Question on dual channel memory on A7N8X Deluxe?

[kirby]

My A7N8X has a Barton 3000+ and 2 sticks of Geil PC3200 and it's
getting some poor Sandra scores. Scoring less than what a sis PC2700
would score. According to Asus they say:
You can simply insert 2 or 3?memory modules on 2 blue memory or all
slots to achieve dual channel mode. On the other hand, you can update
system BIOS to the latest one. With the latest BIOS, you will see the
memory mode on POST. If you?insert over 2?memory modules on 2 blue
slots or all slots, you will see Dual Channel string on POST. If you
insert only one memory module on either one slot, you will see?Single
channel string on POST.?

Where do these strings appear?
I set my Bios timing to "aggressive" instead of optimal and my system
is real stable at 5-3-3-2, but the scores are still low. Any
suggestions of how to improve?

 

[Ed]

My A7N8X has a Barton 3000+ and 2 sticks of Geil PC3200 and it's
getting some poor Sandra scores. Scoring less than what a sis PC2700
would score. According to Asus they say:
You can simply insert 2 or 3?memory modules on 2 blue memory or all
slots to achieve dual channel mode. On the other hand, you can update
system BIOS to the latest one. With the latest BIOS, you will see the
memory mode on POST. If you?insert over 2?memory modules on 2 blue
slots or all slots, you will see Dual Channel string on POST. If you
insert only one memory module on either one slot, you will see?Single
channel string on POST.?

Where do these strings appear?
I set my Bios timing to "aggressive" instead of optimal and my system
is real stable at 5-3-3-2, but the scores are still low. Any
suggestions of how to improve?

The BIOS boot screen will show the FSB MHz setting and say Dual or
Single Channel.

There is no setting in the BIOS to turn Dual on or off, only thing that
matters is the way you plug in the ram sticks, slots 1&3, 2&3 or 1,2&3.

Have you tried setting the memory timings manually, sometime SPD doesn't
work very well.



Cheers,
Ed

 

[Ed]

Have you tried setting the memory timings manually, sometime SPD doesn't
work very well.

Forget that, looks like you already have them set manually . ;p

Cheers,
Ed

 

[callsignviper]

My A7N8X has a Barton 3000+ and 2 sticks of Geil PC3200 and it's
getting some poor Sandra scores. Scoring less than what a sis PC2700
would score. According to Asus they say:
You can simply insert 2 or 3?memory modules on 2 blue memory or all
slots to achieve dual channel mode. On the other hand, you can update
system BIOS to the latest one. With the latest BIOS, you will see the
memory mode on POST. If you?insert over 2?memory modules on 2 blue
slots or all slots, you will see Dual Channel string on POST. If you
insert only one memory module on either one slot, you will see?Single
channel string on POST.?

Where do these strings appear?
I set my Bios timing to "aggressive" instead of optimal and my system
is real stable at 5-3-3-2, but the scores are still low. Any
suggestions of how to improve?

What do you have your FSB set to in your BIOS?


--
callsignviper


The truth is out there. You just have to look in the right places and ask
the right questions.

 

[Ben Pope]

My A7N8X has a Barton 3000+ and 2 sticks of Geil PC3200 and it's
getting some poor Sandra scores. Scoring less than what a sis PC2700
would score

Do you have FSB at 200MHz and RAM at 100%? If not you will be limited in
bandwidth by the FSB.

It depends if you have a 200FSB 3000+ or a 166FSB 3000+ (I think there were
both). Anyway, just try setting FSB to 200, multiplier to 10,10.5 or 11 and
RAM at 100% and see if that helps.

Ben

 

[kirby]

What do you have your FSB set to in your BIOS?

Set to 166 X 13.

 

[kirby]

Do you have FSB at 200MHz and RAM at 100%? If not you will be limited in
bandwidth by the FSB.

It depends if you have a 200FSB 3000+ or a 166FSB 3000+ (I think there were
both). Anyway, just try setting FSB to 200, multiplier to 10,10.5 or 11 and
RAM at 100% and see if that helps.

Ben

Your right they do have both and I have a 166 FSB Barton where the
multiplier is supposed to be 13 according to AMD.

 

[Ben Pope]

Your right they do have both and I have a 166 FSB Barton where the
multiplier is supposed to be 13 according to AMD.

Right... then although memory can be thrown around the system at up to
3.2GBps it can only get the the CPU at 2.7GBps

The nForce2 prefers to have FSB and RAM in synch, but with a default
multiplier of 13, you'll have some difficulty getting the FSB to 200MHz, as
you'd need to bring the multiplier down, but do not have software control of
the 5th bit.

Ben

 

[kirby]

Right... then although memory can be thrown around the system at up to
3.2GBps it can only get the the CPU at 2.7GBps

The nForce2 prefers to have FSB and RAM in synch, but with a default
multiplier of 13, you'll have some difficulty getting the FSB to 200MHz, as
you'd need to bring the multiplier down, but do not have software control of
the 5th bit.

Ben

So, I really need the other Barton. The one that runs at 200 X10.5 to
get and memory bandwidth right?

 

[Ben Pope]

So, I really need the other Barton. The one that runs at 200 X10.5 to
get and memory bandwidth right?

No, just change the numbers in the BIOS (FSB and multiplier), but you'll
have to find a way to change the 5th bit... wire-in-the-socket mod looks
reasonable cheap/easy.

Ben

 

[kirby]

No, just change the numbers in the BIOS (FSB and multiplier), but you'll
have to find a way to change the 5th bit... wire-in-the-socket mod looks
reasonable cheap/easy.

Ben

How do do that mod?

 

[Ben Pope]

How do do that mod?

Wes, can you get check this one?

http://www.ocinside.de/go_e.html?/html/workshop/pinmod/amd_pinmod.html

In Multiplier selection, select "Unlock - Multi via BIOS up to 12.5x", you
see the two pins you have to connect? Thats what you need to do, I think.
If you put it on socket view, you can just put a small peice of wire in the
socket in the same place and then sit the Athlon in there. Don't get it
wrong though.

Ben