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fastest possible 4GB configuration with p5n32-e sli plus


shades-nl

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Hello,

 

My current pc is for year old. At that time I equipped my P4 with TWINX1024-3200LLPT memory and never failed me. I'm very pleased with corsair.

 

I decided to equip my new rig (E6850, Asus p5n32-e sli plus) with 4G. I'd like to know what the fastest possible 4GB configuration is. I do not intend to oc. The specs of the motherboard tells me that it should accept PC8500 memory.

 

I'm thinking about QUAD2X4096-8500C5DF, TWIN2X4096-6400C5 or QUAD2X4096-6400C5DHX but It's not on the QVL of the p5n32-e sli plus. Also someone told me that 4 modules is less stable then 2 modules. Not sure why

 

Plz advice

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Hello,

 

My current pc is for year old. At that time I equipped my P4 with TWINX1024-3200LLPT memory and never failed me. I'm very pleased with corsair.

 

I decided to equip my new rig (E6850, Asus p5n32-e sli plus) with 4G. I'd like to know what the fastest possible 4GB configuration is. I do not intend to oc. The specs of the motherboard tells me that it should accept PC8500 memory.

 

I'm thinking about QUAD2X4096-8500C5DF, TWIN2X4096-6400C5 or QUAD2X4096-6400C5DHX but It's not on the QVL of the p5n32-e sli plus. Also someone told me that 4 modules is less stable then 2 modules. Not sure why

 

Plz advice

 

When you populate all four DRAM banks on either Intel or Nvidia you will very likely have to drop the bandwidth and if you do not intend to overclock, you will likely have to stay at that lowered bandwidth. My advice is to go with Corsair XMS2 TWIN2X4096-6400C5. You will not have to drop your bandwidth and the 8500's in a 4 X configuration and not overclocked will likely have to be dropped to 800Mhz (6400) speeds anyway, so save your money.

 

Motherboards are not optimized at the chipset level for four DRAM banks being populated. They can not fulfil the requests to access and load DRAM at the speed of a two bank population when utilizing four banks so the bandwidth must be lowered. Add to this that the error ratio on four banks is higher than with two banks and it can be preferable to go with 2 X 2048 and forgo all possible issues.

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When you populate all four DRAM banks on either Intel or Nvidia you will very likely have to drop the bandwidth and if you do not intend to overclock, you will likely have to stay at that lowered bandwidth. My advice is to go with Corsair XMS2 TWIN2X4096-6400C5. You will not have to drop your bandwidth and the 8500's in a 4 X configuration and not overclocked will likely have to be dropped to 800Mhz (6400) speeds anyway, so save your money.

 

Motherboards are not optimized at the chipset level for four DRAM banks being populated. They can not fulfil the requests to access and load DRAM at the speed of a two bank population when utilizing four banks so the bandwidth must be lowered. Add to this that the error ratio on four banks is higher than with two banks and it can be preferable to go with 2 X 2048 and forgo all possible issues.

 

 

Hi Derek.

Thank's for the ultra fast reply. I figured (i just followed a thread about quad 1g on the striker - pfff) that would be the best choice indeed. My reseller has TWIN2X4096-6400C5 G. Where does the G stands for ?

 

Weird thing though that only 2 of the 4 banks can be used at full speed. Why do they not optimize the chipset to operate with 4 banks ??

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Where does the G stands for ?

 

The "G" indicates that the part is RoHS compliant. This means that the component is lead free. Other than that, there is no difference between non ROHS and ROHS.

 

Weird thing though that only 2 of the 4 banks can be used at full speed. Why do they not optimize the chipset to operate with 4 banks?

 

I'm not sure if optimization of 2 banks vs 4 banks can get better. The density of DRAM will change and one can not expect 4 slots to run as fast as two slots. That's like expecting a half a jug of water to pour out as fast as a full jug when given the same neck dimensions with regards to the Northbridge/MCH(Memory Controller Hub). 4 x 1024 will be superseded by 4 x 2048 and 4 x 4096 ad nauseam. The problem is that the memory controller is being made to do double duty. You will hear people post that the DRAM they had when running in 4 banks now does not work at that speed anymore. Worse, the motherboard memory controller has given up the ability to access all four banks and only works with three or two now. Worse, there is no access anymore. Some try and add more voltage and this works for a while, then they find they need a bit more. I think you know what will follow. As there are exceptions to every situation, there will always be some who disagree and who say that theirs works fine for a year or two now. Exceptions that are infrequent and only serve to have others think that they can not only do the same thing, but also escape without injury. Yes, it's possible. Likely? Well, the odds are against you but it does happen.

 

These banks can be used at full speed. It's not the banks, but rather the memory controller needs to run faster to accept the access and load times of double banks.

 

Please read this post and you will see how four banks can be made to run with stability.

 

http://www.houseofhelp.com/v3/showthread.php?p=316978&posted=1#post316978

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The "G" indicates that the part is RoHS compliant.

Please read this post and you will see how four banks can be made to run with stability.

 

...

 

http://www.houseofhelp.com/v3/showthread.php?p=316978&posted=1#post316978

 

That's a good reference. Since I not much of an overclocker and thus want stability out-of-the-box is wil stick with the TWIN2X4096-6400C5 which is fine. When I have some more knowledge of oc'ing and timing I might want to oc a bit

 

Thanks for the advice

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