Memory for Athlon 64

GenStryker

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Sep 29, 2004
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I heard Athlon 64 profits better from low latency memories rather than faster ones, while the opposite happens with Pentium 4's. If that is so, what is the best (Lowest latency) memory module available (DDR400 - PC3200) for an Athlon 64 (3500+) system? I've searching for a while but didn't seem to find anything below 3-3-3.

EDIT: Currently using Asus ▪ A8V Deluxe Wi-Fi.
 

GenStryker

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Just wondering - How much % of performance gain I'll have if I get a low latency memory instead of a value module (Higher latencies)?
 

scottchen

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Corsair PC3200XL is what i'd grab, well the performance isn't gigantic between Low Latency and High Latency, which is why I always recommend people to get more crappy ram than less of great ram. For exmample, I chose 4x512mb(2G) of DDR400 Samsung ram, over Corsair PC3200XL 2x512mb(1G). Two reasons, More ram>Faster ram, that applies in most real-life applications, not benchmarks. Reason 2, it's cheaper.
 

miahallen

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The actual performance gain will be minimal, where you'll benefit most is the memories headroom for overclocking! Be careful:

"We have found the fastest performance on AMD Athlon 64 chipsets (nForce3, VIA K8T800 PRO) to be achieved at Cycle Time or tRAS of 10. Athlon 64 platform benchmarks were therefore run with the tRAS timing of 10 for all A64 benchmarks." - anandtech.com<A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2242&p=5" target="_new">http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2242&p=5</A>

So ideal timings would look more like 2.0 2 2 10 according to anandtech. They used OCZ 3200 Platinum Rev. 2 (2.0 2 2 10 T1) which I hear is one of the best for the money right now.
<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-146-890&depa=1" target="_new">http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-146-890&depa=1</A>

They underclocked it to 2.5 4 4 10 and were able to run the 3500+ at 2.6GHz with air cooling and factory voltage settings. If you haven't yet bought the proc, they also achieved stellar results (also 2.6GHz) with the 3000+ with a mild boost in voltage.
 

BeyRevRa

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Is it me... or did the linked ram come up as 2-2-2-5?

AMD 64 3400+
MSI K8N Neo Platinum
1 GB Kingston HyperX PC3200
6800 GT
WD Raptor 74GB
 

BeyRevRa

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How do you change that specific timing? Maybe I'm missing something but I don't see that in my bios. My mobo is in my signature.

AMD 64 3400+
MSI K8N Neo Platinum
1 GB Kingston HyperX PC3200
6800 GT
WD Raptor 74GB
 

endyen

Splendid
There will be a line in your bios that says something like "memory" or "Memory timing" It may be set to auto or by spd. You have to change this to manual to be able to set the timings.
 

endyen

Splendid
I really like that review. It shows that, aside from in a couple of games, the Intel 560 clearly beats the A64 3000+.
Of course, if all you do is game, the 560, or the 3000+ will be plenty.
 

miahallen

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WoW, I've been buying AMD all these years thinking I could spend half the money, and the OC to well beyond the competion's performance...but you've enlightened me..........

......oh, wait. pricewatch says the 560 starts at $440 and the 3000+ at $188. hummmm.......oh, and looking back at the review, the 3000+ CAN be overclocked to WELL beyond the 560's performance in ALL the benchmarks....very interesting!

AMD all the way! (alright, except in my school laptop)
 

BeyRevRa

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For that price you can get a 3700+ and the 560 wouldn't even appear on the chart :)

AMD 64 3400+
MSI K8N Neo Platinum
1 GB Kingston HyperX PC3200
6800 GT
WD Raptor 74GB