P4C800E dlx with 4 dimms

[typer77]

Guys, I would like to see your take on this....

I have been testing all these memories, so I have been buying 256MB sticks only. I finally found a good one BH--5 that will let me run FSB300 5:4 stable.

So I wanted 512MB more and got 2 more 256 sticks
Once I put all 4 in, windows won't boot; nor can I even get Memtest to start correctly. (show the blue screen and Part of the numbers that it usually shows.) I ususally use 1.6V for AGP (chipset related). By pumping that to 1.7V, it boots into Memtest, but hung after 10 mins of testing..... should I go 1.8V? that is kind of extreme isn't it?

I could run 2 sticks 300FSB 5:4 using 3.35 V; but even 3.45 V won't go on 4 sticks... It went as far as 295FSB....

Any thoughts??

[Soulburner]

A lower overclock is normal because its a heavy load to handle...test out the highest you can get all 4 going at in something like 3DM01, and compare it (lobby scores mostly) vs your normal 2 sticks at their highest to see which config is faster.

I would bump up that voltage a tad though, maybe try 1.7 next and see if anything improves.

[Major]

Are all 4 sticks the same brand ? same chips ??

Are you running them at SPD ??

[typer77]

I had it up to 1.7V for the chipset and it would run a bit in memtest before it hangs.

but I do notice that "data" speed is higher with 4 sticks (under memtest.)

As far as DIMM is concerned, should I pump more voltage?? it would be like 3.5Vs... a bit worrying about that high voltage for 24/7 use...

[typer77]

All 4 are same sticks. I ran memtest individuall they can all handle 300FSB 5:4. and they did.

i am actually running them 2-2-2-5... SPD is 2.5 cas.

[Spec3]

I've tested a few combinations of 256 and 512 sticks with 4 dimm's installed. Every time I lost 20-40Mhz by going from 2 sticks to 4. I think you need to run ECC ram if you want to run all 4 dimms.

[typer77]

that sux... does it happen to all boards? or just p4c800e?

[Kunaak]

when I used all 4 dimm slots in my P4P800 I lost about 10 Mhz on the max the ram can do at cas -2-2-2-5, but gain alittle in ram bandwidth.
in my case having 4 ram slots filled helped, cause at 5:4 and 290 FSB with my 2.8C it worked out perfect.

[eva2000]

4 sticks you do loose 20+mhz

i only just managed 4x 512mb hynix pc3200 d43 @250mhz 2.5-4-3-6 at 2.85v on p4c800-e - lost 20mhz oc'ing headroom and lost PAT

sandra max3 unbuffered

http://www.fileshosts.com/pentium4/D1/asus/p4c800e_results/2.8C_2/hynix/pc3200/4x512/250-250-2.5436-8-AUTO-1.675v-1.6v/mem-unbuff.jpg

[typer77]

In that case, I should've gotten 512 MB stick.... :(

[eva2000]

nah generally 512mb sticks will oc less than 256mb of the same brand, speed and timings

[typer77]

gotcha....
we are limited to 512 mb if we want to OC then.....

[eva2000]

no no.. what i mean is, if you want to oc more you have better chance with 256MB than 512MB

[typer77]

I read some of your test on the AI7, got one.. probably use the 4 sticks there since I won't OC too much on that "work" rig.

[eva2000]

4 sticks on AI7 may have problems not sure since dim 1+3 slots on AI7 perform under par compared to 2+4 slots, so 4 dimms could be a potential problem - but if you're not oc'ing then probably not much trouble

[Soulburner]

I just switched from 1+3 to 2+4 on my ASUS and gained nothing, it reached the exact same 219 2-2-2-5 and 225 2-3-2-5 that it did before.

However my unbuffered jumped from 2700-2800 to 3000-3050 for some reason. 3DMark score was the same though oddly.