Hi, as you can all probably notice, I'm new here. This year, I decided to build a new gaming computer, and thus, would like to get the best performance I can. I intend to buy the E6850 dual core CPU. I like to fancy myself as someone who detains considerable knowledge regarding gaming rigs, but I've always had trouble with RAM. As you can probably guess, the problem I am now facing is the following : The E6850 has a FSB of 1333, and 1333 RAM is ridiculously expensive. Since I know next to nothing regarding RAM, I thought I could ask you all for some help. My goal is to find a the best RAM (4gb) to go with my CPU, as to get the best performance I can. Now I've heard about timings, synchronism and all that jazz, but I have no clue as to what it means. I would really appreciate it if any of you could tell me what I should do, and explain it in layman's therms. Please refrain from using 1-4-5-5-15 language as I simply won't be able to keep up. Thank you all for you time.
Ram for a FSB1333 CPU
- Thread starter Tekki
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The basic ddr2 standard stops at 800 for 1.8 volts. The higher you bump up the voltage, the higher you can run your memory. Any ram tested and approved for 1066 or 1333 will have specs that call for voltage of 2.0-2.3. It may not even post if your motherboard defaults at 1.8 volts. Check the recommended memory for your board on the motherboard manufacturer's website before ordering ram. Try to order what you want for the long run. I wouldn't add more ram later that's different specs. For someone that doesn't know much about timings, it will just be more difficult to get a stable setup by mixing different memory, especially with all 4 slots filled.
^^^ spot on.
Go to the memory sites like corsair, ocz, etc. & use their configurator to find ram compatible with your mobo. It's the safest way to ensure that the new ram will run in your mobo out of the box.
& no, you don't need 1333mhz ram to go with 1333mhz FSB. Just half of it. 666-67xMhz 2x1GB will do. That'll give you 1:1 cpu/ram ratio.
Go to the memory sites like corsair, ocz, etc. & use their configurator to find ram compatible with your mobo. It's the safest way to ensure that the new ram will run in your mobo out of the box.
& no, you don't need 1333mhz ram to go with 1333mhz FSB. Just half of it. 666-67xMhz 2x1GB will do. That'll give you 1:1 cpu/ram ratio.
dashbarron
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Supreme, being a RAM idiot myself, why then if people seem to want to get a 1:1 ratio, do they get DDR 800 if it's beyond 333?
chookman
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The other reason is for Overclocking... alot of people have used lower multiplier and increaing FSB. Getting a Q6600 for instance running at 3.2ghz (multiplier lowered to 8 and FSB at 400) this will get an 800mhz ram set running at 1:1 also
Getting faster ram like 800 or even 1066 to run at 667mhz it is usually also possible to lower timings and/or voltages which in turn should increase performance slighty while lowering heat
Getting faster ram like 800 or even 1066 to run at 667mhz it is usually also possible to lower timings and/or voltages which in turn should increase performance slighty while lowering heat
geofelt
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akhilles gave you good advice about using the memory configurators.
The C2D processors are not very sensitive to memory speeds.
Real world application tests(vs. synthetic benchmarks) show
There is less than 2% difference between the slowest and the fastest modules.
If you are trying for record overclocks, then all bets are off, and faster is better.
You are better served by starting with 4gb of DDR2-800 memory from a quality vendor. Eliminating
just a few hard page faults is worth it.
The C2D processors are not very sensitive to memory speeds.
Real world application tests(vs. synthetic benchmarks) show
There is less than 2% difference between the slowest and the fastest modules.
If you are trying for record overclocks, then all bets are off, and faster is better.
You are better served by starting with 4gb of DDR2-800 memory from a quality vendor. Eliminating
just a few hard page faults is worth it.
That was my conclusion aswell after a bit of research, however ..
I have my eyes on quite a cheap set of 2x2gb of value DDR2-667 (CAS5) sticks for my soon to be 1333fsb system, but then I stumbled upon this in the Eight P35-DDR2 Motherboards Compared article: (conclusion)
Dual channel sure, but why CAS4?
I'm inclined to ignore this since I won't be OC'ing, but if for some reason you think this could be problematic, please let me know.
Thanks in advance
-Carsten Frederiksen
I have my eyes on quite a cheap set of 2x2gb of value DDR2-667 (CAS5) sticks for my soon to be 1333fsb system, but then I stumbled upon this in the Eight P35-DDR2 Motherboards Compared article: (conclusion)
Dual channel sure, but why CAS4?
I'm inclined to ignore this since I won't be OC'ing, but if for some reason you think this could be problematic, please let me know.
Thanks in advance
-Carsten Frederiksen
jwolf24601
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Get 2x2gb CAS5 800mhz ram.
It will run cool at 667mhz, you have overclocking headroom. and the price should be really close.
1333fsb processor is 333mhz fsb not sure how they figure out that terminology though it works out to 4x
Memory is 2x though from the DDR part i believe.
It will run cool at 667mhz, you have overclocking headroom. and the price should be really close.
1333fsb processor is 333mhz fsb not sure how they figure out that terminology though it works out to 4x
Memory is 2x though from the DDR part i believe.
chookman
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OCZ 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227248
Patriot Extreme Performance 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220227
GeIL 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820144098
mushkin 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146726
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227248
Patriot Extreme Performance 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220227
GeIL 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820144098
mushkin 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146726
Hmm, I'm on a tight budget and there's ~100$ to be saved getting DDR2-667 over 800. (4gb)
So am I to understand that DDR-800 will outperform DDR-667 at stock speeds? Cannot for the life of me figure out why.
Oh, well .. guess I'll just go with 2gb DDR-800 and skip Vista this time around.
(also still wondering about the CAS4 reference in above article, although I suspect this has indeed something to with performance and not compability. More clockcycles to perform memory operations or something, but again not really sure.)
So am I to understand that DDR-800 will outperform DDR-667 at stock speeds? Cannot for the life of me figure out why.
Oh, well .. guess I'll just go with 2gb DDR-800 and skip Vista this time around.
(also still wondering about the CAS4 reference in above article, although I suspect this has indeed something to with performance and not compability. More clockcycles to perform memory operations or something, but again not really sure.)
dashbarron
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So for people who buy DDR800 or beyond RAM with a 1333FSB sacrifice a 1:1 ratio for the possibility of over clocking the FSB to match the faster RAM (at 400)?
The 1:1 ratio thing, and why faster ram is available that exceeds the FSB is slightly confusing.
1:1 doesn't mean say 333fsb to 333mhz ram.
FSB is quad pumped, and ram is dual pumped.
So really, you need 1:1 with the quad pumped FSB, which is where 1:1 comes from.
So 333fsb to 666memory speed.
Or 1333fsb quad to 1333ram ddr2.
So, with raw FSB its actually 1:2, Fsb:Memory
That said, there isn't much increase in performance, 2x 1GB dual channel PC2-6400 is all thats needed for the price increasments to go above it..
FSB is quad pumped, and ram is dual pumped.
So really, you need 1:1 with the quad pumped FSB, which is where 1:1 comes from.
So 333fsb to 666memory speed.
Or 1333fsb quad to 1333ram ddr2.
So, with raw FSB its actually 1:2, Fsb:Memory
That said, there isn't much increase in performance, 2x 1GB dual channel PC2-6400 is all thats needed for the price increasments to go above it..
tlmck
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Higher speed ram is mainly available for highly over-caffeinated gamers/hobbyists who eagerly spend their money on such stuff. Getting 10fps more from a game, or 100 more 3D Mark points is the be all and end all of their existence.
It is also useful for people wanting high end performance on the cheap. i.e. getting a low end processor and overclocking it instead of buying a high end(costly) processor.
The reality is, for most main stream users, something such as the Value Ram series from Kingston or Corsair is just fine. DDR2 533 for a 1066 FSB processor, and DDR2 667 for a 1333 FSB processor. When the 1600 FSB processors come out, DDR2 800 will be the norm.
dashbarron
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Oh alright I see. So to answer my last question then, do people already with say DDR2800 and old 1333FSB boards, do they attempt to jack up the FSB as far as 1333 and lower the 800 speeds to get a perfect 1:1? My question being, why would people buy beyond DDR2 667 if it's not a perfect ratio? How much performance do you loose by the lack of a 1:1?
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