Memory replacement question

[SaraiE]

Hello,

I am planning to replace my desktop ram memory modules. I have zero knowledge on what is difference between 10666 and 10600. I went to crucial.com and did a scan, it tells me that my current four 2G ram modules are DDR3 8500. The recommended replacements are 8500, and 10600. Now, my question is can i replace them with other speed or whatever you call the 8500/10600 suffixes with higher number, say like 10666 or higher. I do not know what my motherboard manufacturer is or its capability, but I can stick up to six modules on it. the cpu is i7 920 2.6 something megahertz.

Hopefully, the replacement will get rid of my error 132 errors, i keep getting crashes when I switch toons/windows from master to slaves 1-4. Annoying as heck!

Thanks!

SaraiE

[SaraiE]

maximum memory on the mb is 24G ram

[Catamer]

you can't or at least shouldn't mix and match. the memory should be the same speed and preferable the same manufacturer and/or model.

the 10600 are faster but it may not be night & day faster, so if it doesn't cost too much go with the faster.
I personally found that corsair dominator's using an XMP profile worked better than the OCZ ... just my personal experience, i'm sure someone out there might prefer OCZ over corsair.

[Sam DeathWalker]

Should go with 6 X 2G moduals.

You can get the slower/cheaper ones (but they should all be the same); ram is never the bottleneck in multiboxing.

PC-8500 is 1066 ram.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDR3_SDRAM

Just get the slower ram the PC-8500 or 1066 ram you don't need the 1333 ram, and if you mix you will just run at the slower ram anyways.

Best check if 4 rams are ok for your board, just a long shot. Seems 6 is better with i7 iirc.

If you have 4 I would order 3 more like what you have (same part number), and have a spare so you can swap out untill you find the bad one.

[burningforce]

fyi
#132 errors can be from bad memory timings in the bios or bad memory modules.
also can be caused by corrupt files in the WoW folder as well

instead of shelling out money for new memory, why not test your current memory and see what the problem is. If you buy and install new memory, you will have to do the same tests as you would do now to test for problems.

if you are up to it, you can download a few FREE programs that give you all your computer info like cpu, memory and motherboard models, bios version, and help test for performance issues.
If you do not want to go through all that trouble, just take it to a computer repair shop and have them test it and install the memory if need be.

But digging through the bios and doing the other stuff you will have to do may be overwhelming and time consuming, but it is required for a healthy computer :)

also sounds like this is a prebuilt computer you bought from the store, am I correct? If it is you may still be under warranty from the computer company (dell, HP, etc) and can get them to do this stuff for you and it should be free.

[SaraiE]

Thanks for all the comments, I was brave enough to open the case, and I found out that the memory modules are Japanese made, from elpida. It is true that this system was pre-made from HP, so i think i am going to ask them to do the dirty work, not that I have the capability and know how to do this anyway. But I swear man, I don't understand why HP put a big metallic casing right on top of the memory modules, it will be difficult to take out and replace the memory stick!

But I did find that G.SKILL modules from Newegg are like 57 bucks for a 8500 4G stick. So, it is not too bad, I do want to buy four sticks, that would give me 16G ram and replace/retired the 2G sticks .

I upgrade or updated my video carddriver, and i still have the error 132 when I switch instances.

Thx again for the recommendation and comments.

SaraiE

[burningforce]

Thanks for all the comments, I was brave enough to open the case, and I found out that the memory modules are Japanese made, from elpida. It is true that this system was pre-made from HP, so i think i am going to ask them to do the dirty work, not that I have the capability and know how to do this anyway. But I swear man, I don't understand why HP put a big metallic casing right on top of the memory modules, it will be difficult to take out and replace the memory stick!

But I did find that G.SKILL modules from Newegg are like 57 bucks for a 8500 4G stick. So, it is not too bad, I do want to buy four sticks, that would give me 16G ram and replace/retired the 2G sticks .

I upgrade or updated my video carddriver, and i still have the error 132 when I switch instances.

Thx again for the recommendation and comments.

SaraiE

if there is metal on the memory modules, do not remove them. those are heat-spreaders and help reduce heat on the memory. I am not sure if HP will install the new modules for you, only fix/replace the modules you have installed atm. if you installed a new video card or updated the drivers, you must fully uninstall the old drivers. not doing this will cause some problems with game crashes as the old drivers and new drivers work against each other.

Not sure if video card driver problems cause #132 errors though =/

are you referring to this gskill memory? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231307

I think that is only 1 memory DIMM not 2, not sure with i7 processors but if you plan on adding 2 more sticks, you will have to get the same memory. Its best to buy memory as a set for how much you need, as they have been tested together and should work. this might be a little more expensive and the cas latency is higher, but it comes as a set
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231223

[SaraiE]

After multiple chats with HP Support people, they said that I need a graphic card replacement for the error# 132.
My current card is ATI Radeon 4650. They recommended GeForce GT220, AMD Radeon HD 4850 and NVIDA Geforce GTX260.
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 1.8GB =$258.4
PCIe AMD Radeon HD4850 1GB RV770 Pro graphics card=$681
PCIe NVIDIA GT220 1GB graphics card=132.05

The support person said these are the cards that were tested for my HP machine.
Are they trying to make a buck from me?

as for the updating of drivers, I get them regularly from HP and the staff said the system does it automatically. So, it is not driver problems.

I am thinking of buying the GTX 260, is this a wise choice? or the GT220 is sufficient?

Thanks for comments.

SaraiE

p.s. my G.SKILL 4GB ram stick will come tomorrow. 2 packs of 2X4GB 8500. 16G total.

[burningforce]

they are trying to screw you it seems. error #132 are usually memory related either faulty memory, bad memory timings in bios, or an addon(s) crashing you're client. This is from my personal experiences with that error code.

but if you want to get the new graphics card, I would just get the 260.

[MiRai]

After multiple chats with HP Support people, they said that I need a graphic card replacement for the error# 132.
My current card is ATI Radeon 4650. They recommended GeForce GT220, AMD Radeon HD 4850 and NVIDA Geforce GTX260.
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 1.8GB =$258.4
PCIe AMD Radeon HD4850 1GB RV770 Pro graphics card=$681
PCIe NVIDIA GT220 1GB graphics card=132.05

The support person said these are the cards that were tested for my HP machine.
Are they trying to make a buck from me?

as for the updating of drivers, I get them regularly from HP and the staff said the system does it automatically. So, it is not driver problems.

I am thinking of buying the GTX 260, is this a wise choice? or the GT220 is sufficient?

Thanks for comments.

SaraiE

p.s. my G.SKILL 4GB ram stick will come tomorrow. 2 packs of 2X4GB 8500. 16G total.
Hell yes they're trying to make a buck from you, $258 for a 260?! Holy shit, I'm pretty sure the 260's are no longer in
production and what you can buy is only what stock they have left on the shelves. You can get a 460 GTX for less than (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007709%2050001402%20600007323%20600062521%206 00007779&IsNodeId=1&name=1GB) that
and it's actually a current mainstream card which is much, much better than a 260 GTX (http://www.anandtech.com/show/3809/nvidias-geforce-gtx-460-the-200-king/6) [In this link we're looking at 460
GTX 1GB VS GTX 260, continue on throughout the pages and compare results].

[SaraiE]

Wow, HP is the suck!
Thanks for the comments. If I get the card, the 460 GTX, I am worry that I might not have enough power to run it.

During my chat with them, they said my power supply is 460W, the motherboard has two PCI Express x 16 slots. One is PCI Express x4 and the other is PCI Express x 1.
When I opened the case, I pulled the current ATI Radeon 4650 out, and i measured it, it was around 6-7 inches in length, and by looking at the slot themselves, they were about the same length, where the pins on the card to the slot interface. Looking at the GTX 260 or the 460, they are like around twice the length and recommended power is higher than what I have. This worries me. But then again, if HP did recommend that the 260 was tested on my machine, I think the power and slot length should be okay right?

I am such a noob with all these hardwares. I should be able to install and run the 460 GTX right with the 460Watt and the available slots?

SaraiE

Sara

[burningforce]

the 460W should be ok, but it would be hitting its max and if it is a low quality power supply, the system may reboot or crash when it reaches its max.

the 460 gtx looks like a brick and takes up 2 pci slots (fits in 1 slot but hides another slot due to its size) but should almost be the same length as the 4650. The only problem I see with getting a new video card is overheating, which might be happening now with your computer.

premade computers from HP,dell,etc are usually packed into a small case to save on costs. this makes installing new hardware or cleaning difficult. Also these systems are prone to overheating since not much heat leaves the case and will cause system failures and or slow computer if the processor has to underclock itself if it has that feature.

[SaraiE]

Well, an update:
Got my 4x 4GB G.Skill sticks. Removed the four 2G ones that came from HP. Booted up, played and switched instances/windows (main to slaves) for like 10 minutes in dalaran.

NO ERROR# 132 YET!!!!!!
But still don't understand why my FPS is still around the same as 8G ram. around 20ish. This is 8g rams vs 16 g rams. Need a better video card?

SaraiE

[alcattle]

if you are still using the 8500, yes I would replace it. I had an 8800 (old one) and it struggled with 5 boxing

[burningforce]

grats on no #132 errors (knock on wood) SaraiE.

Hopefully there is no other problems for you down the road :)

[SaraiE]

Sadly, I just upgraded to Cata, and five minutes into it, when I switched windows, the error came back!
So, I am thinking that it is not the memory modules because i just replaced them.

So, on to getting the video card.

/sigh

SaraiE

[Sam DeathWalker]

Could be heat related though. But ya you need a better Video Card anyways.

Or power related, or the video card .... 460W is not much at all now days.

And cooling on these kinds of computers is not good either.

Try running with the case open and some normal desk fan blowing into it and see if you still get the error.