Higher Performance Combo

[ChaosAD]

I was hoping to get some opinions on my RAM set up.
Currently I have 3 x 4GB Corsair Vengeance. 1 stick is @1600MHz whilst the other 2 are @1866MHz.
As expected, all of the RAM has been limited to 1600MHz so I was wondering. What will give me better performance? 12GB @1600MHz or 12GB @ 1866MHz?

Thanks guys

 

[Supahos]

12 gb at 1866 will... you might can OC the 1600 stick to run at 1866 mhz, just put the 1866 timings into your bios, raise voltage to 1.55v and see if it will boot and run stable. The difference won't be dramatic, and I wouldn't mix more kits anyway so I would either leave it at 1600, or try to OC to 1866. Don't buy 4 gb of 1866 to mix in, difference will be tiny, and might not even work.

 

[ChaosAD]

12 gb at 1866 will... you might can OC the 1600 stick to run at 1866 mhz, just put the 1866 timings into your bios, raise voltage to 1.55v and see if it will boot and run stable. The difference won't be dramatic, and I wouldn't mix more kits anyway so I would either leave it at 1600, or try to OC to 1866. Don't buy 4 gb of 1866 to mix in, difference will be tiny, and might not even work.

Thanks for the reply, although I made a mistake in my post. The choices were meant to be
8GB @ 1866MHz
Or
12GB @ 1600HMz.
Also, I'm not planning to buy another stick of RAM. I currently have the 12GB but I am wondering if I will get better performance if I take out the 1600MHz stick and allow the lower capacity to run at a higher speed

Thanks

 

[Supahos]

depends on what you're doing with the computer. if its just gaming the 8gb will be faster, if you do lots of video/photo rendering the 12gb might be better, I still think you can probably oc that single stick to run at 1866 and have 12gb at 1866, its at least worth a shot.

 

[ChaosAD]

depends on what you're doing with the computer. if its just gaming the 8gb will be faster, if you do lots of video/photo rendering the 12gb might be better, I still think you can probably oc that single stick to run at 1866 and have 12gb at 1866, its at least worth a shot.

Thanks. Any chance you could help me out OCing the 1600 stick? I'm relatively new to overclocking.

I'm not sure how to set the RAM timings or what frequency I should set the RAM to to achieve 1866MHz

 

[Supahos]

Well I don't know precicely... best bet is to take the 1866 sticks you have, they should have a label on them telling you the timings (something like 10-10-10-27) go into the bios and set the speed to 1866, and then find whever the dram timings are in your bios and set them to whatever the 1866 sticks are supposed to run at. then manually change the dram voltage to 1.55v. exit and save in bios, and see if it boots.


Another option would be,

put them in there with one of the 1866 sticks closest to the cpu, then the 1600 stick, then the other 1866 sticks, and see if this makes them run at 1866, someimtes the comptuer just reads the first stick (some check them all and will default to slowest ones) if that doens't work try my first suggestion. It may not boot at 1866, but I figure its worth a shot.

 

[ChaosAD]

Thanks man. I'll try it out.

As for putting the 1866 in the first slot, I can't. The reason I have 12GB rather than the 16GB I originally had is because whenever I buy new parts for my computer, I always forget to order a new CPU cooler and don't remember until I run out of money so I've had to bodge an AM2 cooler onto an AM3 board and it blocks the first DIMM slot lol. So I had to take out a stick of RAM

Well I don't know precicely... best bet is to take the 1866 sticks you have, they should have a label on them telling you the timings (something like 10-10-10-27) go into the bios and set the speed to 1866, and then find whever the dram timings are in your bios and set them to whatever the 1866 sticks are supposed to run at. then manually change the dram voltage to 1.55v. exit and save in bios, and see if it boots.


Another option would be,

put them in there with one of the 1866 sticks closest to the cpu, then the 1600 stick, then the other 1866 sticks, and see if this makes them run at 1866, someimtes the comptuer just reads the first stick (some check them all and will default to slowest ones) if that doens't work try my first suggestion. It may not boot at 1866, but I figure its worth a shot.

 

[Tradesman1]

Give it a try and let us know, with the sticks at the 1866 stock timings - may need DRAM up to 1.6 (which is safe) and may also need to raise the CPU/NB voltage (that's your MC (memory controller) voltage) to between 1.18 and 1.24

 

[ChaosAD]

Okay cool I've got the RAM sitting at 1866MHz and is currently stable. Thanks guys
I tried taking it up a stage and overclocking to 2133MHz but it instantly failed.
Don't suppose you have any insight? Like what I should set the voltage to and all that malarky.
Thanks again, guys

 

[Tradesman1]

2133 prob won't go, not many AMD CPUs can carry 2133, if you want to try - jot down your current settings so you can reset to that, then try 2133 with each of the four base timing at + 1 from current i.e. if 9-9-9-27 then try 10-10-10-28 start with DRAM voltage 1.63 and set CPU/NB voltage to 1.29

 

[Supahos]

In addition to the AMD cpus not being fond of 2133, you also have to remember you're trying to run a 1600 mhz stick which isn't a great stick to begin with, and a mixmatched set all at 2133, I woudln't have guessed that would have worked on any rig. At least you did get it all at 1866.

 

[ChaosAD]

In addition to the AMD cpus not being fond of 2133, you also have to remember you're trying to run a 1600 mhz stick which isn't a great stick to begin with, and a mixmatched set all at 2133, I woudln't have guessed that would have worked on any rig. At least you did get it all at 1866.

I'm not running 1600 sticks. They're 1866 but were held back by ONE 1600 stick which I have now taken out anyway

 

[Supahos]

Oh, drop the 1600 stick in there and see if it will go. Might as well give it a try. (just make sure the computer doesn't default back to 1600 when you put it in there). Tradesman gave you the playbook for trying to get to 2133, but it will be very hit or miss. I think you might have better luck going for 12gb @ 1866.