Sewnny Sais

frigidVintage · Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2005 6:32 pm Post subject: Sewnny Sais

Ok, so I've heard I can get dual-channel pc3200 RAM in my sony vaio with an 865 chipset instead of my current dual-channel pc2700. I'm going to get 2X512 pc3200 and throw out the 2X256 pc2700. Sony sais to get 2.5 volt RAM for this PC. I was wondering if 2.6 volts would be possible, but they also said to upgrade with pc2700 so . . . . Well, I'd appreciate your thoughts.

I also don't know how to activate dual-channel and it would help when upgrade time comes. Thanks

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ToggleHead · TWEAKGURU Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 4360 Location: Jersey

First of all....what chip do you have...?

If your FSB is 533, then upgrading to pc3200 would be pointless unless you plan on overclocking....

Does your motherboard support supplying your RAM with 2.6 volts?
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sickofsoyo · Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2005 7:28 pm Post subject:

well, if your CPU doesnt have a fsb of 800 or higher, then PC3200 wouldn't matter. Most likely you have a prescott core which means that it will support the PC3200 in dual channel.I would hang on to the 2700 just in case. Download CPUZ and tell us what the core is and the ram that is in there now. I would recommend this for your computer.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820220045

it is 2.5 volt 2X512 mb sticks paired for dual channel.I use them, their cheap and they run great. They do have another pair that is a little more $ but overclock better, but because its a vaio, I would go with these. They have a DDR333 version. Look at the TN shop for even more deals on these sticks.
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P4 3.2ghz
lanparty pro875b
Enermax Liberty 500 Watt Modular PSU
Sony 52X CD-RW
Samsung 120gig SATA hdd
Maxtor 100gig SATA hdd
Powmax Demon case
ATI X800 XL AIW, 525 Core, 525 mem
Creative X-Fi Platinum
PDP systems Patriot Ram 2,3,2,5 timings

sickofsoyo · Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2005 7:40 pm Post subject:

2old2care · Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2005 8:17 pm Post subject:

Many of those shipped with pc2700 running dual channel. Asus mobo's with 865G chipset , both Northwoods and Prescotts 2.4 to 3.2.
Sony's concern is that the crappy (delta typically) supply will come up short, and with no ability to change voltage in their BIOS, will have errors if you do not use memory capable of operating flawlessly at 2.5 volts.
Most memory manufacturers build something in this range of lower voltage, for these machines.
Also there is no "activating" dual channel. Just put memory in the correct slots and it does it, itself. Most of those Sony's run dual channel already, just at the lower DDR333 speed.
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Liquid-Cooled Q9450 and an EeePC
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frigidVintage · Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2005 11:24 pm Post subject:

Ok, I think I"ll get some that's 2.5 volts to be safe. I've never installed ram before, but i could swear i've heard people say they had to "activate" dual channel, I guess that does sound kind of strange. This is what i'm looking at,
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145440 I'm not looking for the best performance or anything so i thought this would be good

PhRoZeN_X_ · SirTweaksabit Joined: 19 Jun 2004 Posts: 410

Had those in my old,old system. Very solid and stable. You'll be pleased and they are pretty good performance wise too. Great bang for you buck.

ToggleHead · TWEAKGURU Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 4360 Location: Jersey

sickofsoyo · Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2005 3:03 pm Post subject:

well, I haven't seen a newer SONY without one. My sister's compy and about 4 others I have gotten my hands on had them. The only northy I have seen in a newer desktop is my dads comp. 2.45 northy.
_________________
P4 3.2ghz
lanparty pro875b
Enermax Liberty 500 Watt Modular PSU
Sony 52X CD-RW
Samsung 120gig SATA hdd
Maxtor 100gig SATA hdd
Powmax Demon case
ATI X800 XL AIW, 525 Core, 525 mem
Creative X-Fi Platinum
PDP systems Patriot Ram 2,3,2,5 timings

frigidVintage · Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2005 11:51 pm Post subject:

Okay so i ran cpu-z and it looks like I have a Northwood core. I don't know what FSB is but it sais I have 199 mhz FSB. Is that lower than it should be? And I have core speeds of 2790 mhz on a P4 2.8ghz with HyperThreading. Now in my system there are 2X256 Mb of Dual channel DDR-SDRAM. I'm guessing pc3200 is not for my pc, right?

fussnfeathers · Lord of the Tweak Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 2763

You have the same proc I have, a 2.8c Northwood, 800mhz FSB. What CPUz is showing is the "core" FSB speed. With P4 procs, that speed is quad-pumped, for an effective FSB speed of 800mz.

PC3200 will be fine for you.
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2old2care · Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 10:55 am Post subject:

That Corsair would be a good choice.
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Liquid-Cooled Q9450 and an EeePC
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ToggleHead · TWEAKGURU Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 4360 Location: Jersey

^^^agreed
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sickofsoyo · Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 4:21 pm Post subject:

well, it looks as though I have a thing or two to learn about store bought PCs

_________________
P4 3.2ghz
lanparty pro875b
Enermax Liberty 500 Watt Modular PSU
Sony 52X CD-RW
Samsung 120gig SATA hdd
Maxtor 100gig SATA hdd
Powmax Demon case
ATI X800 XL AIW, 525 Core, 525 mem
Creative X-Fi Platinum
PDP systems Patriot Ram 2,3,2,5 timings

racing87stang · Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 4:23 pm Post subject:

yep the VAIO I had had a decent 3ghz Northwood with 2mb cache. Screamin machines for multimedia, but man you did get jipped on the memory
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frigidVintage · Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 4:44 pm Post subject:

Alright! I'm glad to hear my FSB is 4 times 200 mhz. I'm ordering some right now, Thanks!

ToggleHead · TWEAKGURU Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 4360 Location: Jersey

[KoG]^weaZel · Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2005 6:27 pm Post subject:

racing87stang · Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2005 4:03 am Post subject:

hehe... sorry I meant that as a prescott... But yeah I hadnt seen a northy like that.
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frigidVintage · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:06 am Post subject:

um, okay, I never really bought the ram. I know it''s been a long time. I was wondering how much boost I'd get performance wise. Is the current PC2700 putting any kind of bottleneck on the processor that pc3200 ram would fix and make games and such run better?

ToggleHead · TWEAKGURU Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 4360 Location: Jersey

yes and no.....youre not bottlenecking your proc....but youre bottlenecking your memory bandwidth....

i believe you WILL see a gaming improvment upping your ram speed.....also this is necessary if you intend to OC.

My vote is go for it....no HT machine should be without at least 3200 for optimal performance...it allows the CPU:MEM ratio to stay at 1:1
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frigidVintage · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 4:25 pm Post subject:

hmm I see, sounds great! I'll be getting some soon then, (or when I get a new PSU) The change from 512mb to 1gig should help too.

I'm right when I say to replace the old ram with the new ram and not just add, correct? b/c mixing is bad?

Thanks

ToggleHead · TWEAKGURU Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 4360 Location: Jersey

yes replace it

you should be happy with the increase
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fussnfeathers · Lord of the Tweak Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 2763

Like the angry brown thing said, replace it. Your RAM will only run as fast as the slowest stick in the bunch, so if you buy PC3200 and stick it in there with your PC2700, the 3200 will only be running at 2700 speeds.
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