Solution for RAM speed & voltage problem

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zicmaveric

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Mar 13, 2015
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Hi all!



This is my first custom build and it is for video editing. This is the list I ended up purchasing (thanks to help from a good number of you):



http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/yngT3C



Now, everything is arriving tomorrow or Monday and I'm psyched for the build, but I've realized I've made an error. I bought RAM that runs at 1.65V whereas my CPU 4970K only allows up to 1.5V



Some solutions to this it seems are underclocking the RAM and tweaking it until I get a stable performance at the 1.5V mark. Now, I've read from some forums that underclocking the RAM would allow me to yield some better latency figures from the hardware. Is that true? Also, is it true that it improves lifespan? Is this a good solution to my issue? Does running the RAM at 1.5V put too much strain on the CPU of which the max is 1.5V? Is underclocking at 1.35V dangerously low for the RAM? How does it really work? I'm getting some mixed info (and not much of it) online. Please help clear this up for me.



My other solution was to return the RAM (Corsair Vengeance) to purchase some Mushkin Blackline (either at 1.35V or 1.5V). This will be more expensive in the end because I have to pay shipping costs to return the item and then purchase a new item (even though the Mushkin is cheaper)... What are your thoughts on this other solution? Here are the Mushkin models I was looking at:



http://ca.pcpartpick...n-memory-997069

http://ca.pcpartpick...-memory-997069f

http://ca.pcpartpick...n-memory-997072



So what do you guys think? Can anyone help me with underclocking? Is that even a viable option? What other options are out there?



Thanks!
 
Solution
Tradesman1
No worries - those sticks are perfectly fine, and 1.65 is perfectly safe, 1.5 is the suggested voltage for base 1600 sticks for the Haswell CPUs, Intel even certifies 1.6-1.65 DRAM up through 3000 +. Stick with the sticks you chose - you'll love the bandwidth ;)
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Tradesman1

Tradesman1

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Jun 5, 2013
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No worries - those sticks are perfectly fine, and 1.65 is perfectly safe, 1.5 is the suggested voltage for base 1600 sticks for the Haswell CPUs, Intel even certifies 1.6-1.65 DRAM up through 3000 +. Stick with the sticks you chose - you'll love the bandwidth ;)
 
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zicmaveric

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Mar 13, 2015
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Thanks for the reassurance! I was worried I over-payed for something that might end up ruining my system. Fiew

Hey! Do you think I would benefit from undervolting and underclocking the RAM a bit to tighten up the timings on it?
 
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Tradesman1

Tradesman1

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Jun 5, 2013
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You can try, but what you will prob encounter is loosing performance - say you underclock to the COrairs at Stock they are 2400/11 so it would be easy to downclock to say 2133/10 or even 1866/9 and prob be able to lower voltages a bit - problem with this is they will underperform the 2400/11, to out perform that at a lower data rate say to 2133/9 which might slightly outperform the 2400/11 base spec you will likely still need the full 1.65 (or possibly a hair more than 1.65)
 
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zicmaveric

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Mar 13, 2015
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That's interesting about the undervolting/underclocking. I'll do some more research into it... is there anywhere where I can find a resource to help predict what my settings might yield?
 
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Tradesman1

Tradesman1

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Jun 5, 2013
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It's all trial and error (experimenting), what I explained has come from years of testing and playing with DRAM and results can vary, occasionally tou'll come across some really exceptions sticks, which can counter the explanation I gave - occasionally too, you might get a set that can run (here) either 2400/10 at 1.65 or at it's base of 2400/11 at 1.6 or even less
 
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zicmaveric

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Mar 13, 2015
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Cool! Thanks so much for the help! I'm trying to make sure I can get the best performance and lifespan balance from my parts. I guess I'll have to try a few things and see where it leads me.
 
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