4 x DDR DIMMs in Nforce 4 Ultra

  • Thread starter Thread starter Larry Roberts
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Larry Roberts

I have a Biostar NF4UL-A9 (Nforce 4 Ultra) mainboard that has
4 DDR DIMM slots. Right now, I have 1GB (2 x 512MB) PC3200 DIMMs
running in dual channel. I'd like to upgrade this to 2GB of RAM. I've
read that alot of systems have problems when all 4 DIMM slots are
full. What kinds of problems might be expected?
I could just purchase 2 x 1GB PC3200 DIMMs, but that would
cost an extra $100.00, or more than if I just purchased 2 x 512MB
DIMMs, or 1 x 1GB DIMM.
 
The only problem ive run into, with dual channel and using all four
slots, is that it will clock all the memory down from 400 to 333. And
this has been with any dual channel board ive seen, not just the
biostars.
 
The only problem ive run into, with dual channel and using all four
slots, is that it will clock all the memory down from 400 to 333. And
this has been with any dual channel board ive seen, not just the
biostars.
Click to expand...


Well, I run my memory at the mainboard's detected default
settings, and it sets it at 400 with a command rate of 2T. I read that
333 at 1T performs as well as 400 with 2T rate. I wonder how much
slower would my system be if it only runs at 333 with 2T rate, or
whatever it will set? Would it be better to just scrap the 2 x 512MB
DDR400 DIMMs, and go with 2 x 1GB DDR400 DIMMs at an extra $100.00, or
save a $100.00, and just purchase 2 x 512MB DDR400 DIMMs?
 
Larry said:
Well, I run my memory at the mainboard's detected default
settings, and it sets it at 400 with a command rate of 2T. I read that
333 at 1T performs as well as 400 with 2T rate. I wonder how much
slower would my system be if it only runs at 333 with 2T rate, or
whatever it will set? Would it be better to just scrap the 2 x 512MB
DDR400 DIMMs, and go with 2 x 1GB DDR400 DIMMs at an extra $100.00, or
save a $100.00, and just purchase 2 x 512MB DDR400 DIMMs?
Click to expand...

You can always sell the 2x512MB. That would be one option.
I wouldn't sell them, until the testing phase for the new
memory is completed (memtest86+ and prime95).

This article didn't find a problem with running four DIMMs.
If you decide to go 4x512MB, try to get a pair of DIMMs like
the ones you already have. Less can go wrong that way.

http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=2465&p=8

I think either choice can work, with the 2x1GB offering
a slight improvement in application performance due to
the better memory setting. You can experiment with
DDR400 Command Rate 1T for example. You can even experiment
with your current RAM, and try DDR333 2T, DDR400 2T, DDR400 1T
etc and use a program like SuperPI, to see the impact it is
having. You don't need to take anyone's word for it,
as you can run the benches for yourself. That will help
you decide whether there is a real need to go to the
2x1GB config or not. (If you use the bandwidth indicator
in memtest86+, that will overestimate the impact. You need
to use a real application benchmark, to see how much an
application speeds up or slows down. Real applications
don't access memory, like a memory tester does.)

(A few URLs for SuperPI downloads are in this article -
it doesn't matter which version you use, as long as you
use the same version for all tests.)

http://groups.google.ca/group/alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus/msg/3f2209b33d4530b8?dmode=source

Paul
 
You can always sell the 2x512MB. That would be one option.
I wouldn't sell them, until the testing phase for the new
memory is completed (memtest86+ and prime95).

This article didn't find a problem with running four DIMMs.
If you decide to go 4x512MB, try to get a pair of DIMMs like
the ones you already have. Less can go wrong that way.

http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=2465&p=8

I think either choice can work, with the 2x1GB offering
a slight improvement in application performance due to
the better memory setting. You can experiment with
DDR400 Command Rate 1T for example. You can even experiment
with your current RAM, and try DDR333 2T, DDR400 2T, DDR400 1T
etc and use a program like SuperPI, to see the impact it is
having. You don't need to take anyone's word for it,
as you can run the benches for yourself. That will help
you decide whether there is a real need to go to the
2x1GB config or not. (If you use the bandwidth indicator
in memtest86+, that will overestimate the impact. You need
to use a real application benchmark, to see how much an
application speeds up or slows down. Real applications
don't access memory, like a memory tester does.)

(A few URLs for SuperPI downloads are in this article -
it doesn't matter which version you use, as long as you
use the same version for all tests.)

http://groups.google.ca/group/alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus/msg/3f2209b33d4530b8?dmode=source

Paul
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I'll do further test. I have a second
system that has a different brand of DIMMs, but they are also a
matched pair of 512MB PC3200 DIMMs. I went ahead, and tried them (2 x
512MB Kingmax) beside my Corsair ValueSelect dual channel. The
mainboard booted fine detecting 2GB RAM, but it did auto set it to 333
Dual Channel 2T. I went into the BIOS, and manually set it to 400, and
it is now running at DDR400 Dual Channel, but I didn't see a setting
to make it run at 1T. There where other DRAM settings besides the DDR
speed that I could choose to change, but I have no idea what to set
them at, so I set them to AUTO.
The memtest86+ seemed to pass just fine. I also ran another
memtest program under WinXP that seemed to run fine as well. I'm gona
run Prime95 for 8 hours, or so. Just to make sure it's stable. All my
games seem fine with it as is now. I might go with 2 x 512MB sticks of
the same Corsair ValueSelect I have now.
 
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