3 board - keeping in mind that
this is the same memory and same CPU (2200+). What gives? All other
scores are on par (CPU, HDD, etc)... but memory performance is crap.
Is it the KT400 or Asus that is to blame? I'm sure the memory is
running at 333Mhz and I have not touched any BIOS settings, no O/C or
nothing. I have the newest BIOS as of right now, 1006 - saw the same
performance with 1005 which came on the board.

Tweaking suggestions? Buy a new motherboard?

Did you try manually adjusting the memory parameters ? Perhaps
the BIOS isn't making the best use of what the SPD EEPROM is
telling it. If you know the numbers for the memory stick, you
could try setting them in the BIOS.

Asus BIOS releases go through "phases", and some releases have
conservative timing. Asus tweaks the BIOS according to how many
reports of unstable operation they get. In some cases, you can
even find the part numbers of DDR DIMMs in the BIOS code, which
means the BIOS uses custom settings when those DIMMs are detected.
So, the only way to get optimal performance, is to tweak the thing
yourself, then test with memtest86 to make sure everything is OK.

HTH,
Paul

 

[Mike Gorman]

Well, how did the MSI get fried? Did that effect the memory?

I have noticed that many of the benchmarks seem to show up a bit shy with my
A7V8X-X and its KT400 chipset. I'm using Corsair VS 512mb PC2700 memory.
When I say shy, I mean in comparison to those I've seen on-line. Not a huge
deal but when you see comparisons against machines that are essentially the
same as what I've set up it makes you wonder. Since the memory seems to be
variable (or at least one of them) it might be that the MSI sends a bit more
juice to their memory bus or some such. Try adjusting the memory timings in
the bios.

 

[tired]

Thanks for the replies. I've checked the BIOS, and the settings from
SPD are consistent with the specs for my RAM (2.5-3-3). I've tried
playing around with BIOS settings, so far I only end up with the same
performance or an unstable system. My MSI didn't get fried per se, it
was just disabled by a slip of the screw driver during a fan
replacement - so the RAM is fine.

I also did find some KT400 benchmarks that show lower performance than
the KT333 - especially in Sandra benchmarks. So, I guess I have to
live with it.

Damn VIA... first a crappy RAID controller on my KT600 board and now
this crappy KT400. nforce3 here I come...

Cheers,
Derek