Increased Memory Now Slower Vista & App Performance

[DP]

Installed new 4GB DDR SDRAM DIMM (Corsair XMS Twin2048-3200c2) on MSI
865PE/GNeo2 Motherboard with a Pentium 4 3.0GHz CPU. Checked all installation
issues and recommemded Bios setting. Vista performance and app responses are
slower than before the upgrade and unstisfactory. Must I do reinstall Vista
and if so can I do a clean install with Vista Home Premium Ugrade as I have
done with Windows XP Upgrade.

 

[JW]

What memory did you have before?
Does Vista show that you have 4GB installed?
I notice from the following link that it says the package you got consists
of 2 1GB dims of 400Mhz memory for a total of 2GB memory which may be
slower then what you had before.

http://www.compsource.com/pn/TWINX20483200C2/Corsair_997/

 

[usasma]

4 gB of RAM may actually slow your system down if the motherboard and Vista
don't deal with the .74 gB that isn't recognized (on my system it only
recognized 3.26 gB of the 4 gB). Most articles that I've read refer to
issues with DMA transfers causing this.

FYI - I just switched to 64 bit Vista and noticed no significant performance
increase. This article may shed some light on that:
http://www.tomshardware.com/2008/02/15/vista_workshop/

- John

 

[JW]

AFAIK DMA transfers have nothing to do with 4GB memory support.
Here is the link to the MS KB article on the subject. It is not as through
as the tomshardware article, however.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929605/en-us

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

The ram the BIOS reserves for memory-mapped IO to devices like the video
card varies from machine to machine. I see from 2.5 to 3.5GB on the system
properties page on various of my computers. It's not that it is not
recognized (it is and you will see that with Vista SP1) but that it is not
available to the user space.

 

[Brian]

DDR memory runs in single mode with over 2 DIMM in your MOBO.
For example: DDR rated at 500 Mhz is actually running at 250 MHz * 2. When
you put the full 4 RAM modules in your mobo, it runs in single mode...so
before you had 2 Gb @ 500 MHz and now you have 4 Gb @ 250 Mhz..get it?

 

[DP]

Prior to the new 4GB DDR SDRAM DIMM (Corsair XMS Twin2048-3200c2) I was
running 1GB DDR SDRAM DIMM (Corsair Matched Twin CMX512-3700PT). I am having
major perfoprmance problems. This is nowhere near normally expected
performance even for the simplest operational task. As well, extremely Long
Boot and shut down time. Again is a clean reinstall a possible fix.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

I noticed that the website at MSI contains this note:

"• Supports 4 unbuffered DIMM of 2.5 Volt DDR SDRAM

• Supports up to 4GB memory size with non-ECC
• Supports Single or Dual Channel DDR 400*/333/266 MHz and up (*In order to
use DDR 400, FSB 800 CPU is required)
Due to the High Performance Memory design, motherboards or system
configurations may or may not operate smoothly at the JEDEC (Joint Electron
Device Engineering Council) standard settings (BIOS Default on the
motherboard) such as DDR voltage, memory speeds and memory timing. Please
confirm and adjust your memory setting in the BIOS accordingly for better
system stability.
Example: Kingston HyperX DDR500 PC4000 operates at 2.65V, 3-4-4-8, CL=3.
For more information about specification of high performance memory modules,
please check with your Memory Manufactures for more details."

How have you followed up on this note in order to improve your system's
performance?

 

[DP]

Seeing slight improvement.
(1)Have check for updated BIOS
(2)Removed or disabled all rarely used apps
(3) rechecked BIOS Settings

The spec sheet from Corsair for the TWINX2048-3200C2 indicates tested
2-3-3-6 @2.75V

My Present Bios Settings:
Dram Freq: 400
DDR Voltage 2.75
3-3-3-8 Burst Length 8
Performance: Normal
D.O.T. Disabled

Thanks for your Help!

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

The note refers to adjustments to settings in the BIOS, not just updating
the BIOS. Have you investigated what it means to make these adjustments?

You may get better answers on that topic in the forum for your mobo on the
manufacturer's website. Those forums are very good on this kind of thing.