What’s the best gaming memory for the Asus P6X58D Premium MB?

The X58 based processors have an outstanding memory controller that can keep it fed with data from any ram. The difference in real FPS vs. synthetic benchmarks might amount to 1-2% between the fastest and slowest ram.

I suggest the cheapest (goodquality) 3 x 4gb kit that you can find.

Look at the corsair, kingston, patriot, g.skil web sites for starters and enter your motherboard. You will get a list of supported ram.
Or. look at a list of supported ram on the asus site.
If you ever have a problem, you want either the mobo or ram vendor on your side.

Don't pay much more for faster(DDR3-1333/DDR3-1600)ram, better timings(cl7/cl8/) or fancy heat spreaders.

Spend whatever you save on a better graphics card or a SSD where it makes a difference.

I saw the Kingston KHX1600C9D3K3/12GX (4 GB sticks) in the Asus memory QVL list but the true timings are 9-9-9-27 according to the Kingston web site. I thought I could find something faster. I believe the Asus QVL list of 7-7-7-20 is wrong. The reviews on Newegg however for this memory is excellent.

Thanks, Jim
MB: P6X58D Premium; PROC: Core i7-960, 3.2GHz; VIDEO: ASUS EAH5970 Radeon HD 5970; MEMORY: Patriot Viper 6GB (3 x 2GB) DDR3 DDR3 2000; HARD DRIVES: 3-OCZ Vertex Series 30GB SATA II (RAID 0); PSU: BFG Tech EX-1200 BFGR 1200 Watts; CASE: Antec Twelve Hundred ATX Full Tower (7 fans); SOUND: Creative PCI Express Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Champion; MONITORS: 3 Hanns-G HZ281; OS: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit

First determine needed RAM speed. Most people looking for that magical 4 GHz threshold are looking to get a 200 BCLK and 20 CPU multiplier. Example below assumes a 920

50% Overclock
200 BCLK x 20 CPU multiplier = 4.0 GHz
200 BCLK x 8 memory multiplier = 1600 MHz

25% Overclock
167 BCLK x 20 CPU multiplier = 3.33 GHz
167 BCLK x 8 memory multiplier = 1333 MHz

So if ya want a 50% OC, get DDR3-1600, ya want a 25% OC, get DDR3-1333 .... no OC then DDR3-1066 is just fine.

You can get a cheap DDR3-1600 CAS 9 (3 x 2GB) set for like $75.

You can get a great DDR3-1600 CAS 6 set for like $100.

Was a time even weeks ago where these CAS 6's were $250......

But look at it this way ..... on a $2,000 box, will you pay 1.25% more cash for a 2% performance increase ? I would.

However, if ya don't have anything that even suggests that you need 12 GB, I wouldn't bother.

If ya do go 12 GB (3 x 4GB), the Patriot Viper series is $262 at CAS7, $289 at CAS 8 (go figure) and $189 at CAS 9. The CAS8 is obviously out but the decision there is a cost one.....will you pay $73 more on a $2000 system (3.6%) for a 2% performance increase ? The law of diminishing returns makes us expect a lower ROI as performance increases but I'm left sitting on the fence on that one.

For a new build, have you looked at sandy bridge? I think you should.

Well you don't need 24GB or even 12GB for gaming. 6GB is more than enough, and in any case the most efficient is a Tri Channel Kit {3X_GB} versus a Hexa Channel Kit {6X_GB}.

6GB:
Good 3x2GB - Corsair Dominator TR3X6G1600C8D
Best 3x2GB - Corsair Dominator GT CMT6GX3M3A1866C9

12GB:
Good 3X4GB - Corsair Dominator CMP12GX3M3A1600C9
Best 3X4GB - Corsair Dominator GT CMT12GX3M3A2000C9

Note the GT require a BCLK of >160; so you'll need to OC to run them stable.

Corsair Tested -> http://www2.corsair.com/configurator/product_results.as...

Comparison Module #1: Mushkin Redline 996805 6-8-6-24 1600MHz
Comparison Module #2: G.Skill Pi Series 7-8-7-24 1600MHz
Comparison Module #3: Mushkin 998687 8-9-8-24 1866MHz
Comparison Module #4: Corsair Dominator TR3X6G1600C8D 8-8-8-24 1600MHz
Comparison Module #5: Kingston HyperX T1 9-9-9-27 1600MHz
Comparison Module #6: Mushkin Blackline 998677B 7-7-7-20 1333MHz
Comparison Module #7: Patriot Viper II Sector 7 9-9-9-27 1800MHz
Running 1800MHz:


Stock:


Good Luck!