RAM - Which one?

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
K

Kelmorth

Reputable
Sep 27, 2014
13
0
4,510
Hello!

I'd like to start things out saying I'm new in building a PC, as well as choosing parts for it. It's been very entertaining so far, not to mention the amount of things learned! However, some things still haven't been made clear for me. One of them is RAM! I'd like to have a 16GB total storage capacity and 1600MHz, initially. This computer will be destined for gaming, mostly. Having all that said, my set of questions: Is it worth the cost having a higher speed RAM (over 1600MHz) ? If so, which speed should I be going for (2133MHz, 2400MHz, ....) ? Which RAM is most worth it in a $100-$210 range (considering the cost-benefit ratio)? Furthermore, it seems that the voltage on many memory sets is 1.65V, but the Intel recommended, in my case, is 1.5V + 5% (1.575V).. should I ignore this fact?

For a better understanding of my current choices: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/vR6JBm
(Feel free to criticize, the more knowledge, the better!)

In advance, THANK YOU!
 
Solution
Tradesman1
With gaming you show ever so slight gains over 1600 (a few FPS per step up), however today with DRAM prices what they are on DDR3 it well worth it to go 1866, 2133, even 2400....and it will show slight gains in gaming, but will be better on the hosting and using the rig for other things (multi-tasking, video, imaging, CAD, anything that's memory centric)...as far as voltage 1.5 is the recommended for 1600 and using the CPU at stock, there' snothing wrong w/ 1.65 (I stick with 1.5 through 1866 (with the exception of high performance (true high performance (CL7 -8) 1600-1866) where I might go slightly higher voltage. most all DRAM 2133 and up is meant for when your CPU is OCed and is perfectly safe, Intel even Certifies sticks in a wide...
Sort by date Sort by votes
K

Kelmorth

Reputable
Sep 27, 2014
13
0
4,510


I actually need over 8GB now and then for local server hosting, consuming about 10-13GB. Do you know what is the reasoning behind limiting yourself to 1.5V? Very frequently have I seen recommendations stating to ignore this fact. Why do you prefer Corsair over any other? (Kingston HyperX, Mushkin, etc).
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
maestro0428

maestro0428

Splendid
Apr 3, 2009
2,857
29
22,090
The less voltage, the less heat and power usage. The parts tend to last longer too. There is really no need for 1.65 unless you are really hitting frequencies above what you need. I use Corsair for their excellent service and quality. They stand behind their products for sure. I have had a couple sticks/keyboard crap out and they were quick to reply and replace them. Other than that, memory is pretty much memory and the rest is marketing.
 
Upvote 1 Downvote
O

Outlander_04

Titan
BANNED
Nov 18, 2008
20,308
4
74,960
1.65 volt memory is really just 1.5 volt chips set with an overclock , slacker timings and a voltage boost

Intel void your warranty at more than 1.5 volts so dont use the 1.65 volt DIMMs.
People say it OK to use it .... because the memory controller on their processor hasnt burnt out .... YET
 
Upvote 1 Downvote
Tradesman1

Tradesman1

Legenda in Aeternum
Jun 5, 2013
67,883
40
126,960
With gaming you show ever so slight gains over 1600 (a few FPS per step up), however today with DRAM prices what they are on DDR3 it well worth it to go 1866, 2133, even 2400....and it will show slight gains in gaming, but will be better on the hosting and using the rig for other things (multi-tasking, video, imaging, CAD, anything that's memory centric)...as far as voltage 1.5 is the recommended for 1600 and using the CPU at stock, there' snothing wrong w/ 1.65 (I stick with 1.5 through 1866 (with the exception of high performance (true high performance (CL7 -8) 1600-1866) where I might go slightly higher voltage. most all DRAM 2133 and up is meant for when your CPU is OCed and is perfectly safe, Intel even Certifies sticks in a wide variety at 1.65. So yes it's OK to use it, I've got well over a hundred rigs out there that I built running 1.65 sticks and have been running for years, you can easily double that amount in additional rigs I've upgraded to high end DRAM (1.6-1.65) and have been in systems for over 30 years - the only CPU/MCs I've ever seen that burned out were from excessive OCing (not really having anything to do with the DRAM), but trying for records, running suicide shots, etc and from users doing stupid things (adding excessive vCore, overly high System Agent voltage, etc and even then it's very few
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
K

Kelmorth

Reputable
Sep 27, 2014
13
0
4,510


Thank you!

If you'd allow me to bother you further, do you have any RAM recommendations in the 130-210$ price range (considering the cost-benefit ratio, obviously)? Any brand preferences? You yourself stated being 30 years in systems, so I'd say you'd know best!

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
K

Kelmorth

Reputable
Sep 27, 2014
13
0
4,510


I actually am able only to buy from Amazon, since I'm not from the US :(

Based on what you said, I was actually planning on buying:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00D7EL0PK/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2D6O8U4XOTC9L

But wouldn't it be silly when I could get a higher speed for the same price?
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Vengeance-2400MHz-Desktop-CMY16GX3M2A2400C11R/dp/B00EUPV2RQ/ref=psdc8_t1_B00D7EL0PK_B00EUPV2RQ

About the MoBo, I actually am counting on MSI since I've been told about its high resistance against humidity and salinity. I live close to the sea, and it's a common issue.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
maestro0428

maestro0428

Splendid
Apr 3, 2009
2,857
29
22,090
^An ASRock Formula may be the ticket if you worried about corrosion. If you set your budget for memory, then buy the fastest you can get for that money. Don't forget CAS is important too. Balance your mhz with a low CAS and your good. I have used GSkill in the past with success, but I still recommend Corsair as the best.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
O

Outlander_04

Titan
BANNED
Nov 18, 2008
20,308
4
74,960


Do you have a link to intel certification of 1.65 volt DDR3 ?

Cos the second statement is ........... bizarre .
DDR3 has been in use only since 2007 . Thats means 7 years . In that time the voltage has been dropping steadily thanks to pressure from the cpu manufacturers .
Prior to that DDR2 ran at voltages of 2.2 volts

So lets be VERY CLEAR about this . You have not been running DDR3 at 1.65 volts for 30 years .
And when you did run higher voltages like the initial DDR3 which ran at 1.8 volts the cpu manufacturing processes were much coarser . Probably 90 nm instead of the 22 nm we see today .
The extra voltage will age and wear those modern processors with finer etching much faster

 
Upvote 1 Downvote
O

Outlander_04

Titan
BANNED
Nov 18, 2008
20,308
4
74,960


Yes its possible he did .
But the point remains the same .
No one has been running 1.65 volt RAM on 22 nm processors for very long at all .
Having experience running some RAM at some voltage on hardware thats no longer made is NOT relevant

Not when you compare it to the manufacturers specification
 
Upvote 1 Downvote
Tradesman1

Tradesman1

Legenda in Aeternum
Jun 5, 2013
67,883
40
126,960

_________________________
Sure, here's one

http://www.intel.com/content/dam/www/public/us/en/documents/datasheets/core-i5-processor-memory-datasheet.pdf

The second 'bizarre' statement applies to seeing no CPUs/MCs get fried from memory voltage and few CPUs in General, and I'm keeping in mind MCs in the chipsets on say 775 mobos where the MC was in the mobo chipset (NB), even going back to minis and mainframes I worked with going back over 30 years.

as far as the CPUs when DDR3 came out, well that does fall into my 30 years I've been around and bulding rigs, when DDR came out the 775 mobo CPUs were 65nm, not your 'probably 90nm', and the inital replacements that went into the 1156 and 1366 mobos were 45nm (built a ton of those also), many if not most are still running (handed down through families, used as alternates, backups, etc).

You also should take into consideration that Intel has for years far understated their CPUs and capabilities, Back about 7 years ago, they actaully came and said that the q6600 were capable of running at faster than it's 1066 rated bus (which also meant max DRAM of 1066), whooeeee, many got excited that 2.4 CPU might, stress MIGHT, be able to run at 3GHz...In less time than it took for people to think about it, we were running these things at 3.6, 4GHz and higher and it wasn't all that uncommon to have 1600 DRAM with them on the hybrid mobos....I've still got a couple of those running in the family, one of which has been pretty much running at 4GB with 1333 DRAM 24/7 as a small server, and have numerous others out running elsewhere.

I'm also an Intel partner and have heard not a thing about higher DRAM voltage wearing or aging the CPUs prematurely, and that is they type of thing that they would inform us of.

Any other questions :)


 
Upvote 1 Downvote
Tradesman1

Tradesman1

Legenda in Aeternum
Jun 5, 2013
67,883
40
126,960

___________

Thanx and correct, started in 1980 on Big Iron (and I get going to fast here at times, when here normally have 2-3 windows open at once, not always as clear as I want, sorry bout that, maybe you can follow behind me and translate ;)
 
Upvote 1 Downvote
O

Outlander_04

Titan
BANNED
Nov 18, 2008
20,308
4
74,960



This data sheet lists "Intel XMP-ready DDR3 Unbuffered DIMMs memory suppliers self-certified on platforms with Intel® Core™i5 processor"
All its saying is that those RAM kits have an XMP profile that is suitable for running with the processor .
Presumably that means an XMP profile of 1.5 volts and suitable frequency

It takes almost no effort to find many instances of Intel denying warranties if you use RAM at higher voltages than 1.5 . Google is just over there

As for heat and voltage wearing chips out faster , well all you have to do is go back to the introduction of Sandybridge and the recall of all P67 and H67 chipsets so they could be replaced with the B3 stepping .The issue was voltage wear that manifests in 2- 3 years .
Wear of circuits from heat and voltage is very real .

And in 2 - 3 years time when your processors memory controller starts failing because you have been overvolting it Intel are only going to say "I told you so "
 
Upvote 1 Downvote
Tradesman1

Tradesman1

Legenda in Aeternum
Jun 5, 2013
67,883
40
126,960
"Presumably' ? no it has nothing to do with presumably. DRAM comes with but 2 XMP profile which are for the rated spec of the DRAM if it's 3000 sticks then thats what the profiles are for, 3000, Profile 1 is the base spec as advertised, Profile 2 is commonly slightly more enthusiast oriented and provides slightly higher performance more.

P67/H67 - that had nothing to do with DRAM, MCs or even CPUs.......the recall was based on faulty PCH chips, believe it was called Cougar point, the Platform Controller Hub and they 'predicted' predicted it could possibly affect up to 15 % of the SATA controllers it was associated with in possibly 5 years or so. Improperly designed chipsets that basically let excess voltage leak through have nothing to do with the issue of DRAM and MCs.....

as far as your 2-3 year prediction, sorry but that would encompass the P67 - Sandy bridges in case you are unaware those came available Jan of 2011 ( over 3 years ago by the way) and I did about over 50 builds on those with 2500K, 2600K and 2700K CPUs, all are still running fine and most all with 1866-2133 higher performance DRAM, as are a huge number of others I know of, and I haven't heard of any MC failures, other than those screwed around with by people who had no clue what they were doing.

And yes, Intel has the right to void warranties and often do on overly abused CPUs (which by the are primarily abuse by excessive vCore voltage because idiots try to OC a CPU beyond it's individual capabilities, they see Joe Blow say he OCed to 4.7 so they decide they are going to one way or the other, then to there are the people that believe the myth that the mobo determines what DRAM freq you can run (which was true a number of years ago, but today it's primarily the CPU itself. There's tons of myths and out of date info out there
 
Upvote 1 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom