Added memory, now 3DMark score is lower !!

[Coopster]

Hi all,

I bought a bundle about a month ago from Nova and all was well with a 3dMark 06 score over 7700.

The bundle is: Manufacturer Code: MBB-2602 (Asus)

Processor AMD Athlon X2 Dual Core AM2 6000 3.0 GHz
Memory 2048Mb 667Mhz PC5400 240pin DDR2
Form Factor MATX
Chipset nVidia 590 Sli Chipset

Yesterday I collected another 2 x 1 gig compatible 667Mhz PC5400 240pin DDR2 memory from Nova in Bristol (thanks by the way for swift service).

Installed it last night and the pc now registers 3.26 gigs and the 3dmark score is around 4400.

Running Vista home premium....

Any thoughts?

Cheers
Coopster

[Coopster]

Answered by Novatech Tech...

32 bit OS Vista wont recognise 4 gig memory.

For sale, 1 memory stick.......

:oops:

[Jonny2Bad]

Is it exactly the same type and make of ram? Even if 32bit oc dont see the last gig it still will the 3gig so why have you lost nearly 3000 points.

[Coopster]

Is it exactly the same type and make of ram? Even if 32bit oc dont see the last gig it still will the 3gig so why have you lost nearly 3000 points.

Not sure, I will be trying different configurations later and see what happens.

[system7]

What's the graphics card?

That drop in 3DMark score is about what you'd get going from 3DMark05 to 3DMark06... :?

[Coopster]

Hi, the graphics cards are 8600 GT's running in SLi, I've now got a problem with the cpu temp shutting down the machine at over 105 degrees !!

Its been high since I put the bundle together but all 6 fans plus the cpu fan and secondary heatsink fan are all running.

Generally sits around 75 until I run an application..

Cheers

[system7]

Let's clear up the memory issue. 3.26 GB being recognised is about right for a 32 bit operating system.

CPU-Z is the tool of choice to see what's going on:
http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

PC Wizard from the same site is good for monitoring temperatures, especially running minimised, when temps appear in the top right hand corner.

My own cooling experience is that a good 120mm intake fan at the front and a good exhaust fan at the back work better than anything else for case cooling. Avoids creating a huge vacuum in the case which might interfere with other exhaust fans. Sounds like you want a better CPU cooler too.

[Jonny2Bad]

Sounds like your hsf isnt fitted properly!!

[EnGBudd]

I heard that Xp, vista only recognises 2.75 GB. where as x64 recognises 16gb. tbh i would just stick with 2gb. You may have bought more memory but it may have been a different speed than your old stuff. for e.g 6400 compared to 4200 or so on.

[djgandy]

XP recognises 4GB.
By default it allows a single process to have 2GB and the kernel to have 2GB. That means a single process can only access 2GB of memory. There is a 3GB switch for boot up which limits kernel (reserved devices) memory to 1GB. With large address aware programs (which they likely are if they need more than 2GB) they can access up to 3GB. The O/S plus devices still have 1GB to use and that's nicely set aside for them.