H67 and ram speed....please help

[05UFCaptain]

Considering an i5-2500k/H67 chipset build with the ASUS P8H67-M EVO motherboard and the iGPU, which set of system memory would be the better option? And why??

G.SKILL ECO Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-4GBECO
Model #: F3-10666CL9D-4GBECO
Item #: N82E16820231316
$44.99 $44.99

OR

OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model OCZ3P1600C9ELV4GK
Model #: OCZ3P1600C9ELV4GK
Item #: N82E16820227653
$44.99 $44.99

While the OCZ set is clearly rated to run at a higher frequency with seemingly identical latencies, ASUS does not list the OCZ Platinum ELV ram on it’s QVL for this board (although it does list an ULV 1.35 dimm with 8-8-8 timings at a 1333 frequency) while the G.Skill ECO series is listed. Furthermore, in addition to the in-ability to OC, the H67 chipset also seems to be more limited than P67 in pci-e mode configuration and system memory speeds. While I don’t plan to do an OCing or to run any SLI/Xfire setups (although I like knowing the options are there for the future), I would appreciate the added system responsiveness from the faster memory, especially if its not going to cost me anything extra. As a side note, I don’t have any preferences of OCZ over G.Skill or vice versa, but it seems G.Skill is more concerned with customer service based solely on their presence in so many newegg reviews. FWIW, newegg is running a 15% deal on all desktop ram so sooner I make the decision the better. Thanks in advance.
Nick

 

[PreferLinux]

H67 only supports up to 1333 RAM. So, there is no real advantage to the faster lot. As the other one is on the QVL, while the OCZ isn't, I would probably go for the G.SKILL.

 

[daship]

A xxxxK on a H67 just dont make sense. You can not overclock the processor on H67 so buying a k series is a waste of extra $$$.

 

[PreferLinux]

Not completely. The K CPUs have a better IGP.

 

[05UFCaptain]

H67 only supports up to 1333 RAM. So, there is no real advantage to the faster lot. As the other one is on the QVL, while the OCZ isn't, I would probably go for the G.SKILL.

While I thought that memory frequency on H67 chipset mobos was limited to 1333 Mhz, I’ve read so many different prospective builds with, recommendations to change prospective builds to, and major tech website reviews that suggested using 1600 Mhz ram with an H67 mobo that I thought maybe I had just missed something. Guess that just proves again that you can't believe everything you read on the internet, especially when it pertains to more obscure information.

Just to verify, the EFI or BIOS of an H67 mobo should have a setting to adjust 1333 Mhz memory up to its rated speed if for some reason it defaults to 1066 Mhz, but it won’t allow 1600 Mhz ram to be set to anything above the same 1333 Mhz frequency? Hypothetically, if the EFI/BIOS permitted the memory clock speed to be set to 1600 Mhz and somehow the system was actually to boot, would it be because the H67 chipset or EFI/BIOS had automatically reset the memory frequency? Thanks again.
Nick

Edit:
So from all the benchmarks I've seen, lower latencies seem to help synthetic latency tests, but rarely have ANY real-world performance improvements let alone something noticeable to an end-user, but would anyone choose 9-9-9-24 over 8-8-8-24 timings to save $3 bucks? Oh, and while doubt that it would really matter, the QVL for the P8H67-M EVO actually lists the 8-8-8-24 G.Skill ECO ram and not the 9-9-9-24 G.Skill ECO ram.

G.SKILL ECO Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL8D-4GBECO
Model #: F3-10666CL8D-4GBECO
Item #: N82E16820231317
$47.99 $47.99

 

[PreferLinux]

The motherboard should have settings to allow adjusting the settings up to 1333 memory, which it would probably default to, anyway, but it wouldn't allow anything more. If the BIOS has the settings for more than 1333, the chipset would probably ignore it and go with the default.

Of course, if you use faster memory at a lower than rated speed, you may well de able to decrease the timings, but that would provide very little in the way of performance improvements.

 

[geekapproved]

Not completely. The K CPUs have a better IGP.

Not much better. Either way it's gonna suck.

 

[PreferLinux]

Not much better? It's the best IGP there is, so far, and it's about twice as fast as the non-K ones.

 

[05UFCaptain]

Not much better. Either way it's gonna suck.

If I was using the box for any gaming what so ever, I would agree. That said, the rig is intended to be a glorified HTPC/seedbox/nettop. In addition to being power conscious due to it's 24/7 up time, I need the box to perform transcode and/or remux functions efficiently while not loosing the ability to multi-task 10, 20, or 30 tabs, to file serve other home pc's, and/or to play 1080p24 (23.976 damn you intel) video possibly simultaneously. So for my needs, the iGP with QS should work great, but thanks for answering the question I asked and staying on the topic of the thread! :lol:

A xxxxK on a H67 just dont make sense. You can not overclock the processor on H67 so buying a k series is a waste of extra $$$.

For an extra $15 bucks over an xxxxK, I'll opt for approximately double the iGP performance. While I may be missing out on SSD cashing that’s coming on Z68 (hopefully it will be available with a driver update on H67 boards that use Intel RST), I don’t think a locked CPU or loss of a discrete GPU is going to affect me at all.

 

[05UFCaptain]

PreferLinux,
9-9-9-24, or 8-8-8-24 timings for an extra $3 bucks?

 

[PreferLinux]

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/memory/2011/01/11/the-best-memory-for-sandy-bridge/3 and the next two pages. Very little performance difference. Probably better to go 8-8-8-24 seeing it's on the QVL and only $3 difference, but it shouldn't really matter. I have 2 GB dual channel of generic RAM (667 MHz) on my Asus P5K SE, and it works fine. So, whatever you want!

The 8-8-8-24 is possibly better quality memory, and would probably be better if you ever went to a P67 etc and wanted to overclock.

 

[05UFCaptain]

Best answer selected by 05UFCaptain.