[WTD] DDR3 memory for old gaming rig

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sudo

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Master Geek
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# 251144 10-Jun-2019 17:39

My son got given an old gaming PC (EVGA X58 Mobo) that has 3x 2GB HyperX DDR3 1600Mhz RAM sticks installed and he want's more memory.

What would be his best option, apart from waiting for another 2GB HyperX DDR3 1600Mhz stick to bring him up to 8GB.

(Hoping someone has got an unused stick handy :-)

I don't know how Windows works, but it's says 6GB installed and 3.99GB usable (it's 64bit and the "maximum memory" box in sysconfig is unchecked) ... is there some other setting to make it all usable?

toejam316

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# 2255464 10-Jun-2019 17:46

If you have it in hand, run Speccy on it (https://www.ccleaner.com/speccy), and post the results back here so we've got a fair idea of what sort of system it is, then we can give you some half-baked advice.

1024kb

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# 2255510 10-Jun-2019 18:25

I've been there before, mysterious missing RAM - particularly on systems built before the Windows that it's running. I can't tell you why this worked for me, just that it has, several times over.

Remove the CPU, clean, re-paste & reinstall. You're probably good to go now but give the RAM sticks a shuffle anyway - put them in different slots - & you might just find Windows now registers all your RAM.

Back on subject, I'm pretty sure there's some DDR3 hiding in an office drawer. I'll confirm that when I'm home in an hour or so & DM you.

Megabyte - so geek it megahertz

xpd

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# 2255512 10-Jun-2019 18:26

Usually you'll see that RAM limit on 32bit Windows. Only other thing to check is in the BIOS, make sure the on-board video options are set to minimal RAM IF you have a dedicated GPU.

If dont have dedicated GPU, then would assume the BIOS is giving the onboard video, 2GB.

XPD / Gavin / DemiseNZ

Server : i5-3470s @ 3.50GHz 16GB RAM Win 10 Pro Workstation : i5-3570K @ 3.40GHz 16GB RAM RX580 4GB Win 10 Pro Console : Xbox One

https://www.xpd.co.nz - Games, emulation, geekery, and my attempts at photography. Now on BigPipe 100/100 and 2Talk

Emulation - The art of getting your $4000 PC to run an 80's system - and still fails.

tyronne

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Geek
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# 2255516 10-Jun-2019 18:34

I've got this lying around if you would like: https://www.corsair.com/uk/en/Categories/Products/Memory/High-Performance-Memory/Vengeance%C2%AE-%E2%80%94-8GB-DDR3-Memory-Kit/p/CMZ8GX3M1A1600C10

Give me a PM if you want to arrange pickup - Auckland

MadEngineer

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# 2255741 11-Jun-2019 09:27

What version & edition of Windows is it, and how much memory has been assigned to any onboard video?

Tzoi

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Ultimate Geek
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# 2255874 11-Jun-2019 11:05

Having 3 sticks of memory can cause problems with motherboards not reading the third stick - generally people get 1,2 or 4 sticks. Could also be the memory slots that the sticks are in, the motherboard might require them to be in certain slots of there are 3 sticks

SpartanVXL

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Ultimate Geek
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# 2255879 11-Jun-2019 11:25

2 people support this post

X58? Yo thats nehalem era with tri-channel memory. Ideally you want to keep three or six sticks in to enable tri channel but given how old this platform is I dont know if adding more is a good idea. Best thing is to get 3x 4GB sticks for cheap to have 12GB total.

As for Windows, if it is 64bit then try find a bios setting that might be allocating memory to the integrated gpu and lower/disable it if you’re not using it.

If its a gaming setup its highly likely you have a i7 920. Even though its circa 2008-2010 its performance is still fairly strong if you get it to clock around 3.8-4GHz. Again though, given how old it is now I don’t know how stable you can get it versus its lifespan.

sudo

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Master Geek
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# 2255953 11-Jun-2019 12:21

It's running Windows 10 home 64bit (he upgraded from 8.1 in case that fixed the memory issue)

I looked in BIOS and there does not seem to be an option to allocate memory to the GPU.

We put in a SSD and a modern video card to allow him to get it responsive and good frame rates. It originally had a pair of very bulky display cards, in SLI configuration, that doubled up as his bedroom heater.

He is already scheming to upgrade it, but needs to save the money because he wants a decent configuration.

I'm waiting for him to give me the screenshot from Speccy, to show the existing setup.

xpd

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# 2255954 11-Jun-2019 12:28

Check for BIOS update - its surprising how many "old" boards are still getting recent BIOS updates coming through.

XPD / Gavin / DemiseNZ

Server : i5-3470s @ 3.50GHz 16GB RAM Win 10 Pro Workstation : i5-3570K @ 3.40GHz 16GB RAM RX580 4GB Win 10 Pro Console : Xbox One

https://www.xpd.co.nz - Games, emulation, geekery, and my attempts at photography. Now on BigPipe 100/100 and 2Talk

Emulation - The art of getting your $4000 PC to run an 80's system - and still fails.

PANiCnz

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# 2255960 11-Jun-2019 12:34

X58 was effectively a server chipset, would need to do your research but you can likely pick up second hand server components off eBay for a cheap upgrade. i.e. something like the X5670 with six cores is probably compatible with that motherboard and can be acquired online for ~$30 NZD.

Likewise the motherboard probably supports registered ECC RAM which once again is cheap on eBay. As already mentioned LGA1366 was tri-channel memory so what ever you do buy the memory in 3's. e.g. 3 or 6 DIMMS.

4gb DIMMS are ~$8 on eBay, so you could get 24gb for ~$50 NZD.

SpartanVXL

438 posts

Ultimate Geek
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# 2256113 11-Jun-2019 15:00

So likely the cpu doesnt have a igpu so something wrong with the ram being detected. Pull them out, clean the contacts, maybe swap them around. Do check to see if they are in the right slots for tri-channel and that its enabled.

If the system is not overclocked and given how old it is it might be better off saving for a more modern platform, just if you’re considering swapping for a Xeon and extra memory.

Ruphus

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Master Geek
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# 2256119 11-Jun-2019 15:13

the Intel X58 chipset was notorious for not reporting the correct amount of installed RAM. You'll need to check the CPU heatsink and ensure it's applying even pressure onto the CPU. Remove the heatsink, clean off the old thermal paste, reapply paste and then re-seat the heatsink.

I've got an old X58 (Asus P6X58D Premium mobo, i7-920 CPU) pc kicking around at home which had the same problem.

Here's one thread: https://hardforum.com/threads/ram-issues-on-x58-boards.1546247/

GoranZ

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Master Geek
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# 2256542 12-Jun-2019 10:38

I have had three x58 based systems and they are awesome.

Get an X5650 from Aliexpress - about USD$11 .. then overclock it to at least 4.0Ghz .. all of mine did 4.2Ghz on basic air coolers and 4.4Ghz on Water

I would recommenrd 3x4GB for 12GB on the RAM front

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NItI0J5ZR68

This would give you similar performance to any of the 2nd or 3rd Gen I7 platforms.

lNomNoml

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# 2259874 18-Jun-2019 00:06

I have 3x4GB DDR3 you can have for cheap, let me know if interested.