You never stated what the 4GB of memory was for. How can I judge
whether the upgrade makes sense, based on not knowing why you need 4GB ?
Right now, only you have all the info needed to make the decision.
From a technical standpoint, I don't have a problem mixing those
two products. But if you want further derisking, have a look through
the vip.asus.com forums for more experiences. Or have a look through the
RAM guy forums, which are the official Corsair support forums, to see
if they have any mixed brand experiences. If someone had a problem
mixing two different brands of matched sticks, it might show up here.
I would buy the RAM, based on my current knowledge level. If I was
tight for cash (which I am), I'd probably go through all 4000 posts
on the vip.asus.com forum first, just to be sure. But I'd need a reason
to have 4GB of RAM every day, to make it worth while. Something to
justify accepting a potential for a 10% hit in performance. Some
people get quite ****ed when that happens. And since every user
is different, I don't know how to trade the "4GB" versus the
"10% slower" for you.
M.J.S. wrote:
> "Paul" <nospam@needed.com> wrote in message news:ffo64e$204$1@aioe.org...
>> M.J.S. wrote:
>>> Okay, you are WAY out of my field of knowledge here.
>>>
>>> Let's bring things down to basics. How safe is it to add two stick of...
>>>
>>> OCZ EL Platinum PC3200
>>> http://www.ncix.com/products/index.p...4&promoid=1025
>>>
>>> ...to two existing sticks of...
>>>
>>> Corsair CMX1024-3200C2
>>> http://www.corsair.com/_datasheets/CMX1024-3200C2.pdf
>>>
>>> ...on an Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe
>>> http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1...75&modelmenu=1
>>>
>>> ..?
>> You never stated what the 4GB of memory was for. How can I judge
>> whether the upgrade makes sense, based on not knowing why you need 4GB ?
>> Right now, only you have all the info needed to make the decision.
>
> A Sonar 7-based digital audio workstation (DAW) and very high-resolution
> Photoshop work.
>
> If the Corsair is just $8 more, why not go with that? What does the OCZ
> offer as an advantage?
>
This VS1GB400C3 product is CAS3. The OCZ is CAS2, like your current RAM is CAS2.
CAS2 is tighter timing than CAS3.
If you use two sticks of VS1GB400C3 with your current RAM, all the RAM
will run at CAS3.
Try a search on "photoshop 4gb ram", to get some comments on the limits.
Depending on Photoshop version, some use up to 2GB, later versions up to 3GB,
and in the case of the Mac at least, quantities of RAM above that are used
for buffering the scratch disk. So when you install the 4GB, it would
be reasonable to expect to use 3GB in Photoshop. That will probably give
you double the free RAM you have now.
CBFalconer wrote:
> "M.J.S." wrote:
>>
>> I am buying a new system soon, but as for my old/current system...
>> which I will keep as a 2nd computer on the network (it's a Dual
>> Core Opteron 180 running on an Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe withWinXP x64)
>> I'd like to upgrade the RAM, but that's a really complicated area
>> for me as I've tried it before on another system and ended up
>> buying the wrong sticks.
>
> Nothing says whether the mother board is capable of accepting and
> using ECC memory. If so, I suggest you restrict your search to ECC
> memory, since the end result is much more reliable. Most people do
> not realize that absolutely nothing else dynamically checks the
> correctness of memory operation, and that memory errors can be due
> to unpredictable things such as cosmic rays.
>
> So your first job should be to find out whether the MB takes ECC
> memory. If so, the additional cost for reliability will be only a
> few dollars.
Where did you come up with ECC? First, it's not been mentioned, second,
it's not been mentioned because very few, if any, motherboards used for
home computers support ECC memory. It's also much more expensive than
standard, non-ECC memory and finally, it's not necessary.
I don't think cosmic rays are much of a problem, unless the computer is
being built for the ISS.
Paul wrote:
>
.... snip ...
>
> Now, in your particular situation, it is a bit much to ask you to
> remove the two, non-ecc RAM you currently own, and buy four sticks
> each equipped with ECC and install them. All RAM has to have ECC,
> for you to be able to enable it in the BIOS. If you were buying
> RAM from scratch, then suggesting ECC for that much RAM would make
> sense. Again, it is a call on your part, as to whether you feel
> the extra reliability of ECC protection, is worth the extra hassle
> or not. I cannot make that call for you. If you are a banker doing
> accounts, then you'd add it :-) If a gamer, then the occasional
> reboot, or crash out to desktop, is not the end of the world. Some
> users just are not that demanding of enhanced reliability, to go
> the extra mile. The machine I'm currently working on, is ECC
> capable, but doesn't have ECC RAM. If it falls over once every
> couple months, I really don't care :-)
Except that the rare memory error can be extremely deadly. For
example, a cosmic ray causes a single dropped bit in a memory
buffer during a file move or defragmenting. That file isn't used
for the next 6 months, and is then exercized. The result destroys
all sorts of critical data that you don't see for another 24
hours. Now you curse 28 different software vendors, none of whom
are at fault, and spend several weeks discovering the problems and
reloading everything from cds (the backups are all fouled, due to
the time since the original problem). You don't blame the memory
because all memory tests show it to be faultless.
Wouldn't the few extra dollars to buy and install ECC memory have
been worthwhile?
--
Chuck F (cbfalconer at maineline dot net)
Available for consulting/temporary embedded and systems.
<http://cbfalconer.home.att.net>
"M.J.S." wrote:
> "CBFalconer" <cbfalconer@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>
>> So your first job should be to find out whether the MB takes ECC
>> memory. If so, the additional cost for reliability will be only
>> a few dollars.
>
> I've no idea what ECC is. The MB is an Asus A8n-SLI Deluxe. You
> tell ME if it's ECC-compliant. ;-)
How should I know? I don't have such a MB. Read your
documentation and/or call Asus and ask questions.
ECC detects and corrects all single bit memory errors, detects (and
halts on) all two bit errors, and often detects even more serious
(and unlikely) errors. A few minutes ago I wrote a message to Paul
describing the sort of things a memory error can do. Ignoring the
possibility is being foolish. Even Windows can be fairly reliable
with good hardware.
--
Chuck F (cbfalconer at maineline dot net)
Available for consulting/temporary embedded and systems.
<http://cbfalconer.home.att.net>
On Wed, 24 Oct 2007 23:41:54 -0400, CBFalconer <cbfalconer@yahoo.com>
wrote:
>Paul wrote:
>>
>... snip ...
>>
>> Now, in your particular situation, it is a bit much to ask you to
>> remove the two, non-ecc RAM you currently own, and buy four sticks
>> each equipped with ECC and install them. All RAM has to have ECC,
>> for you to be able to enable it in the BIOS. If you were buying
>> RAM from scratch, then suggesting ECC for that much RAM would make
>> sense. Again, it is a call on your part, as to whether you feel
>> the extra reliability of ECC protection, is worth the extra hassle
>> or not. I cannot make that call for you. If you are a banker doing
>> accounts, then you'd add it :-) If a gamer, then the occasional
>> reboot, or crash out to desktop, is not the end of the world. Some
>> users just are not that demanding of enhanced reliability, to go
>> the extra mile. The machine I'm currently working on, is ECC
>> capable, but doesn't have ECC RAM. If it falls over once every
>> couple months, I really don't care :-)
>
>Except that the rare memory error can be extremely deadly. For
>example, a cosmic ray causes a single dropped bit in a memory
>buffer during a file move or defragmenting. That file isn't used
>for the next 6 months, and is then exercized. The result destroys
>all sorts of critical data that you don't see for another 24
>hours. Now you curse 28 different software vendors, none of whom
>are at fault, and spend several weeks discovering the problems and
>reloading everything from cds (the backups are all fouled, due to
>the time since the original problem). You don't blame the memory
>because all memory tests show it to be faultless.
>
>Wouldn't the few extra dollars to buy and install ECC memory have
>been worthwhile?
>
Well stated good sir - probably the best terse ECC justification I've
yet read. Data integrity is the sine qua non of computer design/build
- it should trump all other design considerations. ECC is a
no-brainer with the possible exception of a pure gaming system - but
in that case aren't we describing a very expensive Game Boy rather
than a computer :-)
Note to Paul: No criticism intended by this post - I was onboard with
your description of ECC until the last line. Also, since I don't post
often, I should take the opportunity to compliment you for your
posting pattern. I've taken to reading your posts due to the insights
and generally good info you possess on a wide range of topics. Most
impressive is the patience you take with an OP to bring them to
enlightenment. All in all it's the epitome of the best Usenet has to
offer. Many thanks.
>--
> Chuck F (cbfalconer at maineline dot net)
> Available for consulting/temporary embedded and systems.
> <http://cbfalconer.home.att.net>
----
Pete Gebel pfgebel(deletethis)@crisperiodcom
Have the best day possible - all things considered
Your statements re ECC memory remind me of car safety systems.
Most of the time "you don't NEED it", but they sure help when you do.
"Barry Watzman" <WatzmanNOSPAM@neo.rr.com> wrote in message
news:471f96b1$0$9579$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> ECC is error correcting memory; by storing extra bits (more than 8 bits
> per byte), the memory can correct single bit errors and detect multi-bit
> errors. Even if you motherboard supports it, you don't NEED it, and very
> few PC users buy ECC memory. It's an option, in any case, that you don't
> have to buy (and it will cost significantly more than non-ECC (which I
> would call "standard") memory.
>
>
> M.J.S. wrote:
>> "CBFalconer" <cbfalconer@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:471ECB12.B550D613@yahoo.com...
>>> So your first job should be to find out whether the MB takes ECC
>>> memory. If so, the additional cost for reliability will be only a
>>> few dollars.
>>
>> I've no idea what ECC is. The MB is an Asus A8n-SLI Deluxe. You tell ME
>> if it's ECC-compliant. ;-)
"> Well stated good sir - probably the best terse ECC justification I've
> yet read. Data integrity is the sine qua non of computer design/build
> - it should trump all other design considerations. ECC is a
> no-brainer with the possible exception of a pure gaming system - but
> in that case aren't we describing a very expensive Game Boy rather
> than a computer :-)"
Core2Duo wrote: *** and top-posted, corrected ***
> "Barry Watzman" <WatzmanNOSPAM@neo.rr.com> ** top-posted, fixed **
>> M.J.S. wrote:
>>> "CBFalconer" <cbfalconer@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> So your first job should be to find out whether the MB takes
>>>> ECC memory. If so, the additional cost for reliability will
>>>> be only a few dollars.
>>>
>>> I've no idea what ECC is. The MB is an Asus A8n-SLI Deluxe. You
>>> tell ME if it's ECC-compliant. ;-)
>>
>> ECC is error correcting memory; by storing extra bits (more than
>> 8 bits per byte), the memory can correct single bit errors and
>> detect multi-bit errors. Even if you motherboard supports it,
>> you don't NEED it, and very few PC users buy ECC memory. It's
>> an option, in any case, that you don't have to buy (and it will
>> cost significantly more than non-ECC (which I would call
>> "standard") memory.
>
> Your statements re ECC memory remind me of car safety systems.
> Most of the time "you don't NEED it", but they sure help when
> you do.
Bear in mind that the memory system is normally the ONLY portion of
your system that has no self-correction mechanism. It doesn't cost
significantly more, it costs about 1 part in 8 more for the added
memory bits, but is highly competition sensitive. The errors that
can occur may not show up for months or years, when all backups
have bcome worthless. Those errors will not be protected by
memtest86 checks, etc., since they are caused by random events,
such as cosmic rays.
Please do not top-post. Your answer belongs after (or intermixed
with) the quoted material to which you reply, after snipping all
irrelevant material. I fixed this one. See the following links:
Re: Which exact model of RAM do I need? :-S 
Linear Mode
