Need advice on P4C800 Deuxe / 1 GB ram / Win XP Pro

[M. B.]

I finally upgraded my system to 2 identical sticks of Crucial (Micron)
PC3200 400Mhz DDR 512 megs (total 1 gigs) of RAM. The part number of the
modules are CT6464Z40B

In my P4C800 Deluxe (not-E) BIOS 1015, I have the settings as:

Peformance Mode: Turbo
DRAM Frequency: 400 Mhz
DDR Voltage: 2.75
PAT Mode: Enabled
Timings: 2.5 - 2 - 2 - 5 - 8
Spread Specturm: Enabled
ICH Delayed Transmission: Enabled
MPS rev: 1.4

I am running Pentium IV 2.4C and I am *not* over-clocking at this time!

1) I ran Si-Sandra and it confirms to me that the RAM is running in Dual
Mode (about 4475MB/s) but when I turn on the computer, the BIOS screen no
longer states what DRAM Frequencey is (when I had generic 256x2 PC3200
sticks before this new ram, it used to clearly say, 400 DDR Dual Mode). Why
is that?

2) Since I now have a gig of RAM, how can I speed-up Windows XP SP1 that I
am running? Please keep in mind that often I have about 10 windows open at
one time, so I am not sure if I should mess with the SWAP file at all or
not? I also play games such as FIFA2004, COD, MVP 2004 and so on.

3) This DDR ram is rated for 2.6 volts. I am currently running 2.75, with
the next lower one being 2.65. Should I leave things as are or go down?

Any other comments or suggestions for my machine as far as the memory
settings.

 

[Noozer]

I finally upgraded my system to 2 identical sticks of Crucial (Micron)
PC3200 400Mhz DDR 512 megs (total 1 gigs) of RAM. The part number of the
modules are CT6464Z40B

In my P4C800 Deluxe (not-E) BIOS 1015, I have the settings as:

Peformance Mode: Turbo
DRAM Frequency: 400 Mhz
DDR Voltage: 2.75
PAT Mode: Enabled
Timings: 2.5 - 2 - 2 - 5 - 8
Spread Specturm: Enabled
ICH Delayed Transmission: Enabled
MPS rev: 1.4

I'd disable the spread spectrum. Having it on can make a PC more unstable -
at least when overclocking.

I am running Pentium IV 2.4C and I am *not* over-clocking at this time!

Should be pretty easy once you do decide to overclock. My 2.6Ghz runs 3.2Ghz
on the stock intel cooler.

1) I ran Si-Sandra and it confirms to me that the RAM is running in Dual
Mode (about 4475MB/s) but when I turn on the computer, the BIOS screen no
longer states what DRAM Frequencey is (when I had generic 256x2 PC3200
sticks before this new ram, it used to clearly say, 400 DDR Dual Mode). Why
is that?

What frequency and timings does Sandra say the ram is using? 4475mb/s is
speed, but not timings/etc.

2) Since I now have a gig of RAM, how can I speed-up Windows XP SP1 that I
am running? Please keep in mind that often I have about 10 windows open at
one time, so I am not sure if I should mess with the SWAP file at all or
not? I also play games such as FIFA2004, COD, MVP 2004 and so on.

It should just work better. Mind you if your HDD is slow or drive is
fragmented you'll see a much bigger performance hit. My own machine sucks
because my 60gig drive is only a 2gig cache PATA model. Strongly considering
one of the Raptor drives to really boost performance.

3) This DDR ram is rated for 2.6 volts. I am currently running 2.75, with
the next lower one being 2.65. Should I leave things as are or go down?

I'd set it at default, since you aren't overclocking. Why generate the extra
heat?

Any other comments or suggestions for my machine as far as the memory
settings.

Once you have the timings from Sandra, you could tweak them in the BIOS and
look for an improvement, but OC the CPU would be far safer and easier.

 

[end user]

On Fri, 16 Apr 2004 14:25:10 GMT, "Noozer" <[email protected]>
wrote:

What is Spread Spectrum?

Locust

 

[Noozer]

What is Spread Spectrum?

I *think* it introduces a bit of "unstability" into the bus to avoid
oscillation at certain frequencies. Something to try and reduce RFI
emissions.

I could be completely wrong here though.

 

[Paul]

I *think* it introduces a bit of "unstability" into the bus to avoid
oscillation at certain frequencies. Something to try and reduce RFI
emissions.

I could be completely wrong here though.

It is a cheat to beat FCC regulations. The clock is modulated
(meaning the frequency isn't steady, it changes slightly with
time). Instead of one spike on the spectrum analyser, there
is a squat lump shown on the spectrum analyser. As for real
communication devices, they might like this, they might not.

Picking a datasheet at random on the net, page 4 shows how
the spread spectrum makes a spread out lump on the FCC guy's
spectrum analyser, instead of a clock "spike". The lower
the height of this energy, the better your other RF
communication devices will work.

http://www.cypress.com/cfuploads/img/products/W155.pdf

It always amazes me how motherboards can pass in the first
place.

Paul

 

[end user]

It is a cheat to beat FCC regulations. The clock is modulated
(meaning the frequency isn't steady, it changes slightly with
time). Instead of one spike on the spectrum analyser, there
is a squat lump shown on the spectrum analyser. As for real
communication devices, they might like this, they might not.

Picking a datasheet at random on the net, page 4 shows how
the spread spectrum makes a spread out lump on the FCC guy's
spectrum analyser, instead of a clock "spike". The lower
the height of this energy, the better your other RF
communication devices will work.

http://www.cypress.com/cfuploads/img/products/W155.pdf

It always amazes me how motherboards can pass in the first
place.

Paul

thanks Paul

Locust