Dell Dimension 8200 Memory Problem

[Here To Help]

Dell Dimension 8200 Memory Problem
Today I just received my new processor for my Dell Dimension 8200. I upgraded from a 2.0 GHz, 400 bus, 256 L2 processor to a 3.06 GHz, 533 bus, 512 L2 with Hyper-Threading. The new processor runs at 2.3 GHz since I do not have the Dell Dimension 8200 with the 533 bus. I knew this before updating the computer. However after running the Windows Experience Scoring I went from a 4.2 score in memory to a 3.3 score. The processor went from a 2.6 score. The following is the build on this computer. 1024MB (4x256 ) Samsung PC400 45NS RDRAM running as duel channel. Any Ideas?

On PCI Raid CardOn PCI Raid CardOn PCI Raid Card3.2​

Determined by lowest subscore
Memory (RAM)
1.00 GB
3.3
Graphics
ATI Radeon 9550 / X1050 Series
4.2
Gaming graphics
287 MB Total available graphics memory
3.8
Primary hard disk
100GB Free (120GB Total)
5.4
Windows 7 Professional


Manufacturer
Dell Computer Corporation

Model
Dimension 8200

Total amount of system memory
1.00 GB RAM

System type
32-bit operating system

Number of processor cores
1

64-bit capable
No


Storage


Total size of hard disk(s)
382 GB

Disk partition (C
101 GB Free (120 GB Total) On PCI Raid Card

Disk partition (D
110 GB Free (149 GB Total) On PCI Raid Card (Raid 0)

Disk partition (E
53 GB Free (112 GB Total) On PCI Raid Card

Media drive (F
CD/DVD On PCI Raid Card

Media drive (G
CD/DVD


Graphics


Display adapter type
ATI Radeon 9550 / X1050 Series

Total available graphics memory
287 MB

Dedicated graphics memory
256 MB

Dedicated system memory
0 MB

Shared system memory
31 MB

Display adapter driver version
8.593.100.0

Primary monitor resolution
1280x720

DirectX version
DirectX 9.0 or better


Network


Network Adapter
Bluetooth Device (Personal Area Network)

Network Adapter
Linksys WUSB600N Wireless-N USB Network Adapter with Dual-Band ver. 2

 

[thefabe]

Welcome to Seven Forums
First off could I get you to enter your system information here

So all members have to do is clcik on My system specs in the lower left hand corner of any of your posts insted of having to go to this post.

Next coudl you download cpu-z and post a snip of what speed your memory is running at?
cpu-z CPUID - System & hardware benchmark, monitoring, reporting
Thanks. Fabe

 

[ionbasa]

Also the easiest thing to do is to reseat the Memory DIMMS and then run Memtest86+ for at least 8 passes.
Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool

 

[Here To Help]

Info on system

Passes memtest after running 5 hours.

I have included the requested screen shots as attachments. Also the full report from cpu-z.

 

[bobkn]

I don't know what to expect when combining a 533 MHz CPU with an Intel 850 (not 850E) chipset. That must be an unsupported processor.

You might have done better with one of the faster 400 MHz CPUs. Dell lists a 2.4GHz chip. There may be faster ones (2.6 GHz).

I hope that you're not sinking much cash into this system. A quick check on eBay suggests that the more desirable 850E version may be good for less than $100US.

 

[Here To Help]

I take computer that do not wok or people do not want take 4-5 of them put them into one computer and then I have a fast computer. The cpu was the ony thing I paid for which was $22.50 with shiping. I wanted hyyper-treading which does work on this computer. Also this cpu is supported for this computer (This is the newest one that will work).

 

[DocBrown]

You might want to see how much maximum ram memory you can install in this MB ?



rb:


:ar: SIW | System Information for Windows by Gabriel Topala

 

[Here To Help]

2 gigs is the max. I only have 1 gig (4x256). Thats not the proble, the problem is after I installed the new cpu my memory score droped from 4.2 to 3.3 and I don't know why.

 

[bobkn]

I take computer that do not wok or people do not want take 4-5 of them put them into one computer and then I have a fast computer. The cpu was the ony thing I paid for which was $22.50 with shiping. I wanted hyyper-treading which does work on this computer. Also this cpu is supported for this computer (This is the newest one that will work).

By "supported", I mean one that Dell (or even Intel) officially supports for the 850 (not 850E) chipset. Does that apply to the 3.06GHz chip? Does the 850 also support hyperthreading? (Do you see two logical processors in Windows?)

This is only a guess: perhaps you're having a problem with the memory multiplier. The ratio of the RAM performance is roughly the same as the ratio of the FSBs.

A quick look at the manual for the 8200 doesn't show any ability to adjust the FSB or memory multiplier. What you see may be as good as it gets.

 

[ionbasa]

I take computer that do not wok or people do not want take 4-5 of them put them into one computer and then I have a fast computer. The cpu was the ony thing I paid for which was $22.50 with shiping. I wanted hyyper-treading which does work on this computer. Also this cpu is supported for this computer (This is the newest one that will work).

By "supported", I mean one that Dell (or even Intel) officially supports for the 850 (not 850E) chipset. Does that apply to the 3.06GHz chip? Does the 850 also support hyperthreading? (Do you see two logical processors in Windows?)

This is only a guess: perhaps you're having a problem with the memory multiplier. The ratio of the RAM performance is roughly the same as the ratio of the FSBs.

A quick look at the manual for the 8200 doesn't show any ability to adjust the FSB or memory multiplier. What you see may be as good as it gets.

That is not entierly true! The OP can use Memset:
Tweakers.fr
this would alowhim to set timimgs in windows 7 through software suport.

Also could you post snipets of the SPD tabin CPUID. that would be a total of 4 snipets for each DIMM(RAM module) I have the feeling that your RAM timimg are mismatched.

 

[stormy13]

ionbasa is different latencies across the sticks even possible with RD-RAM (we all know how RAMBUS is with there patents)? And from looking here,

New Memory Tweaker for Intel Chipsets - XtremeSystems Forums

that program you linked to doesn't aooear to work with the 850 chipsets (it does work with the 845 and 855 DDR chipsets), probably again due to it using RD-RAM.

Think you will find that bobkn hit it with what he said.

 

[ionbasa]

ionbasa is different latencies across the sticks even possible with RD-RAM (we all know how RAMBUS is with there patents)? And from looking here,

New Memory Tweaker for Intel Chipsets - XtremeSystems Forums

that program you linked to doesn't aooear to work with the 850 chipsets (it does work with the 845 and 855 DDR chipsets), probably again due to it using RD-RAM.

Think you will find that bobkn hit it with what he said.

I think im missing something because nowhere doesthe OP claim to have that chipset, the only time it is brought up is when bokn claims some incompatability:huh:.

EDIT: nenermid I just looked over the CPUZ snippet again. please disregard my coment.

 

[bobkn]

Wait a minute.

I hadn't bothered looking at the CPU-Z listing. From what "Here to help" wrote, I assumed that this was one of the older 850 (not 850E) versions of the Dimension 8200.

If it's really the 850E as CPU-Z states, it ought to give the 533 MHz FSB, and run the new CPU run at its rated 3.06 GHz. I suppose that the CPU-Z listing is incorrect.

 

[Here To Help]

The following is what information is what I know.

I put the new cpu into my Dell 8200 then started my computer. Windows installed the drivers for the new cpu the I need to restart. After I restarted my computer I deleted the old Windows Experience scor from
C:\Windows\Performance\WinSAT\DataStore, then lowered my screen resolution to recive a high score on my grafic card and I ran the test. When the test was done the scores were the same except for the CPU which I expected (Went from a 2.6 to a 3.2) but the memory went from a 4.2 to a 3.3.

Yes, hyper treading is supported on the 850 chipset and the 850E chipset.

No, I did not change the ram only the cpu from a 2.0 GHz, 400 bus, 256 L2 to a 3.06 GHz (Running at 2.3 because I only have the 850 chipset 100GHz*23=2.3), 533 bus, and 512 L2.

Yes, the ram passes mem test (ran for 10.5 hours no errors).

Yes, the ram seated properly and ram matches. (4*256=1GB of RD-Ram 400 ECC)

No, I do not have the 850E only the 850 chip set so that is why the cpu is running at 2.3 GHZ.

Yes, in windows task manager I see to cores.

 

[Here To Help]

Any ideas anyone?

 

[fireberd]

I do a lot of support on the Dell users forum. As Dell only supports XP with this model, NOT Vista or Win 7 for device drivers you are basically in "uncharted territory" to start with.

Second, Dell does not use stock motherboards or chipsets - they use a lot of custom implementations of the chipsets, thus the Intel specs will not always hold true for a Dell and especially the older ones (this model is at least 10 years old). For example, I have a Dimension E510 (identical to a Dimension 5150) and the motherboard is a Dell custom OEM board (made by Foxconn for Dell) and with the chipset in the E510 Intel lists it can use up to a D960 (dual processor) however with the Dell custom implementation a D945 is the highest that can be installed in this model. There are documented cases of users, on the Dell forum, that have tried the D960 and it would not work.

 

[James Colbert]

Any ideas anyone?

I haven't bothered to search for bios settings for your mainboard, but I would check for any 'CPU EIST' function or similar settings in the bios that throttle down the CPU speed for thermal or power usage considerations.

Edit: Whoops...didn't read as carefully as I should have. Incidental to your problem, apparently, but might help someone, so I'll leave the original text intact.

James

 

[bobkn]

Two cores, good.

I see that the 8200 is spec'd for PC800 RDRAM. I think that implies a 1:1 memory clock (on a 400 MHz FSB system), so that shouldn't have changed when you changed the CPU.

Perhaps you really aren't losing any performance. I've seen some flaky stuff with WEI in the past with graphics cards. I'd suggest using a better memory benchmarking utility. I've used SiSoft SANDRA. (There's a "lite", freeware version, available.) You won't have any baseline on your own system to compare it to. SiSoft has a database of systems, but in recent versions, it's served up online. Whether it still includes data on Rambus system, I have no idea.

 

[Here To Help]

Bobkn thank you. You no how to read what I have posted. There is no problem with the CPU as some people think there is. So there is no bios setting to change.

Bobkn do you know what WEI does to test the ram? I know it plays video clips to test most of the computer but what doesido with the ram?