Will underclocking RAM from 1.6GHz to 1.333GHz result in a performance loss?

[vilaemail]

I am making my own computer configuration.

I have settled for CPU and motherboard:
http://ark.intel.com/products/69114
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4198#ov

Also i was looking at these 8GB memories:
http://www.kingston.com/datasheets/KHX16C9X3_8.pdf
http://www.kingston.com/datasheets/KHX13C9B1K2_16.pdf

I am trying to pick one of the two memories.
As I understand my motherboard supports "1333MHz memory modules" and "2200MHz OC". I think OC stants for overclock. Now, I am confused can i use memory modules of 1600MHz on 1600MHz clock on this motherboard?

Looking at CPU specification I see it supports both 1333MHz and 1600MHz.

If i use 1600MHz RAM on 1333MHz clock, will I somehow loose any performance? (This is my main question) Why am I asking this is because from these two RAM modules, the one with higher frequency (1600MHz) is cheaper and that is confusing since they both have same CL.

 

[clutchc]

The price is due to mass production. 1600MHZ is much more common now that 1333MHZ has become slightly obsolete because they produce more of it and/or the retailers get better prices due to volume.

On paper, there will be a performance loss by running memory at 1333MHZ instead of 1600MHZ all else being equal. But in real life you probably won't be able to tell the difference. But if the price is the same, I'd go for the 1600MHZ since the IB processor handles that natively. The board should run the memory at the full 1600MHZ. You may have to access BIOS to select the faster speed manually is all.

Keep in mind, using only 1 stick of memory will not allow you to make use of dual channel speeds. And if you are buying 2 sticks, try to find matching pairs. Dual channel is picky about the 2 sticks matching exactly in their timings, etc.

 

[clutchc]

One other thing. That MB is from the 2nd gen core processor era. It will work with a 3rd gen Core processor too, but it will need to have at least an F7 BIOS update. If the board has been sitting on the shelf for sometime, you may get one with an older BIOS that won't recognize the 3rd gen Core processor w/o an update first. And you can't do that if the MB doesn't recognize the CPU.

 

[vilaemail]

Thank you very much.

I was thinking of buying 2 sticks of one of these memories (16GB in total). I suppose that two same sticks are a 100% match.

So, in order to do BIOS update, I first must put an older CPU and do an update and then put the new one? Is there any way to tell what BIOS version the board is running by the packaging or something else? I don't want to put all together just to see that board isn't updated and then having to remove CPU and put (and find!) older one just to do an update.

 

[clutchc]

2 matched sticks sold in pairs would be best. But if you buy 2 identical single sticks, your chances of them playing nice together in dual channel mode is almost as good.

Your thinking on doing a BIOS update is correct. It may not be necessary if you are buying the board from a major retailer that has a large turnover... like Newegg or Amazon. You'll notice on the MB's website that there are 3 versions of that board produced. (2.0, 2.1, and 2.2) Chances are that the latest version would be the best bet for having an updated BIOS that recognizes IB processors.

MBs with a "6" in their name (i.e. H61) were produced with a chipset that came out with the Sandy Bridge processors (ix-2xxx). MBs with a "7" in their name were were produced with a chipset that came out with the Ivy Bridge processors; like the one you're getting. So that is another route you can go; grab a "7" series chip set MB.