adding ram reduces WEI score?

My T420 came with a single 4GB (samsung) stick, and i bought another 4GB (crucial) to bring it up to 8GB. It worked fine and improved a couple of the WEI scores.

I recently decided to buy a pair of 8GB corsair sticks to give me 16GB ram, but it's working against me for some reason.

Swapping out one of the 4GB sticks for an 8GB to bring me up to 12GB actually lowers my scores across the board; processor down from 6.9 to 6.7, memory (!) down 7.4 to 7.1, aero down 6.3 to 4.7, graphics down 6.3 to 5.7, and disk down 6.9 to 6.7.

So then i swapped the other 4GB stick out for the full 16GB, and the scores remained the same except for the memory rating going down again from 7.1 to 6.6!

Windows is recognizing the ram, so i don't know why it's having a detrimental effect on everything.

 

CPU-Z? What values do these RAM modules have? If they are all different, the system will set the lowest value.

Still it's not really normal to get a drop like that on everything.

Do some tests to see numbers with every module.

 

Check your installed modules, I suppose your older sticks have either faster speeds, tighter latencies, or both.

btw, WEI is notoriously weird, there is actually a hack in the Registry that can edit your scores. Use an aftermarket benchmarking utility like 3Dmark to see any difference.

In any case, I'd rather have 16GB-1333mhz than 8 gigs of 1600mhz

 

its probebly because the 8gb module has worce latency than the 4gb one
go for an 8gb low latency kit -if you you need to improve your memory and graphics score- such as the corsair CMSX8GX3M2A1600C9
this kit has a latency of CL9 @ 1600 while most others kits are at CL11

 

they're all rated 1333, but i haven't benchmarked them yet since i wasn't sure what software to use, i'll give that cpu-z a try.

i'm running memtest86+ on them at the moment, as the first time i turned on the laptop after installing one of them alongside the original stick the desktop didn't load after the login screen; it stayed black and no icons or toolbar appeared, and i had to hold down the power button to get it to shut down. i'm not sure what that means, the next time it came on ok though. I suppose latency could explain a bit of a drop.

this is the new corsair ram Corsair CMSO16GX3M2A1333C9 Laptop Memory 16GB 1333MHz C9 DDR3 So-Dimm Kit: Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

 

What processor do you have? Unless you're using I7-3xxx or I7-27xx and up, you will only get dual channel memory with up to 8gb. You go into single channel above that.

That is possibility. However, latency is another thing to check.

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

 

Edit. More ram is better than less, faster RAM

Also, wei is not a good bench tool lol.

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memtest for a couple of hours didn't show any errors, here's the cpu-z for the corsair:

size:16384

DRAM Frequency: 664.5 MHz
FSB: 1:5
CAS# Latency (CL): 9.0 clocks
RAS# to CAS# Delay (tRCD): 9 clocks
RAS# Precharge (tRP): 9 clocks
Cycle Time (tRAS):24 clocks

Command Rate (CR): 1T

 

Depends on the application but I would say the average user wants RAM to be as fast as possible, upgrading past 8 GB is starting to get to be beyond needed for anything beyond serious CAD, video editing or other niche markets.

 

You're right about the dependence on program/user. However, unless you're working on a system with integrated gpu, 1333 vs 1600 makes practically no difference. However, 8gb vs 16gb will enable you to multitask like never before, whether or not you need the extra memory past 8gb after Photoshop. The extra memory can serve as cache for other running processes. 16gb at 1333 has more advantages than 8gb at 1600, but you also have to consider processor and graphics card situation.

Since op stated that they're all rated at 1333, my argument isn't necessary lol.

I still would check the dual channel capability of your processor post 8gb of memory.

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