Questions about RAM...

[rrayhan77]

Since loadshedding is on the rise, I am wasting my valueable time thinking about lame issues, like this one: Which RAM are the best? When upgrading RAM, the features that are usually highlighted: Clock Speed, CL Timming and Size. My 1st question: Is more better? Is 8-16GB RAM helpful, considering its set up in Quad-Channel? 2ndly, Lower timming, higher speed is good. But which is more important? Timing or MHz? Also discuss further about RAMs here. Sorry to those who may feel vexed by my lame thread.

[dipanzan]

considering its set up in Quad-Channel?

Quad channel is only possible with SB-E.

Lower timming

Tighter timings is comparatively better for the AMD platform, likewise you will benefit from say CL7 than a set of CL9 on a AMD setup.

higher speed

If by higher speed you mean the b/w, then yes it's good but the IMC (Integrated Memory Controller) has to be capable of using that speed. Since modern CPUs (on wards) from the Core 2 platform have the IMC integrated in the CPU itself, the IMC plays a large part here. Nehalem does ~1600-1866 in Tri channel, whereas SB scales even up to 2166 with ease, but the latter uses dual and even has better b/w than Nehalem.

The Phenom IMC (X4 Denebs) have a weaker IMC than the (X6 Thubans) and can only use upto 1333 in dual channel. When 1600 modules are installed, X4s usually have a hard time when all the memory slots are populated. The newer Zambezi chips on the other hand (yes I'm talking about Bulldozer) has an even better IMC than the previous generations AMD processors. It can go upto 1866 and above with ease.

The sweet spot for memory would be (4GB x2) CAS9 1600 modules. Ivy Bridge has an even better IMC, and scales past 2200, so I guess 1800+ modules would become mainstream in the near future.

[rrayhan77]

thankx @dipanzan , AMD FX-83XX series resolved dat issue? And, what happens if I put CL8+CL8 together?

[dipanzan]

thankx @dipanzan , AMD FX-83XX series resolved dat issue? And, what happens if I put CL8+CL8 together?

What issue? And by putting CL8+CL8, it'll just work as it's intended to in "harmony".

[rrayhan77]

What issue? And by putting CL8+CL8, it'll just work as it's intended to in "harmony".

Ehh.. really? What about 4GB CL9 + 2GB CL8? No probz?

[dipanzan]

Ehh.. really? What about 4GB CL9 + 2GB CL8? No probz?

You can't, and I'm not really aware of any board that is capable of tweaking each bank of memory "individually". Bottom line is, don't mix match memory. The DIMMs will prolly be working at standard 1333 JEDEC spec if it's mix matched, and you won't really get the CL8 timings unless you configure the CL9s manually.

[@nonymous™]

2ndly, Lower timming, higher speed is good. But which is more important? Timing or MHz?.

Lower delay = faster memory operation..there is a very easy formula about it....

Delay=( 1/f ) X CL

here,
f= frequency in mhz(you need to use real clock rate which is half of labeled clock rate. ie 666.66 mhz for 1333mhz)
CL=CAS Latency(best known memory timing parameter.ie 8-8-8-24, here 8 is the CL)

now for a ddr3-1333 mhz ram CL at 9 the delay would be 13.5ns and for a ddr3-1066 ram CL at at 7 the delay would be 13.1 ns. hence the ddr3-1066 will be faster.....
a memory with CL 7 may provide upto ~22% improvement over a memory with CL 9, considering both are running at same frequency....

[Sumit Pramanik]

Ehh.. really? What about 4GB CL9 + 2GB CL8? No probz?

I am using 3*2GB DDR2 CL5 RAM. But before I have one 2GB DDR2 CL5 RAM and I bought two CL6 RAM. When I put them together, my system normally wont start. After few tries it starts but then have a Bluescreen error. After that I have to tweak it to work together. Now I have swapped them with my friends 4GB CL5. So it will be wise not to buy different CL's RAM. Try to buy the same one.

[rrayhan77]

Thankx every1. So I learnd 8GB CL8 1600MHz is the optimal choice. But wat abt mem. Say some1 buys 4x4GB 1333MHz CL9s... 16GB really helpful?

[Sumit Pramanik]

Thankx every1. So I learnd 8GB CL8 1600MHz is the optimal choice. But wat abt mem. Say some1 buys 4x4GB 1333MHz CL9s... 16GB really helpful?

16 GB RAM will only be used if you run many many ....... programs with high stress at a time & if your CPU utilization don't reach 100%. It's very tough to use 16GB RAM at a time.....

[sumonpathak]

AMD FX-83XX series

? whats 83XX? the top of the line ATM is FX8150.

[rrayhan77]

Okay, question about overclocking: lowering timming lowers MHz right? 2100MHz RAMs are CL10 sticks, AFAIK. So what will be there clock speed in CL8? @dipanzan

[dipanzan]

Okay, question about overclocking: lowering timming lowers MHz right? 2100MHz RAMs are CL10 sticks, AFAIK. So what will be there clock speed in CL8? @dipanzan

No. Lowering timings won't lower speed(MHz), these 2000+ modules are usually loosened at CL9+ to achieve those speeds. They don't really comply with JEDEC specs which is officially upto CL9 at 1600.

What I would recommend is that you keep the RAM at CL8~CL9 at 1600 for INTEL systems, and CL7~CL8 at 1333 for AMD systems.

Loosening timings only allows you to reach higher speeds at the expense of increasing latency, you'll need to push a little more voltage than stock if the DIMMs aren't stable?

Lastly the more DIMMs you've installed, the more strain on the IMC, and the less likely of a good OC. Usually the case in older Phenom systems.

[Reznov]

I have a simple query and it doesn't deserve a new thread I think. So posting here. Saying sorry if I'm doing wrong @XLR8 bro.

---------- Post added at 22:30 ---------- Previous post was at 22:26 ----------

My cpu is c2d E4600, which is running with 3gb ddr2 800 bus ram. Is there any chance of performance improve by making it 4gb? Windows exp index says 5.9, 5.9 and 6.8 for processor, memory and graphics respectively. Thanking you in advance.

[Badhon_raj]

I have a simple query and it doesn't deserve a new thread I think. So posting here. Saying sorry if I'm doing wrong @XLR8 bro.---------- Post added at 22:30 ---------- Previous post was at 22:26 ----------My cpu is c2d E4600, which is running with 3gb ddr2 800 bus ram. Is there any chance of performance improve by making it 4gb? Windows exp index says 5.9, 5.9 and 6.8 for processor, memory and graphics respectively. Thanking you in advance.

I think you won't see any difference practically unless you run some app which required a lot of memory (vmware?). Windows exp. index may increase a little. My index says 6.2 for memory.

[Reznov]

I think you won't see any difference practically unless you run some app which required a lot of memory (vmware?). Windows exp. index may increase a little. My index says 6.2 for memory.

the purpose is gaming. Apnar ki ddr3?

[Badhon_raj]

the purpose is gaming. Apnar ki ddr3?

no ddr2. 1gb extra ram won't improve anything in gaming for you.

[Reznov]

no ddr2. 1gb extra ram won't improve anything in gaming for you.

ah thnx. I should better wait a few months and move toward a new rig.

[rrayhan77]

GSkill Sniper 1866MHz 9-10-9-28 better than Corsair Vengeance 1600MHz 9-9-9-21?

[rrayhan77]

There are 4GB 2133MHz TwinMos Twister RAM in the Market with 9-10-9-24 timming. Doesnt dat mean they are really good?