6 GB vs 12 GB...

[Zen Ninja]

I currently have 6 GB DD3 at 1600 Mhz (CAS 8)-(8-8-8-20) which is working flawlessly, however, someone gave me 12 GB DDR3 at 1333 Mhz (CAS 7)-(9-9-9-24) and my PC ran NOTICEABLY slower. Now, I can return the 12 GB pack for a different one--12 GB DDR3 at 1600 Mhz (CAS 9)-(9-9-9-24)--would this be better?

Please note, all 3 are at 1.5v. Current brand is Corsair, 1333 is GSkillz and new 1600 is Corsair.

The reason for such a strange amount of RAM is because it is Triple Channel.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Rakewell]

I currently have 6 GB DD3 at 1600 Mhz (CAS 8) which is working flawlessly, however, someone gave me 12 GB DDR3 at 1333 Mhz (CAS 7) and my PC ran NOTICEABLY slower. Now, I can return the 12 GB pack for a different one--12 GB DDR3 at 1600 Mhz (CAS 9)--would this be better?

Please note, all 3 are at 1.5v. Current brand is Corsair, 1333 is GSkillz and new 1600 is Corsair.

The reason for such a strange amount of RAM is because it is Triple Channel.

Thanks in advance.

Slower than 6? Hmmm... What's your MOBO? BIOS up to date? Have you checked to see if the RAM is on the compatibility list from the MOBO manufacturer?

 

[Zen Ninja]

Yes to all questions.

MOBO is ASUS P6X58D-E.

 

[Zen Ninja]

Also, I wouldn't say slower per se but I would say more laggy--at least that's how it felt.

In game (DotA 2 and BF3) I noticed the 12 GB caused more lag spikes.

 

[Rakewell]

Also, I wouldn't say slower per se but I would say more laggy--at least that's how it felt.

In game (DotA 2 and BF3) I noticed the 12 GB caused more lag spikes.

Did you try any overclocking, which includes new RAS to CAS settings? A mild 5-10% OC could fix your issues, and that board OC's nicely.

Otherwise, I think you may be on the right track with new memory.

 

[mrpiggy]

Also, I wouldn't say slower per se but I would say more laggy--at least that's how it felt.

In game (DotA 2 and BF3) I noticed the 12 GB caused more lag spikes.

Unless your motherboard is defective, memory speed performance differences between 1600 and 1333 will only account for a "miniscule" difference in frame rates in games (all else being equal like processor, video card, etc), especially in a triple channel setup of the x58 chipset. Plus, the changes in speed should never cause "lag spikes" as it is an across-the-board speed change, not a sometimes-but-not-other-times speed change (unless your MB simply does not like the memory or configuration). Everything might be a bit miniscule slower, but it should be even, not spiky.

I would try the 1333 memory with the exact same amount installed as the original to see if your motherboard might simply have issues with the amount or memory layout. Basically, with a modern CPU and current multiple channel memory configurations, end performance, even with games, memory speeds should have little effect on game output compared to other upgradeable computer components.

To use an automobile analogy, the end performance difference between 1333 memory and 1600 memory on a x58 motherboard is like the difference between using 89 octane gas in a car designed with 87 octane gas in mind. Yes, there might be a tiny difference, but your car should not run like crap with 87 octane compared to using 89 octane since it was designed to run fine with the lower octane in the first place.

 

[jimmybgood9]

BTW There's an in-depth article on the front page of Anandtech that analyses just this concern in excruciating depth and detail. The way I read it, unless you are using an IGP, which I guess the OP isn't, the difference in performance over the RAM the OP is looking at will make a difference of maybe a percent or two.

 

[blastingcap]

Unless your motherboard is defective, memory speed performance differences between 1600 and 1333 will only account for a "miniscule" difference in frame rates in games (all else being equal like processor, video card, etc), especially in a triple channel setup of the x58 chipset. Plus, the changes in speed should never cause "lag spikes" as it is an across-the-board speed change, not a sometimes-but-not-other-times speed change (unless your MB simply does not like the memory or configuration). Everything might be a bit miniscule slower, but it should be even, not spiky.

I would try the 1333 memory with the exact same amount installed as the original to see if your motherboard might simply have issues with the amount or memory layout. Basically, with a modern CPU and current multiple channel memory configurations, end performance, even with games, memory speeds should have little effect on game output compared to other upgradeable computer components.

To use an automobile analogy, the end performance difference between 1333 memory and 1600 memory on a x58 motherboard is like the difference between using 89 octane gas in a car designed with 87 octane gas in mind. Yes, there might be a tiny difference, but your car should not run like crap with 87 octane compared to using 89 octane since it was designed to run fine with the lower octane in the first place.

This.

Also, one or more of your DIMMs may be defective or something if you can actually notice a difference. Try running HCI Memtest or Memtest86+ for at least 12 and preferably more than 12 hours.

 

[tweakboy]

Ram is now 16 dollars avg per 8GB. Grab a 16GB kit of 2666Mhz or 2400Mhz and downclock it and give it a CL of 9 .... gl

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

Unless your motherboard is defective, memory speed performance differences between 1600 and 1333 will only account for a "miniscule" difference in frame rates in games (all else being equal like processor, video card, etc), especially in a triple channel setup of the x58 chipset. Plus, the changes in speed should never cause "lag spikes" as it is an across-the-board speed change, not a sometimes-but-not-other-times speed change (unless your MB simply does not like the memory or configuration). Everything might be a bit miniscule slower, but it should be even, not spiky.

I would try the 1333 memory with the exact same amount installed as the original to see if your motherboard might simply have issues with the amount or memory layout. Basically, with a modern CPU and current multiple channel memory configurations, end performance, even with games, memory speeds should have little effect on game output compared to other upgradeable computer components.

To use an automobile analogy, the end performance difference between 1333 memory and 1600 memory on a x58 motherboard is like the difference between using 89 octane gas in a car designed with 87 octane gas in mind. Yes, there might be a tiny difference, but your car should not run like crap with 87 octane compared to using 89 octane since it was designed to run fine with the lower octane in the first place.

Well, it could be the RAM is causing the CPU to downclock. I remember when X58 first came out, when I was choosing my own X58 rig there was a lot of people writing about how having RAM populating all the modules reduced the overclocking capacity of the board. Maybe these modules are a bit "special" and do something else like reducing Turbo as well.