Basic CPU overclocking question (concerning RAM)

[Chubzdoomer]

Hey guys,

I have a very basic question regarding CPU overclocking:
If you've overclocked your CPU, when you add more RAM do you have to go through the entire overclocking (testing) process again?

I'm completely new to overclocking. In fact, I've never overclocked in my life despite being a lifelong PC gamer. After perusing through a few guides, however, I've seen RAM timings, etc. mentioned in them and that caught me by surprise because all along I'd thought that overclocking a CPU simply involved changing some of the CPU's properties in the BIOS and that RAM wasn't taken into the equation (or modified) at all.

Here's my current situation:
My PC is equipped with an Intel i7 860, 8 GB RAM, and an AMD HD 5870 video card. I've ordered both a new video card (GTX 780) and two sticks of RAM (16 GB) to completely replace the RAM I already have. My CPU, which is currently at its stock speeds of 2.8 Ghz, however, will undoubtedly bottleneck me a bit with this new hardware so I want to try and overclock it as much as possible to try and overcome that. I will eventually get a new CPU and motherboard, but I don't plan on doing that right now.

As the RAM is being shipped, I'm considering overclocking my CPU to get that out of the way so that I can stick the new RAM and video card into my computer the moment they arrive and be good to go. Since my RAM will be undergoing a change, however, would it be best to just wait until the new sticks arrive and I've installed them before overclocking? If I overclock now and the new RAM arrives, will I then have to modify my RAM in the BIOS and more or less endure the overclocking process again, testing the different timings and voltages out, etc.?

Pardon my lack of patience (I'm eager to overclock this thing!), but thank you very much in advance for any help/advice.

 

[Blastman]

I've ordered both a new video card (GTX 780) and two sticks of RAM (16 GB) to completely replace the RAM I already have.

Are these 2x8GB sticks of ram? I don't think socket 1156 supports larger than 4GB sticks.

 

[Chubzdoomer]

Are these 2x8GB sticks of ram? I don't think socket 1156 supports larger than 4GB sticks.

Yes, two 8GB sticks. I guess I'll find out whether or not they're supported when they get here. I had no idea socket 1156 was that limited!

 

[SKORPI0]

Are these 2x8GB sticks of ram? I don't think socket 1156 supports larger than 4GB sticks.

OP didn't mention what mobo they're using. Socket 1156 would be able to support 8GB memory sticks easily in pairs, up to 32GB with 4 of them (granted there are 4 memory slots).

 

[Blastman]

OP didn't mention what mobo they're using. Socket 1156 would be able to support 8GB memory sticks easily in pairs, up to 32GB with 4 of them (granted there are 4 memory slots).

I've only seen 1156 M/B's (P55, H55) listed to support 16GB (4x4GB) by the manufacturers. Are there some 1156 M/B's that are listed to support more? Although, people overclockers have successfully been using 4x8GB (32GB total) in some of them, so maybe YMMV.

 

[SKORPI0]

I've only seen 1156 M/B's (P55, H55) listed to support 16GB (4x4GB) by the manufacturers. Are there some 1156 M/B's that are listed to support more? Although, people overclockers have successfully been using 4x8GB (32GB total) in some of them, so maybe YMMV.

Opps, my bad. You're right. 4x4GB is the maximum.

Since OP is using a i7 860 (Lynnfield) they are limited to a specific chipset, Intel's H55, H57, P55, and Q57.

 

[Chubzdoomer]

I apologize for not listing my motherboard. I thought I did in the OP, but I must've forgotten.

Here's my current motherboard as well as the RAM I ordered:
Motherboard
RAM

Will the RAM be incompatible for sure?

 

[Blastman]

Will the RAM be incompatible for sure?

Hard to say. That link I provided showed that a P55 Gigabyte M/B was able to use 2x8GB and yu have a P55 Asus M/B. Since you have the ram shipping you might as well try it. It looks to me like there is a good chance it will work.

 

[Blastman]

As far as I can tell only 16GB (4x4GB) is listed as "officially" supported, but I've googled 2 threads with different 1156 M/B's that both used 32GB (4x8GB) successfully. I don't think 8GB sticks of ram were out when the P55/H55 M/B's came out so maybe they couldn't officially support them because they couldn't test any ram to certify it, but maybe 32GB "unofficially" works.

Here is a Asus P7H55D-M Evo with an i7 860 that used 32GB too.

As far as overclocking with more ram. I don't think replacing 2 sticks of 4GB with 2 sticks of 8GB ram should affect overclocking. I've only heard of lower overclocking limits when going from 2 - 4 sticks of ram.

 

[Chubzdoomer]

I just wanted to pop back in and say: IT WORKED!

My RAM arrived today and it works like a charm. I feel horrible seeing those 4x2GB sticks go to waste because it was such good RAM and 8GB is still a decent amount even today for gaming. I sure wish I had some PC gaming friends I could lend it to. Oh well, at least I'm good to go in regards to overclocking. Time to crank up those voltages!

 

[Blastman]

Thanks for that update Chub, good to hear it worked. It looks like P55, H55 users can use 8GB sticks -- at least the i7, i5-750 users.

 

[bonehead123]

I feel horrible seeing those 4x2GB sticks go to waste....I sure wish I had some PC gaming friends I could lend it to.

why not sell it in the FS forum ? Either here or another board or even ebay.....

There are still lots of people with slightly older machines that came with 2x 2GB chips that would surely love to move up to 4x 2GB