Low latency memory performing at high latency

[cugine]

Hi,

I originally had 4 x 512 pc-3200 3-4-4-8 samsung ddr dual channel ram.

I ran some memory benchmark tests with EVEREST and my friends suggested I buy low latency memory
because the results were bad compared to theirs and my games were lagging and taking a long time to load.

I went and purchased 2 x 1 GB PC-3200 2-3-2-5 400mHz Low Latency PATRIOT memory.
Why is there little performance out of the new memory?

old memory results:
Read:
P4 3000 MHz Asus P4C800 Deluxe i875P Dual PC3200 DDR 4012 MB/s

Write:
P4 3000 MHz Asus P4C800 Deluxe i875P Dual PC3200 DDR 1489 MB/s

Latency:
P4 3000 MHz Asus P4C800 Deluxe i875P Dual PC3200 DDR 3-4-4-8 102.6 ns


new memory results:
Read:
P4 3000 MHz Asus P4C800 Deluxe i875P + PAT Dual PC3200 DDR 4444 MB/s

Write:
P4 3000 MHz Asus P4C800 Deluxe i875P + PAT Dual PC3200 DDR 1722 MB/s

Latency:
P4 3000 MHz Asus P4C800 Deluxe i875P + PAT Dual PC3200 DDR 2-3-2-5 92.6 ns

As you can see there is very little difference. What gives?


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ DIMM1: PDP Systems (1 GB PC3200 DDR SDRAM) ]

Memory Module Properties:
Module Name PDP Systems
Serial Number None
Module Size 1024 MB (2 ranks, 4 banks)
Module Type Unbuffered
Memory Type DDR SDRAM
Memory Speed PC3200 (200 MHz)
Module Width 64 bit
Module Voltage SSTL 2.5
Error Detection Method None
Refresh Rate Reduced (7.8 us), Self-Refresh

Memory Timings:
@ 200 MHz 2.0-3-2-5 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)

Memory Module Features:
Early RAS# Precharge Not Supported
Auto-Precharge Not Supported
Precharge All Not Supported
Write1/Read Burst Not Supported
Buffered Address/Control Inputs Not Supported
Registered Address/Control Inputs Not Supported
On-Card PLL (Clock) Not Supported
Buffered DQMB Inputs Not Supported
Registered DQMB Inputs Not Supported
Differential Clock Input Supported
Redundant Row Address Not Supported

[ DIMM3: PDP Systems (1 GB PC3200 DDR SDRAM) ]

Memory Module Properties:
Module Name PDP Systems
Serial Number None
Module Size 1024 MB (2 ranks, 4 banks)
Module Type Unbuffered
Memory Type DDR SDRAM
Memory Speed PC3200 (200 MHz)
Module Width 64 bit
Module Voltage SSTL 2.5
Error Detection Method None
Refresh Rate Reduced (7.8 us), Self-Refresh

Memory Timings:
@ 200 MHz 2.0-3-2-5 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)

Memory Module Features:
Early RAS# Precharge Not Supported
Auto-Precharge Not Supported
Precharge All Not Supported
Write1/Read Burst Not Supported
Buffered Address/Control Inputs Not Supported
Registered Address/Control Inputs Not Supported
On-Card PLL (Clock) Not Supported
Buffered DQMB Inputs Not Supported
Registered DQMB Inputs Not Supported
Differential Clock Input Supported
Redundant Row Address Not Supported

 

[nobly]

Don't expect timings to be the major cause of your issue.
Lower timings only give you up to 10-15% more.
This is reflected in the numbers you posted.

If you're lagging behind in games, your RAM isn't at fault. Well, unless you have too little of it... But post the rest of your specs and what games you play and what game you're lagging on and we'll see what's going on.

 

[cugine]

Thanks for the clarification Nobly. That is good to know.

I am playing Company of Heroes and the load times seem to take a while. It also gets quite cpu laggy during 4v4's. I have noticed load times and processor lag have lessened since I installed the low latency memory. I know this pc is not new but it should be able to run most games on medium settings no? I run the game at 1920x1200 with all settings low/turned of and I get an average of 46 FPS. The weird thing is every minute or so while I have the game loaded and I am alt-tabbed my pc locks up on me for a split second. It is the only game that has done that to me.

I'm going to be building a new pc here shortly because I have had this thing for around 5 years or so and I have ran out of upgrade options. I have an ATI x850XT PE. I'm not sure what my bottleneck is.. Is it my cpu, video card, ram or 7200 rpm hd? Could be a mixture of them all..





SiSoftware Sandra
-----------------------


Processor
Model : Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz
Speed : 3.00GHz
Performance Rating : PR3749 (estimated)
Cores per Processor : 1 Unit(s)
Threads per Core : 2 Unit(s)
Internal Data Cache : 8kB Synchronous, Write-Thru, 4-way set, 64 byte line size, 2 lines per sector
L2 On-board Cache : 512kB ECC Synchronous, ATC, 8-way set, 64 byte line size, 2 lines per sector

Mainboard
Bus(es) : ISA AGP PCI IMB USB FireWire/1394 i2c/SMBus
MP Support : 1 Processor(s)
MP APIC : Yes
System BIOS : American Megatrends Inc. 080009
System : To Be Filled By O.E.M. To Be Filled By O.E.M.
Mainboard : ASUSTeK Computer Inc. P4C800
Total Memory : 2GB DDR-SDRAM

Chipset 1
Model : ASUSTeK Computer Inc 82875P,E7210 Memory Controller Hub
Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 200MHz (800MHz data rate)
Total Memory : 2GB DDR-SDRAM
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 200MHz (400MHz data rate)

Video System
Monitor/Panel : Dell 2405FPW (Digital)
Adapter : RADEON X850 Series
Adapter : RADEON X850 Series
Adapter : RADEON X850 Series - Secondary
Adapter : RADEON X850 Series - Secondary

Physical Storage Devices
Removable Drive : Floppy disk drive
Hard Disk : Maxtor 6 Y080P0 SCSI Disk Device (76GB)
CD-ROM/DVD : LITE-ON DVD SOHD-16P9S (CD 48X Rd) (DVD 6X Rd)
CD-ROM/DVD : PLEXTOR CD-R PX-W1610A (CD 40X Rd, 16X Wr)

Logical Storage Devices
DANNY (C : 76GB (22GB, 28% Free Space) (NTFS)
CD-ROM/DVD (D : N/A
CD-ROM/DVD (E : N/A
3.5" 1.44MB (A : N/A

Peripherals
Serial/Parallel Port(s) : 2 COM / 1 LPT
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) 82801EB USB Universal Host Controller - 24D2
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) 82801EB USB Universal Host Controller - 24D4
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) 82801EB USB Universal Host Controller - 24D7
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) 82801EB USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 24DD
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) 82801EB USB Universal Host Controller - 24DE
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Composite Device
FireWire/1394 Controller/Hub : OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller
Keyboard : Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Keyboard : HID Keyboard Device
Mouse : HID-compliant mouse
Mouse : HID-compliant mouse
Mouse : HID-compliant mouse
Human Interface : HID-compliant game controller
Human Interface : Nostromo n52 HID SpeedPad 2.0
Human Interface : Nostromo n52 HID SpeedPad 2.0 Mouse Wheel
Human Interface : USB Human Interface Device

MultiMedia Device(s)
Device : Creative SB Audigy 2 ZS (WDM)
Device : Creative Game Port

Printers and Faxes
Model : Auto hp officejet 7100 series on OFFICE
Model : Auto HP LaserJet 2100 on OFFICE

Power Management
AC Line Status : On-Line

Operating System(s)
Windows System : Microsoft Windows XP/2002 Professional 5.01.2600 (Service Pack 2)

Network Services
Adapter : 3Com Gigabit LOM (3C940)

Performance Tips
Tip 2546 : Large memory modules should be ECC/Parity.
Notice 5901 : CD 1x= 150kB/s; Exercise caution when comparing measured versus published ratings.
Notice 5902 : DVD 1x= 11.08Mbps Exercise caution when comparing measured versus published ratings.
Tip 2 : Double-click tip or press Enter while a tip is selected for more information about the tip.

 

[Sagekilla]

Well you have a P4 @ 3 GHz and a X850, which is 'alright' (compared to todays stuff, anyway) but should play most stuff (albeit not at high quality/resolutions). Hell, you're running CoH at 1920x1080 at low settings at 46 fps. Minimum gameplay is usually 24 fps, but in some games it can be lower for decent gameplay (I can play oblivion comfortably at 20 fps if it ever dips that low)

Don't believe what your friends say, memory bandwidth and latency has little to no effect in gameplay. Defragmenting your hard drive will have more of an impact then upgrading RAM, especially if your running off a single drive. (I have my games on a seperate drive, so I don't need to worry about this too often)

By the way, you're better off running those 2 x 1 GBs alone if you're not doing that, and get rid of those 512's.

As for the alt tabbing out of the game ocassionally, the best explanation I can give is possible infection from spyware/malware/viruses/worms. You could always try installing Windows Defender or AVG Antivirus if you want to stay safe.

 

[nobly]

You're running 1920x1080...
Try using like 1600x1200 and see if that helps. Sure it won't be as nice, but it'd be a step in the right direction in finding out what the bottleneck is.

I'd guess video card, because I don't really see any other problems, not including any software issues.

Yeah run some antivirus and adaware and see what comes up. Might be hogging some system resources too.

 

[sturm]

to see any beneift you would need to overclock your memory. As said before just going to lower timings wont do much.
As for the lagging, with the game loaded check in the process tab (ctrl-alt-del) and see what all is using memory.
The lag is probably just the computer swapping out of the page file. I wouldnt really worry about.
I would go thru and disable all the services you dont need, remove programs from startup you dont need running all the time, defrag, scan for spyware/virus and then see how things run.