Can anyone tell me why I get a Vista Performance Score of of only 4.7?
My lowest performer is the memory. I have 4gb (4 x 1gb) Corsair XMS 800mhz RAM. Even if I take out 2gb, I get the same score.
I run 32bit Vista Home Premium & 64bit Vista Ultimate and get the same result.





Is there some way of sorting this problem out? I thought I should be getting a 5.9 score on memory!

Thanks for any replies.

Now just so I don't seem like too much of a smart arse, 5 told me that 32bit can only have 3gb (I think) of memory max, if you want more then you have to run 64bit.

I also have vista and 4gb, used to have 2 but had to upgrade because vista really needs a lot of RAM.

Thanks Magik but its the same thing on my 64 bit O/S.

My initial thoughts were that the memory is running in single channel mode. This kind of 800mhz memory should really get you a 5.7-5.9 type score

Are all the memory sticks running at the same speed and latency???? and are all the sticks the same config??? (see below)

What are the memory timings for the ram? If I remember my corsair sticks, it usually says on the label e.g.:

5-5-5-15, memory speed is at 667, 800 mhz etc.,

Have a look what settings you bios has regarding memory - funny settings (or settings from previous memory may be slowing things down).

I still can't get the running in single channel mode out of my head. Running 2 sticks of DDR2 memory should settle this - I know you mention you run the computer with only 2 sticks in and got the same score, but which coloured slots was the memory running in?
I ask this as for dual channel running (if I remember correctly: although look this up!!!) ASUS require you to put the memory into the same coloured slots e.g. Blue + Blue and Foxconn (and some others) require it in different slots (Blue + Black) which is a little confusing.

i feel nerdy! for once i actuli undestood what was said by monkey! WOOP although he prob knows alot more and is keeping it to hisself and his evil corporation called skynut! damn him!

its ur timings mate, i had the same issue

ive seen some bios where u can choose to run in dual or single channel as well regardless of what slots your ram is in

This is what my mate has just told me...

"My CPU is running at 2.66ghz on a 10x multiplier so my actual bus speed is 266mhz.
RAM speed is determined by 266 x 10 divided by 4 = 665mhz RAM speed.
So I change the FSB to 333mhz, drop the multiplier to 9x and get 333x9 divided by 4 = 749mhz RAM speed.
CPU speed of 2.997ghz."


See, easy innit?.........

running a cpu like that you will require a modern mobo

taking the fact you have a modern mobo, you can choose what ratio you what your ram to run at

see this image:



so it doesnt really matter what ratio/fsb your ram is running at - my pc6400 ram scores the same in vista at 533mhz and 800mhz

look at your timings dude

dammit I still can't shake the feeling of single channel mode.

1. what is the setting that are on the ram itself (not in the bios)
2. When you run 2 sticks - where did you have the sticks - which coloured slots?
3. Is all the ram of the same type (same 5-5-5-15, 800mhz etc.,) type sticker??

All the RAM is the same, all 4 x 1gb sticks used in all four slots.
This is a program called CPU-Z that I downloaded, I don't really understand it but others might....

set your ram to 5-5-5-15 in your bios - but only if you feel confident other wise dont bother - vista score means nothing anyway ;p

as I said earlier .. single channel mode (the memory is running at half bandwidth)
If you have DDR2 then you should be running in dual channel mode (not single)

Previous screenshot with added woo


I'll reply properly tomorrow when I get a chance

i think thats what you call monkey spanked! OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

ok, I'll go through a few things...

Firstly making sure that your Motherboard and memory support Dual Channel - the mobo is a nForce 680i SLI 775 AR - so that definitely supports DDR2 memory. The memory that you have is definitely dual channel.

The Mobo manual is here: http://www.evga.com/support/manuals/122-CK-NF68.pdf

In the memory section it gives you details about the memory slots - 2 blue and 2 black

The matched slots are colours e.g. blue + blue, black + black.

I personally would take out all 4 1gb sticks and lay them out in front of you.

I'm going to make an assumption - that you had 2x1gb ram and have at some later point bought another 2x1gb ram? The two pairs of ram are probably slightly different in timings, speed etc.,

Basically you need to pair up the ram - it might be worth physically looking at them to see if you can work out the two pairs (by info on the sticker etc.,)

Don't trust any info from the BIOS! (as it can be changed)

With 2 ram sticks installed (remember either blue + blue slots or black + black slots, NOT blue + Black!) in the blue slots for example, run the vista or cpu-z test again and see if its slow (or single channel) - if so swap one of the sticks and repeat until its running better (or cpu-z says dual channel)

Once you have a pair running in dual-channel, you should be able to put the other pair in the other slots and still run in dual channel

Hope this makes sense!

Thanks Monkey,

I believe my mate tried this even using just two sticks. The memory is all the same and was used before on his PC where he acheived the 'proper' score.

I like the WOO bit, especially in the 'usual' big thick red crayon....
This is something that needs to be addressed but my mate lives 25 miles away from me and I can't keep taking the PC to work for him to have a look at.
I will have to drag round here again.

Thanks for your help.

I'd still have a go at rejigging the memory - I seen sticks that look identical, have same stickers, timings, speeds etc., - but for some reason have not been exactly the same* and the computer has kicked them back to single channel mode (so they can run independently of each other).

Literally it doesn't take much time to figure out - put one stick in a blue slot 1 then another stick in blue slot 2 and see if its still single channel in cpu-z, if it is take the stick out of slot 2 and put in one of the remaining sticks into blue slot 2 and repeat until it evetually does get dual channel

*hence why manufacturers often sell DDR2 memory in 'matched pairs'

thanks Monkey but we already tried that. I've now given up hope.