Advice on MEMORY for e8400 setup

[syadnom]

Building my new system here and have been running AMD for some time and have been out of the seen. I have read all the reviews I can but none of them consider the use of ddr2-800 during benchmarks even though it is possible.

I am split between getting 2GB of ddr2-1066 or 4GB of ddr2-800 for an e8400.(same price, i have a roughly $100 budget on ram)

I'm well aware that windows will use just 3GB or so but I only run windows for gaming and the rest of the time I'm a linux nut, and I can use all 4GB without issue on linux.

I planning on using an MSI NEO2-FR or alternately ABIT IP35-E or GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L(see my other post if you have some advice!)

Will I see a big hit in performance if I go with the ddr2-800? I'm not up to speed on how much bandwidth will effect an Intel chip. I will likely not use very aggressive timings and all of my mobo options can do the right ratios to overclock the e8400 and still keep the memory in check, though I will have to overclock OR underclock the ddr2-800 while the ddr2-1066 will be line up to the ratios much better so i would never have to underclock and only have to overclock the ram slightly.

any advice is appreciated. thanks

 

[DSF]

You're not going to notice a speed difference between the two. Go with the 4GB.

 

[syadnom]

even considering to probable underclock on the ddr2-800? on the e8400 stock bus being 333, i will likely make it to 380 pretty easily with is ddr2-760 at 1:1 or i can do 1:1.1 for 836mhz. I suppose that a 36mhz memory clock is very much in the comfort zone. If I underclock I may be able to tweak the memory timings up to CAS4 or something to compensate........

 

[GarfieldtheCat]

Go with the 4Gig DDR2-800. You can OC your CPU to 3.6GHZ and still be within spec for this RAM, and it's dirt cheap ($80 for 4gig from many vendors).

 

[syadnom]

I think I'm convinced, maybe a follow-up question here...2x2GB or 4x1GB? I should note that I have a $100 coupon at DELL some I'm trying to get the memory there. Was hoping DELL would get the e8400 in as they are usually right at Intel's suggested price.

 

[LV123]

You can see my build in my sig, its all ordered, some has already arrived. The OC madness shall begin soon!

If I am running Win XP will it recognize all 4GB of memory?? I am coming from an overclocked Dell 9300 laptop and the recognizable RAM is limited to ~3.2GB; is it the same for desktops in Win XP?

If my desktop will recognize it, would it be worth it to double the Corsair RAM seen in my sig (up to 4GB, so 4x1GB)? I do about 50/50 gaming/photoshop.

 

[syadnom]

XP 32bit wont recognize all 4 GB, more like 3GB. I'm running a 3.6Ghz P4 with 4GB and windows only gives me 3GB. I also have some workstations that shipped with 4GB but XP only gives 3GB which sucks. You can try a 64bit XP or Vista but there are compatability issues with some things. Photoshop works fine but a lot of games don't OR they do but they run slower.

 

[Sylvanas]

Originally posted by: syadnom
I think I'm convinced, maybe a follow-up question here...2x2GB or 4x1GB? I should note that I have a $100 coupon at DELL some I'm trying to get the memory there. Was hoping DELL would get the e8400 in as they are usually right at Intel's suggested price.

I'm not familiar with what you can get from Dell however I'd recommend 2x2gb for sure. Less hassles than 4x1GB and recently the big memory manufacturers have been coming out with some sweet memory in the 2x2GB market- Gskill and Muskin come to mind.

 

[dingetje]

check this out:
http://www.legionhardware.com/document.php?id=717&p=10

 

[Spike]

I personally went with 8Gb of DDR2-800 with my IP35-E since it was so cheap. Change the FSB to 400 and wham, 3.6 baby. I am going to wait for a week or so before going farther but so far so good. I am always of the mindset to get more, slower ram than less, faster ram unless you are coming up against wall like, say, the 4GB limit in a 32-bit OS.

 

[syadnom]

After Reading that article on legionhardware im now concerned that I will be memory limited. maybe its just too early in the morning to think or something...

i have the following ratios available 1:1,1.2,1.25,1.5,1.6

3Ghz = 333*9 ddr667 1:1
3.6Ghz = 400*9 ddr800 1:1
4Ghz = 444*9 = ddr888 1:1 or ddr740 1:1.2 right? or is my logic wrong here?
4.2Ghz = 467*9 = ddr933 1:1 or ddr777 1:1.2
4.4Ghz = 488*9 = ddr 977 1:1 or ddr814 1:1.2

so i really am not limited by the ram if im overclocking if i did the math right.

im considering going backup to water cooling. i still have most of the gear, i just need some new water blocks so i think that 4.4Ghz reasonable on water.

 

[GarfieldtheCat]

Originally posted by: syadnom
I think I'm convinced, maybe a follow-up question here...2x2GB or 4x1GB? I should note that I have a $100 coupon at DELL some I'm trying to get the memory there. Was hoping DELL would get the e8400 in as they are usually right at Intel's suggested price.

2x2...if for some reason, you need more RAM in the future, you still have two slots open. Plus sometimes motherboards have problems running 4 sticks of RAM, or it can reduce the max overclock of the board.

 

[Tempered81]

2 of 1066 2x2gb or 2x1gb

 

[BlueAcolyte]

Originally posted by: syadnom
After Reading that article on legionhardware im now concerned that I will be memory limited. maybe its just too early in the morning to think or something...

i have the following ratios available 1:1,1.2,1.25,1.5,1.6

3Ghz = 333*9 ddr667 1:1
3.6Ghz = 400*9 ddr800 1:1
4Ghz = 444*9 = ddr888 1:1 or ddr740 1:1.2 right? or is my logic wrong here?
4.2Ghz = 467*9 = ddr933 1:1 or ddr777 1:1.2
4.4Ghz = 488*9 = ddr 977 1:1 or ddr814 1:1.2

so i really am not limited by the ram if im overclocking if i did the math right.

im considering going backup to water cooling. i still have most of the gear, i just need some new water blocks so i think that 4.4Ghz reasonable on water.

You have your FSB and RAMspeed ratio backwards. Running at a higher ratio increases speed.