Need more RAM, is it okay to mix a bit? Will this work?

[i_hate_flying]

So, I'm going to buy 2 more Gb of ram to supplement my current 2 Gb. I have two sticks of the TWIN2X2048-6400PRO, with Cas latency 5, timing 5-5-5-12, and voltage 1.9.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820145589

BUT, they're out of stock at newegg. I'm not sure if they'll have my stuff back in stock one day or not, so I'm wondering what my options are now?

I was thinking about this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820145038

The problem is, I'm not sure if it would be compatible with my current RAM. The model is TWIN2X2048-6400C4PRO, so the difference is the Cas latency 4, timing 4-4-4-12, and voltage 2.1. This they do have in stock, though it's 25$US more.

Can someone enlighten me?

 

[dagger]

It should work, although you'll have to run it at the lower voltage, and loosen timings. The slower ram drags the faster down.

 

[i_hate_flying]

So what would you do if you were in my situation? Get something else? Or wait until the stuff I already have comes back in?

 

[dagger]

So what would you do if you were in my situation? Get something else? Or wait until the stuff I already have comes back in?

Probably get 4gb in 2x2 sticks. ddr2 800 is so cheap those days anyway. And it leaves 2 slots for possible future upgrade. But it's up to you.

 

[i_hate_flying]

Okay, but I've got the evga 680i. I don't know how much room for "future upgrades" I really need. Don't these newer quad core processors run at a much higher FSB than the 680i can provide? When I upgrade, I'll upgrade the CPU for sure, and I think I'll have to upgrade the mobo as well. So wouldn't it be better to wait and get some of that better RAM a year or so in the future when I get everything else?

 

[dagger]

Okay, but I've got the evga 680i. I don't know how much room for "future upgrades" I really need. Don't these newer quad core processors run at a much higher FSB than the 680i can provide? When I upgrade, I'll upgrade the CPU for sure, and I think I'll have to upgrade the mobo as well. So wouldn't it be better to wait and get some of that better RAM a year or so in the future when I get everything else?

Only if you overclock. The fsb is fine if you run the cpu at stock.

And yeah, it's up to you.

 

[i_hate_flying]

I overclock. Get between 3.2 and 3.4 Ghz out of my E6600.

 

[dagger]

I overclock. Get between 3.2 and 3.4 Ghz out of my E6600.

It should get you up to 3.0ghz with no problem. 3.2 is possible, 3.4 is impossible.

 

[i_hate_flying]

Okay, so we're talking about getting only 3.0 Ghz out of the Q6600 when combined with the eVGA 680i mobo. That makes sense given that I've heard this board doesn't like quad cores. I know that there aren't any programs out there that take advantage of four cores yet. Would I at least see the difference in Windows when comparing 2 x 3.2 Ghz with 4 x 3.0 Ghz?

 

[i_hate_flying]

I've heard that Vista does multi-core processing better than XP. I'm curious if that's true? Maybe I've grown too used to the speed that I have now, but I just feel that things could be faster.

 

[i_hate_flying]

Been reading reviews at Newegg. People there are saying that the Q6600 easily overclocks to 3.0 Ghz at default voltage with a 680i mobo. Can get to 3.2 Ghz at 1.4 V and a decent cooling solution.