Re: Mismatched Memory -- could this be my problem?

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

Stan Hilliard wrote:
<<snip>>

The utility "Cool'n'Quiet" came with the ABIT motherboard or with the
AMD Athlon 64 processor. It might be running. How can I verify that or
make sure it doesn't run?

Cool N' Quiet controls the FID and VID (core clock multiplier and
Vcore voltage setting). When the processor is unloaded, the core clock
drops in speed, and the Vcore regulator puts out a lower value of voltage
in steps. It is a way of enhancing the characteristics of the processor at
idle. As soon as a load appears on the CPU, the settings can be cranked
up to nominal again. That would not involve SMBUS or LPC.

<<snip>>


Perhaps I should upgrade the motherboard? Is there a motherboard that
would be a large improvement but would be a simple replacement for
the KU8?

If I were to switch motherboards, what matching changes to the
configuration would I have to make also?

The current configuration involves C: as RAID 0 cabled SATA to the
motherboard. A PPA 1301 PCI card supplies two additional SATA ports.

And the graphics card is a NVIDIA GeForce FX 5500.

I could go $300 - $600.

Am I thinking reasonably?

Advice would be appreciated,
Stan Hilliard

It would be difficult to find an S754 motherboard now. I don't
see one on Newegg, and they had a couple very cheap motherboards
for a while after shipments of S754 processors ended.

You could get

1) New AMD processor $99, socket type AM2/AM2+/AM3
2) New motherboard <$100
If it has built-in graphics, there is no need to replace
your video card right away.
3) New RAM. The S754 uses DDR, while newer motherboards use
DDR2 or DDR3.
4) You could probably match or exceed the FX5500 level of
performance for <$100.

Modern AMD motherboards don't have AGP slots. They use PCI
Express for adding a video card. Or, if your FX5500 was a PCI
based card, there might still be a PCI slot on the new motherboard.

Transitioning a RAID pair from a ULI Southbridge to something else,
may not work too well. There aren't really any standards for RAID,
and only "accidental interactions", where a company not wishing to
invent its own, uses the services of an existing industry player,
to implement the RAID. At the very least, I'd expect to have to
back up the existing RAID pair, move the disks to the new motherboard,
then restore the data to the pair of disks. Next, a Repair Install
of Windows, pressing F6 early in the process, allows installing a new
driver for the new RAID interface. So the transition can be done,
but it might require a disk you can use for a backup, as part of
the process.

I selected a board here, which supports some version of the
three processor types "AM3/AM2+/AM2" and also mentions DDR2
memory. My objective in using DDR2, is to save a few bucks.

GIGABYTE GA-MA785GM-US2H AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 785G HDMI MicroATX $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128394

Three video connectors. Only one PS/2 connector. Only one PATA connector.
Comes with a floppy connector.

http://images17.newegg.com/is/image/newegg/13-128-394-S02?$S640W$

http://images17.newegg.com/is/image/newegg/13-128-394-S03?$S640W$

Having selected a motherboard with the desired RAM type, next comes
the CPUSupport table. This is how you select a matching processor.

http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support/Motherboard/CPUSupport_Model.aspx?ProductID=3141#anchor_os

I picked a dual core with a large cache. If you want something
that sucks down the power, there are more power hungry processors.
These don't draw 80W all the time - only when they're flat out.

AMD Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition Callisto 3.1GHz 2x512KB L2, 6MB L3, AM3 80W Dual-Core $99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103680

Memory support list. If four sticks are used, max memory speed is limited.
A two stick config might allow a faster choice.

http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/FileList/MemorySupport/mb_memory_ga-ma785gm-us2h.pdf

2 x $27 for these DDR2 modules. 2x1GB, for dual channel mode if you want.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231143

80 + 99 + 54 = $233

If you want a video card, a 9600 GT is available for $80.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150397

Or, you can use the Tomshardware charts, and shop around. There
are video charts and CPU charts.

http://www.tomshardware.com/charts

The FX5500 is compared to the 9600 GT, to give some hardware numbers.
You can compare your older card, to a new one, and figure out how
much money is needed to match specs.

http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=158&card2=557

Once you've settled on some choices, post back your
hardware list, plus what is written on the side of your
PSU, and I can give you a power estimate. Xbitlabs has
some measured values for video cards, and they haven't
measured all the cards. The power number on GPUReview
is more of a manufacturer estimate, which could be on
the high side.

If you have a picture of the label on the supply, that is
faster than writing all the numbers down. Each number on
here has some meaning. If you can find a picture of the
label, that will save some typing.

http://images17.newegg.com/is/image/newegg/17-139-004-S10?$S640W$

So for $313, I could do a new set of hardware. The motherboard
is a microATX, and perhaps you'd prefer a full sized motherboard.
In which case, go through the process again, to pick out a board.

Your current power supply may have a 2x2 power connector. The
motherboard above has a 2x4, and a 2x2 fits in it and will power
the 80W processor just fine. You don't absolutely need a 2x4.
If the video card has a PCI Express auxiliary power connector,
you may need an adapter for that. I don't see a power connector
on that sample 9600GT. There is room for one, but they didn't install it.

A 9600GT draws about 60 watts.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/gainward-bliss9600gt-512gs_7.html#sect0

You can see in the details graphic here, that normally "+12V EX 1"
provides power, which implies a normal 9600 GT card would use a
2x3 PCI Express power connector. If the sample video card I picked
draws the entire 60W through the PCI Express bus connector, that
isn't the best way to do it. But it may make the card design
cheaper to make, which is why they did it that way. I'd prefer
a separate connector myself.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/images/video/gainward-bliss9600gt-512gs/9600gt_power_full.gif

In this slightly more expensive card, a separate connector is used
to supply power. Some power flows through the slot, and the balance
of the power needs come through the 2x3 connector.

http://images17.newegg.com/is/image/newegg/14-125-272-S01?$S640W$

In this image, you can see the card with the 2x3, bundles a
"dual Molex to 2x3" adapter, for use with older power supplies
not having a 2x3 connector.

http://images17.newegg.com/is/image/newegg/14-125-272-S06?$S640W$

Shopping for this stuff is loads of fun, especially if you have
customer reviews with comments on how good the stuff is.

Paul
.

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