Memory - Match CPU FSB or not?

[Seraphic]

Hi,

Was looking at a Q6600 G0 at 1066MHz FSB. Would getting memory to match a 1:1 at 1066Mhz DDR2 be a major performance boost over 800Mhz DDR2? I could get 4x1gb 800mhz sticks for the same price as 2x1gb 1066mhz sticks. (plan to overclock q6600 heavy to 3.5ghz or so)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146565
OR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148069

 

[akhilles]

Can't tell unless I know the mobo.

 

[andybird123]

NO!
CPU FSB is quad pumped, memory FSB is only Double Data Rate

Therefore your "1066" FSB CPU is REALLY only 266, which is a DDR rate of 533

To get the Q6600 to 3.5Ghz you need to overclock the FSB to 388 (or a DDR rate of 776), to get to the limit of DDR2-800 memory you'd have to be hitting 3.6 or more (and even then most memory will overclock some).

For what you want, DDR2-800 memory will be fine!

 

[Seraphic]

Not sure on the motherboard as of yet. Would be a P35, but was trying to find dates on the X38 DDR2 motherboards.

So for what I want and what you said, it looks like DDR2-800 would be acceptable. Also, you said "for what you want", but when would you need DDR2-1066?

 

[Kari]

when pushing the FSB way over 500 for what ever reason

 

[chuckshissle]

For a 1:1 ratio you would pair the Q6600 with DDR2 533 to achieve that. At stock settings the DDR2 1066 will not make much of a gaming difference against the DDR2 533 perfromance wise.

Overclocking, now that's a whole new different story. You should always pick the best stable, tight timings and higher frequency. The 1066 would be a great pair for the Q6600 for overclocking. It will provide more headroom and thus allowing higher and stable overclock.

Of course the DDR2 800 would be the best deal since they are very affordable right now. You can even pick 2x1Gb DDR2 800 for under $80. That's $160 for 4Gb total, assuming you are using 64-bit operating system to fully use the 4Gb in applications such as gaming.

Stock settings: DDR2 533 would be enough
Overclocking: DDR2 800 would be the best considering the price as well
If you're rich: DDR2 1066 would be nice.

 

[andybird123]

Not sure on the motherboard as of yet. Would be a P35, but was trying to find dates on the X38 DDR2 motherboards.

So for what I want and what you said, it looks like DDR2-800 would be acceptable. Also, you said "for what you want", but when would you need DDR2-1066?

You only "need" 1066 memory when trying to hit 500fsb or higher... but then if you check the timing specs on most DDR2-800 vs. 1066 memory, the 1066 has relaxed memory timings - if you set most DDR2-800 to the same timing specs then you'd still get 500FSB out of them

imo you never actually need 1066 memory, it's a marketing ploy to get extra dollars for them adding an extra SPD setting... I've even built using generic DDR2-800 4-4-4-12 and gotten it to run at 500FSB 5-5-5-15 (e.g. the same speed as Crucial Ballistix DDR2-1066) with an E6300

 

[akhilles]

chuckshissle is spot on.

P35/P965 overclocks cpu/ram at a ratio. No exception. 650i/680i does them at a ratio or not. If you put a q6600 & 1066 ram in 6x0i, you can run both at stock speeds & not lose any performance.

Whether 1066 ram is worth the extra $$$ is up to you.

FYI, you can get Ballistix for $65 & o/c it to about 1Ghz.