basic RAM voltage question

[labrat25]

I'm building a new SFF system soon and need some help deciding on what RAM to buy.

The memory I'm interested in is DDR2-1066 2x2GB. What I am unclear about is if the voltage listed on the specs is the maximum voltage they can run at or the required voltage to run at 1066MHz? (ex. 2.2-2.3 for A-DATA and 2.0-2.1 for Mushkin)

I am not at all interested in overclocking, rather I am actually looking to run the system as cool as possible (it will be in the SFF case) so the lower the voltage the better.

So silly question, but emailing the manufacturers has been largely useless. Thanks for the help.

In case you're wondering the system is gonna look a little something like this:
Shuttle SN78SH7 (the day it comes out)
AMD X2 4850e (eventually upgraded to Phenom when the TPD's come down)
4GB DDR2-1066
WD Caviar GP 500GB
DVD/CD-RW (swapped for a Blu-Ray when the prices get reasonable)

 

[Mr Fox]

Originally posted by: labrat25
I'm building a new SFF system soon and need some help deciding on what RAM to buy.

The memory I'm interested in is DDR2-1066 2x2GB. What I am unclear about is if the voltage listed on the specs is the maximum voltage they can run at or the required voltage to run at 1066MHz? (ex. 2.2-2.3 for A-DATA and 2.0-2.1 for Mushkin)

I am not at all interested in overclocking, rather I am actually looking to run the system as cool as possible (it will be in the SFF case) so the lower the voltage the better.

So silly question, but emailing the manufacturers has been largely useless. Thanks for the help.

In case you're wondering the system is gonna look a little something like this:
Shuttle SN78SH7 (the day it comes out)
AMD X2 4850e (eventually upgraded to Phenom when the TPD's come down)
4GB DDR2-1066
WD Caviar GP 500GB
DVD/CD-RW (swapped for a Blu-Ray when the prices get reasonable)

Why are you even considering that memory if you are not going to Overclock. ?

Hell just buy some DDR2 6400 and be done with it,,, you can find kits that are low voltage and that will lower your heat issues.

There is no real impact to overall performance

 

[labrat25]

figured might as well get the 1066 now, the phenom will make use of the added speed

 

[DSF]

Originally posted by: labrat25
figured might as well get the 1066 now, the phenom will make use of the added speed

Will it?

At any rate, the voltage they list is the voltage at which the manufacturer guarantees the module will run at DDR2-1066. It's possible that it will run at that speed with lower voltage, but don't bet on it.

 

[labrat25]

Originally posted by: DSF

Originally posted by: labrat25
figured might as well get the 1066 now, the phenom will make use of the added speed

Will it?

At any rate, the voltage they list is the voltage at which the manufacturer guarantees the module will run at DDR2-1066. It's possible that it will run at that speed with lower voltage, but don't bet on it.

danke

and is should have said "hopefully"

 

[egale]

1066 memory is just overclocked 800 memory. THe chips are designed to run at 800mhz 1.8v. The way they get them to run at 1066 is to up the voltage to 2.1 or so. These chips are just tested to be able to handle to overclock.

You could also get some ddr2-800, relax the timings a bit and up the voltage to get the same 1066.

 

[DSF]

Originally posted by: egale
You could also get some ddr2-800, relax the timings a bit and up the voltage to get the same 1066.

It doesn't always work out that way though. As you pointed out, manufacturers select the chips which can handle the additional voltage and speed to market as DDR2-1066. Not all DDR2-800 will automatically overclock to that speed.

 

[n7]

Honestly, you're looking at the wrong RAM.

DDR2-1066 really isn't designed for stock use, regardless of what manufacturers of RAM or motherboards try to market.

It will usually require messing around with ratios/dividers/timings/voltages to be set up properly.

Going from DDR2-800 to DDR2-1066 is not going to noticeably improve your performance.

Going from that slow AMD CPU to an Intel C2D will.

That's not to say getting DDR2-1066 is wrong; it's just it doesn't jive with what you say your goals for the system are.

Just trying to put some perspective on things is all.


Disclaimer: n7 would likely buy some Mushkin DDR2-1066 at todays prices anyway, even for his secondary PC, since he loves to tweak RAM >_>