ComputerBB

Hi, I am having a very confusing problem with updating my RAM and I need some advice on how to proceed. System: Dell 4600 Inel Pentium 4 2.6GHz HT(springdale i865PE motherboard) 800FSB 512MB DDR SDRAM at 400mhz dual channel 128MB DDR NVidia GeForce FX 5200 graphics card 80 GB 7200 RPM Ultra ATA HD 3.5 in floppy HL-DT-ST DVD-ROM GDR8162B _NEC DVD+/-RW ND -1300A (originally a NEC 1100 till I flashed it with mod firmware) maxumin amount of RAM this computer could handle is 4Gig The RAM modules are as follows ELPIDA EBD25UC8AKFA-5B PC 3200 -3033-0-B1 256MB 0339SE035 (NOT 100% SURE ABOUT MIXING S/5 OR 1/I, THE WRITING IS VERY SMALL) THEY HAVE CHIPS ON BOTH SIDE BUT ONLY A TOTAL OF 8 CHIPS SO THEY ARE SINGLE SIDED. ----------------------------------- My goal is was to upgrade the RAM in a way to keep my dual channel and to keep using my existing modules. ( I plan on adding a tuner to the computer and doing recording while still being able to use the computer, along with some other heavy applications) after reading the following text http://www.kingston.com/newtech/MKF_...whitepaper.pdf page 8 specifically. I discovered that as long as I keep matching pairs in the same channels I will maintain dual channel, so the highest I could afford was 1gig (therefore 2 modules of 512). After confirming the white papers (link above) with a rep from crucial.com, I purchased a pair of 512 MB PC3200 modules. After installing them (and in my computer the new RAM was reognized) I saw very little increase in performance, which led me to begin performing benchmark tests. This is where the fun begins. To cut to the chase, i have 3 matching pairs of RAM modules, and I have about 1 week before I have to send them back for a refund (I have 1 return shipping label so far..) January 6 or 7 is the deadline. I need some input on what I need to use in my system to increase the RAM/ speed of my computer. Either I have some super sticks of 256 modules or something is really out of what here. Below i have the benchmark test results for just about every configuration of RAM. Please note how when at one point I have 2Gig of RAM in my computer and the Read/ write and latency is as good as when I have 512MB of RAM in my computer. Is it possible that my MOBO likes 256 mods. better than 512? what should I buy to increase my speed? should i buy elpida only? The first pair of 512MB from crucial are double sided. The second pair of 512MB from crucial.com are single sided. The third pair is the 256MB Elpida that came with my system Also note: the appearance of speed (how the computer performed when I was multi-tasking matched perception-wise to the benchmark tests.) FOR BENCHMARKS TESTS I USED: cpu-z: to determine if the system was in dual or single channel EVEREST: to test write speed, read speed, latency. also under chipset in EVEREST, and interesting note I listed, only the single sided modules would so as 1 memory slot while the double sided modules would show seperately....? RESULTS of BENCHMARKS ---------------------------------------- MODS: 2 256 single sided cpu-Z memory:dual everest read: 3732 mb/s write: 1200 mb/s latency: 111 ns chipset: memory modules: slot #1 512mb ------------------------------------------ MODS: 2 512 single sided cpu-Z memory: dual everest read: 3738 mb/s write: 1117 mb/s latency: 111 ns chipset: memory modules: slot #1 1024mb ----------------------------------------- MODS: 2 512 double sided cpu-Z memory: dual everest read: 3815 mb/s write: 1666 mb/s latency: 111 ns chipset: memory modules: slot #1 512mb slot #2 512mb ------------------------------------------- MODS: 1 256 single sided cpu-Z memory: single everest read: 2839 mb/s write: 1017 mb/s latency: 120 chipset: memory modules: slot #1 256mb -------------------------------------------- MODS: 1 512 single sided cpu-Z memory: single everest read: 2843 write: 972 latency: 120 chipset: memory modules: slot #1 512mb -------------------------------------------- MODS: 1 512 double sided cpu-Z memory: single everest read: 2850 write: 1118 latency: 120 chipset: memory modules: slot #1 512mb --------------------------------------------- MODS: 2 512 double sided 2 256 single sided cpu-Z memory: dual everest read: 3708 mb/s write: 1310 mb/s latency: 112 chipset: memory modules: slot #1 512mb slot #2 512mb slot #3 512mb --------------------------------------------- MODS: 2 512 single sided 2 256 single sided cpu-Z memory: dual everest read: 3732 mb/s write: 1130 mb/s latency: 111 chipset: memory modules: slot #1 1024mb slot #2 512mb ----------------------------------------------- MODS: 2 512 single sided 2 512 double sided cpu-Z memory: dual everest read: 3729 mb/s write: 1118 mb/s latency: 112 chipset: memory modules: slot #1 1024mb slot #2 512mb slot #3 512mb ---------------------------------------------- MODS: 2 256 single sided 1 512 single sided cpu-Z memory: single everest read: 2789 mb/s write: 923 mb/s latency: 120 chipset: memory modules: slot #1 256mb slot #2 512mb slot #3 256mb -----------------------------------------------