Best 2x1GB DDR2 PC6400 (800MHz) kit for OC

[finbarqs]

Okay, So I'm looking for the best 2GB kit (2x1GB) to OC in the flavors of DDR2800. I heard good things about G.Skill, but newegg stopped selling them. What are you guys using and what are you experiences? If you guys have a suggestion or can point me to the proper direction, much is appreciated! Thanks!!!

 

[DSF]

First off, what chip are you OCing?

 

[finbarqs]

q6600 on a 650i board.

 

[JustaGeek]

I have just discovered that running RAM 1:1 yields similar results to running faster memory with the use of multiplier.

I've decided to try running my G.Skill HZ's at 667MHz with the E6600 at 3.0GHz (i.e. 333.3MHz FSB, with 1:1 RAM:FSB ratio).

The SuperPi numbers are virtually the same, even though the memory read bandwidth is slightly lower. But the memory write bandwidth is slightly higher!

I would recommend the HZ, but as you've said, Newegg is "out of stock".

Why don't you get the 2x2GB PQ kit for 85 bucks...?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820231122

 

[finbarqs]

i've read the reviews on there and they said that it isn't very good at overclocking...

 

[DSF]

With a Q6600 you won't be overclocking your memory.

Any DDR2-800 sold as such should be able to sustain speeds of up to DDR2-800 without a problem. Period. If you're running your FSB at or below 400MHz you're not overclocking DDR2-800. It's unlikely that you'll be pushing the FSB much past 400 with a Q6600.

 

[finbarqs]

what if i don't do 1:1? Like I want my memory to be over 1GHz or around that...

 

[GarfieldtheCat]

Originally posted by: finbarqs
what if i don't do 1:1? Like I want my memory to be over 1GHz or around that...

Why do want to do that? The performance gain is very minimal, and the cost is a lot more.

 

[DSF]

Originally posted by: GarfieldtheCat

Originally posted by: finbarqs
what if i don't do 1:1? Like I want my memory to be over 1GHz or around that...

Why do want to do that? The performance gain is very minimal, and the cost is a lot more.

I agree, you're not going to see much (if any) tangible benefit. What applications are you planning to run on this machine?

By the way, I've heard of overclocking troubles with the Q6600/6x0i chipset combination. I would focus more on attaining your desired overclock than trying to push the envelope with your memory.

 

[JustaGeek]

This is a great thread explaining the differences (or the lack thereof...) between running the memory at different speeds...

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...112855&highlight_key=y

I have only recently come to realization that it makes no practical sense of running the memory faster than the FSB. With the 16/13 Memory/FSB ratio and the 325MHz FSB, I would experience the "microstutter" in games, especially the NHL 08, that is mostly CPU driven.

The game seems much smoother now that I am using the 1:1 ratio and 667MHz RAM speed, so the high frequency might seem faster, but "missing the memory clocks" with the ratio other than 1:1, 2:1 etc. might cause some other undesirable results.