Memory installation in the motherboard

[masterjaw]

Hi,

First of all, my minor system specs:
CPU: AMD PhenomII X2 550
Mobo: Gigabyte GA-MA785GM-US2H
Mems: 2x2GB G.skill PI Black DDR2-800
Case: Antec 300

The question is according to the mobo manual, if you're just installing 2 dimms on the mobo, it is advisable to place them in ddr2_1 and ddr2_2 slots.

Is there any significant difference if I decided to place my rams on ddr2_3 and ddr2_4 slots instead?

I would like to install a tower HSF on my mobo (Core-Contact Freezer) but I'm afraid that the HSF would hit the 2 dimms that are currently installed in ddr2_1 and ddr2_2 slots because of the mem's heatspreaders.

Thanks for the replies guys.

 

[bilbat]

Processors, like yours (and the new Intel i7/i5 platform), that have 'on-die' memory controllers are 'fussier' about DIMM placement. Tutorial on 'scaling' a picture of the board to determine fit of components pre-purchase here:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261714-30-cooler-gigabyte-ep45-ud3p
For the main part, fancy, expensive coolers are a waste of money; if you're planning any reasonable OC, these will get the job done:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134
are reasonably priced, and will fit in nearly any rig. The fact is that even this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103064
will do fine...
If you intend to 'crank the thing to within an inch of its life', you're better off 'under water', anyway!

 

[roonj]

That should work fine, does on mine with no loss in performance.
Also billbat's right, some of those coolers are way overpriced, I have a clone to the one he specified made by Rosewill 19.00.
After a lot of research best bang for the buck I've seen is Scyth-Mugen in that it seems to always get the coolest readings at a medium price.

 

[masterjaw]

Hi all,

Thanks for replying to this post.

@Bilbat:
I personally would like to get some AC Freezer64 Pro (since I can't use AC7Pro) but it seems like there is a problem with its installation unlike the AC7Pro. The fan will be facing the bottom rather than the usual orientation (facing right). I suppose it would be better if I face my hsf in parallel with the high cfm back exhaust fan.

I've checked DeepCool IceBlade Pro which I could get here for around the same price as the AC7Pro you've posted but I would still have the size problem. I'll try your method for space estimations.

I'm not really into cranking up CPU voltage to OC since it will just induce more heat plus I don't have an air conditioner in my room. I would just like to see if how far I could go with the stock voltage. Currently, my CPU is in stock settings, 40C@idle and 59C@load.

@roonj:
Are you currently have that setup right now (2 dimms on slots 3&4, slots 1&2 empty)? How did you measure 'performance loss' in that setup?

Thanks again.

 

[bilbat]

Ackk! I forgot this is a 'rev 2' item - they 'broke' the original's four directional mounting ability! WITF is it, that every time something gets 'revised', it has to lose some functionality or other?!