Author Topic: Abnormal lag issue (Read 1489 times)

Kyzor · November 09, 2009, 02:58:18 AM

I recently got a RAM upgrade for my Dell Dimension 9100 desktop, from 1GB to 4GB (maximum). Ever since then, I have been experiencing very strange lag problems that occur when ~3500-4000 bricks are built. It's even worse on dedicated servers. The processor is a Pentium D (not sure on the GHz), and it's got an ATI Radeon 850 (I think it's 850, might be 800), if that helps at all. Also, it didn't do this before the RAM upgrade; I used to be able to be on a server with upwards of 10000 bricks with little lag.

Ad Bot · Advertisement

Ephialtes · November 09, 2009, 04:48:49 AM

Can you try removing the new RAM to determine whether it is definitely the RAM causing a problem?

Are all the RAM stick things the same speed?

Are you on a 32bit OS? You won't notice much of a speed difference because it's only 64bit that can really utilise 4GB of RAM.

Kyzor · November 09, 2009, 08:46:56 AM

I can answer (to some extent) the latter two. Yes, the RAM cards are all 1GB, and there are 4 of them (not sure on their actual speed, I'll get back to you on that). I think my OS is 64-bit, but I'm not entirely sure. I can hopefully check sometime today, but my parents do not allow me on the computer during the school week (unless it's for school work), but I have Wednesday off, so I can definitely check then.

Starcraftman · November 09, 2009, 04:37:08 PM

It could just be your crappy video card.

Isjix · November 09, 2009, 05:36:47 PM

Quote from: Starcraftman on November 09, 2009, 04:37:08 PM

It could just be your crappy video card.

I don't think his video card can just lag for all the sudden when he changes ram.

Kyzor · November 09, 2009, 06:34:38 PM

Quote from: Starcraftman on November 09, 2009, 04:37:08 PM

It could just be your crappy video card.

Well it's not the best, but it's definitely not crappy.

Kyzor · November 10, 2009, 12:02:51 AM

Okay, here are some more specs (some are not needed, I know, I'm just giving all information available):

Processor: Intel Pentium D 3.0 GHz 32 bit
Video Card: RADEON X850 XT Platinum Edition 256MB memory
BIOS: Pheonix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A01
RAM: 3326MB (or 4GB, which is the maximum for it, used to have 1GB)
OS: Microsoft Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) 32 bit

Now I see what you're talking about, Ephi, with the boldface/underlined text. So I guess that 4GB of RAM is a little too much for the processor and OS to handle, is that the case?

Bisjac · November 10, 2009, 03:25:32 AM

well a 32bit OS can only use up to like.... 3.6gigs.
in my experience it just caps it off and uses that amount. haven't really seen it cause problems though.

however i would still remove the ram one by one. try playing with 3 sticks so your under the memory cap. see if its better.
then try again back at your original 1 stick you had before the upgrade. see if it actually helped.

did you buy 3 new sticks of ram and put them in? or did you buy 4 new ones and removed the original one? different speeds and types of ram are not always fully compatible.

Kyzor · November 10, 2009, 08:48:13 AM

Yes, we originally had two 512MB cards; we bought 4 1GB cards, which was the most our system could hold, but the handicapped Dell rep didn't even bother to ask whether our OS and processor were 32 or 64 bit. I'll experiment around with removing and replacing the cards, see what happens.

One question though, if we kept the same RAM in there but upgraded to, say, Windows 7 64 bit, would that make any difference? Because I know that you can use a 64-bit processor with a 32-bit OS, but not the other way around, so I doubt that would work.

Starcraftman · November 10, 2009, 04:01:31 PM

If you upgraded to a 64 bit version of Windows 7 then yes, you could use all 4 gb of ram.

Rykuta · November 10, 2009, 04:05:58 PM

Are you sure it was the RAM?

I've had problems with abnormal laggs before, And wound up switching my computers to fix it. However the problem remained.

As it turned out, some random add-on was causeing the problem. List the client sided add-ons you have, I know a few that would actually do that.

Kyzor · November 10, 2009, 06:34:46 PM

Quote from: Rykuta on November 10, 2009, 04:05:58 PM

Are you sure it was the RAM?

I've had problems with abnormal laggs before, And wound up switching my computers to fix it. However the problem remained.

As it turned out, some random add-on was causeing the problem. List the client sided add-ons you have, I know a few that would actually do that.

Yes, to some extent. It's not the RAM directly, rather the fact that our OS and processor are both 32-bit and 4GB of RAM does not help, seeing as they cannot handle it. I will, however, gather a list of my clientside add-ons and post it here later.

Quote from: Starcraftman on November 10, 2009, 04:01:31 PM

If you upgraded to a 64 bit version of Windows 7 then yes, you could use all 4 gb of ram.

True, except for the fact that my processor would absolutely die trying to process information used by a 64-bit OS. My processor and OS are currently 32-bit, if I was to upgrade only one of those, it would have to be the processor, for the aforementioned reason. Unfortunately, high-end processors are so damn expensive that it would probably make more sense just to get a new computer altogether.

Kyzor · November 11, 2009, 01:21:13 AM

I do believe I have somewhat fixed the problem. It was indeed the RAM causing the problem; I removed but one card and it made an instant difference. Thanks for all your help guys.

Wynd_Fox · November 11, 2009, 01:22:28 AM

I thought RAM made things run faster. /headasplode

Bisjac · November 11, 2009, 01:25:42 AM

Quote from: Wynd_Fox on November 11, 2009, 01:22:28 AM

I thought RAM made things run faster. /headasplode

faster ram can.
more ram just multitasks MORE and better.