Which RAM to get? Please advise...

[nish-ka-bibble]

I am putting together a rig that has the ASUS P6X58D-E and an i7-930 processor was wondering which RAM would be best to use. Could someone explain the differences with timing and Cas Latency, etc. Thanks!:

This G-Skill RAM in red

CORSAIR XMS3 6GB on sale

G.SKILL PI Series 6GB (out of stock)

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 6GB

Crucial Ballistix Tracer 6GB

Thanks again

 

[banthracis]

Are you Ocing?
The Ripjaw kit is great value for the money.

I'd avoid 1.65v RAM. It technically works, but they haven't been playing too nice with Intel chipsets.

More expensive, but a better performing option would be tridents.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231254&cm_re=g_skill_trident-_-20-231-254-_-Product

Explanation

AMD architecture favors tighter timings over faster speed for
performance increase. Intel, favors neither. That said, neither makes
a significant impact on performance to warrant a major price
difference.

CAS latency refers to how long it takes the RAM to do something after
it's given a command. Makes no difference to FPS in gaming, but like
an SSD, it improves system responsiveness.

Now, as to why overclocking and RAM speed matters,

Stock i7-930 is 133 block, 21 multiplier and 10x memory multiplier.
Though the latter is determined by MOBO not CPU. This fully saturated
1333mhz RAM. 133block speed x 10 memory multiplier= 1330.

To OC above this you'll need to either lower multiplier or get faster RAM.
In general, we recommend DDR3 1600 RAM if you plan on a OC.

Now, the reason why we recommend G Skill RAM is that memory can
perform better than rated speeds. Most companeis sell you RAM that'll
perform at specs, G SKill tends to give you better than you pay for.
So their RAM can run at higher speeds, lower voltages and/or lower
timings than specs. OCZ is the opposite, hence we don't recommend
them.

High speeds requires looser timings to work. I'll avoid the
tech details as to why, but suffice to say this is a mechanically
imposed limitation. Now, because faster RAM must be of higher quality
to maintain the same latency as slower RAM, they're generally better
quality. As a result, the Trident DDR3 2000 kit that's rated at cas 9
at 2000, can hit CAS 6 at 1600 speeds. CAS 5 at 1333 speeds. This is
why people will buy extremely fast RAM. They're getting higher quality
RAM so they can run it at tighter timings for the speeds they want.

Now as to why 1600 7-8-7-24 kit is better than a 1333 7-7-7-21 kit, is
because, the 1600 kit can run 7-7-7-21 when under clocked to 1333
speeds.

 

[nish-ka-bibble]

Best answer selected by Nish-ka-bibble.