EntropySink

Technical & Scientific => Hardware => Topic started by: Jake on January 09, 2006, 07:49:30 PM

Title: added some ram and...
Post by: Jake on January 09, 2006, 07:49:30 PM
so I addedd two 256 MB of ram to my box the other day, giving me a total of 1 gig. I was hoping that it will speed up my computer a bit; ie having a lot of mem heavy applications running at the same time ( photoshop, maya, dreamwever, etc).

As soon as I turned the computer on it slowed down! Applications like firefox take much longer to load up, and the computer has become evidently louder.

Any ideas?
Title: added some ram and...
Post by: jkim on January 09, 2006, 07:57:53 PM
I'm assuming the memory's the same type that you had in your computer before?
Title: added some ram and...
Post by: Jake on January 09, 2006, 08:23:14 PM
Quote from: jkim
I'm assuming the memory's the same type that you had in your computer before?


:rolleyes: come on jen. Yes, it is the same
Title: added some ram and...
Post by: Steve on January 09, 2006, 10:13:45 PM
what bank is it in? arrange it so that the small ram chip(s) are in the first slots (o,1,etc) and try that. Also double check what jen said, that was my first thought....
Title: added some ram and...
Post by: ober on January 09, 2006, 10:47:50 PM
Depends on the layout, CAS latency, number of chips, etc, etc.

I doubt you know all the latencies, but your lowest CAS latency chip needs to be in the first slot.  Secondly, adding 256 to what had to be 768 probably isn't going to help.  I'm guessing you now have either 512 + 256x2... do yourself a favor and sell the 2 256 chips and buy another 512.  (I really hope you're not using 4 256 chips).

Rule of thumb: adding RAM is usually a good idea, as long as the increments are in doubles and you order them correctly.
Title: added some ram and...
Post by: Jake on January 09, 2006, 10:55:52 PM
Quote
(I really hope you're not using 4 256 chips).
I am, whats wrong with that? I have four slots and can only put them in pairs; so now I have 4x256. I don't see how this can slow down my system.
Title: added some ram and...
Post by: Jake on January 09, 2006, 10:56:21 PM
Quote from: scubasteve
Also double check what jen said, that was my first thought....


oh god damnit, I'm not a fucking idiot.
Title: added some ram and...
Post by: jkim on January 09, 2006, 11:55:23 PM
sorrrryyyy, it's the first thing that came to mind, but i was SURE you wouldn't have made such a silly mistake.
Title: added some ram and...
Post by: Steve on January 09, 2006, 11:58:02 PM
ya no offense intended
Title: added some ram and...
Post by: ober on January 10, 2006, 08:36:18 AM
Quote from: axon
I am, whats wrong with that? I have four slots and can only put them in pairs; so now I have 4x256. I don't see how this can slow down my system.

Typically it is a problem, unless they're all from the same manufacturer, with all the same specs and clocks.  Keep in mind that even with small differences, the computer has to adjust to different timings and different architectures... 2 is ok, 3 is bad, 4 is just not a good idea.

You act like you don't believe me, so I'll just stop talking.
Title: added some ram and...
Post by: Dumah on January 10, 2006, 08:40:27 AM
Quote from: axon
oh god damnit, I'm not a fucking idiot.


I demand proof!
Title: added some ram and...
Post by: Jake on January 10, 2006, 10:51:11 AM
Quote
You act like you don't believe me, so I'll just stop talking.

its not that ober, it just doesn't make sense to me :( if it is not a good idea to put four chips in there, why would they have four slots? by what you're telling me it wouldn't be a good idea to put in 4 1 gig chips also, unless they were from the same manufacturer etc.

And even so, I don't think that adding another two 256's should not slow down my system.
Title: added some ram and...
Post by: Rob on January 10, 2006, 10:54:52 AM
Is it the same memory type that you had in the computer before?
Title: added some ram and...
Post by: Rob on January 10, 2006, 10:55:51 AM
[COLOR="PaleTurquoise"]Psyche![/COLOR]
Title: added some ram and...
Post by: Jake on January 10, 2006, 11:08:37 AM
Quote from: Rob
Is it the same memory type that you had in the computer before?

I <3 Baldy. :) :p
Title: added some ram and...
Post by: ober on January 10, 2006, 11:59:24 AM
Quote from: axon
if it is not a good idea to put four chips in there, why would they have four slots?

I'm sitting here trying to come up with a really crafty reply to your logic, but my brain is fried and I'm stressed out because of work.

In short, your logic is flawed.  Just because they give you the option, that doesn't mean you should necessarily take advantage of it.  You're mixing 4 different (most likely) clock speeds.  The RAM is only going to be clocked as fast as the slowest clock.  I'm going to guess that the new chip you bought is basically shit quality.  The latency is probably 3+ and it's dragging your other chips down with it.

Do some research.  You'll find that it's not a great idea.
Title: added some ram and...
Post by: Jake on January 10, 2006, 12:13:44 PM
this is the ram I got http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145070
Title: added some ram and...
Post by: Rob on January 10, 2006, 12:18:10 PM
What kind of speed do you get if you use just the 2 new simms on their own, compared to just the 2 original simms?
Title: added some ram and...
Post by: Dumah on January 10, 2006, 12:21:44 PM
Ober's probably right. Different speed memory mixing doesnt give too much of an advantage.
Title: added some ram and...
Post by: Jake on January 10, 2006, 12:22:29 PM
I haven't tried that yet...give me a few mins ;)
Title: added some ram and...
Post by: Jake on January 10, 2006, 12:46:35 PM
leaving the two new chips only sped up the system somewhat...but then I rearranged them so that I have the two new ones first, and the two original second, and it is much quicker! works great.

Thanks guys, I didn't know that the order in which the chips are placed matters that much. :)
Title: added some ram and...
Post by: Steve on January 12, 2006, 12:14:20 AM
It can, i didnt used to think that it made sense either. Then i mixed them around like you did and it all fell into place. Glad to see ya got it worked out.