hned Posted January 30, 2006 Share Posted January 30, 2006 :confused: Based on other threads and posts, I am led to believe that the best upgrade path of my 2-yr-old system is to replace the two existing CMX512-3200LLPRO (a matched pair) with two CMX1024 (in the form of a matched pair), instead of adding another pair of CMX512-3200 to fill all four memory slots. (If this conclusion is incorrect, please let me know; it would certainly cost less to simply add another pair of CMX512-3200LLPRO and fill all four slots.) My initial upgrade attempt was to replace the existing pair of CMX512-3200LLPRO with TwinX2048-3200C2/DDR400. Leaving my BIOS settings at "auto" (which worked well with the pair of CMX512-3200LLPRO) seems to result in instability reflected by odd new behaviors within several application software programs I frequently run. I ran MemTest and no errors were displayed, so the memory itself is fine. Based on feedback from customer comments at NewEgg for this particular memory, I went into the system BIOS and manually set the voltage to 2.75V and the timings to 2.5-3-3-6. Unfortunately, the "manual" option within the BIOS also requires that I manually set such items as the "CPU External Frequency" (choosing from a range of 100 to 400), and the "DRAM Frequency" (choosing from a range of 266 to 400 MHz), both of which were previously functioning on "auto". I don't know what values to select (HELP!?!?) As a "newbie" in this technical area, I would prefer my system simply operate on full "auto". Should I exchange the TwinX2048-3200C2 for TwinX2048-3500LLPRO in hopes that I can keep all the BIOS settings on "Auto", as they were successfully running before on the low-latency 1 GB pair of CMX512-3200LLPRO? Or, if I upgrade instead to the 2 GB TwinX2048-3500LLPRO, would I still run into the same stability problems if I attempted to maintain the "Auto" settings in the BIOS that have worked so well in the past with the 1 GB TwinX1024-3200LLPRO? Finally, if you think I should keep the TwinX2048-3200C2, what should all the above mentioned "manual" setting in my BIOS be? Somehow, I need to upgrade to 2 GB of RAM while maintaining a stable and reliable computer. Please provide me with your guidance and insight. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted January 31, 2006 Corsair Employees Share Posted January 31, 2006 Since you have the Twinx2048-3200C2 modules I would just use these iin your system and find another use for the XMS3200LL modules for best performance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hned Posted January 31, 2006 Author Share Posted January 31, 2006 Thanks for responding, RAM Guy. I appreciate your insights and guidance. Since my initial post, I have had time to read many other threads and posts in this forum, including further specs and descriptions at the ASUS and Corsair websites. I decided to RMA the TwinX2048-3200C2 modules back to NewEgg, and I ordered the TwinX2048-3500LLPRO to replace my existing TwinX1024-3200LLPRO. I'll then sell the TwinX1024-3200LLPRO on ebay. I don't really need the LED indicators, but I really want the "ultimate in performance and stability" (as described by Corsair). In addition, since I have to be very mindful of thermal heat in my system's location, the 95% greater surface area of the heatspreaders is an attractive feature of the LLPRO's. You state elsewhere that "the SPDs of the XMS Low Latency Modules are configured with optimized settings (i.e. 2-2-2-5), rather than with more conservative JEDEC-standard (2.5-3-3-7) settings used with the standard XMS parts. This means that they will boot at these aggressive settings the first time the board is powered up; little or no adjustment of settings in the BIOS is required by the user." (Great!) Furthermore, you state that the LLPRO is suitable for the "type of user who is very interested in performance, but is intimidated by making a lot of changes to BIOS settings. This user is more comfortable with the low latency modules than with other modules because he does not need to go into the BIOS to change settings that he does not completely understand." (That's me; I'm that type of user!) :sunglasse Thanks, again, RAM Guy! :biggrin: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted February 1, 2006 Corsair Employees Share Posted February 1, 2006 Good deal, please let me know if you have any questions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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