Conroe question - Disadvantage to running DDR2 800 memory w/1066FSB CPU

[MichaelD]

What an embarassing question...but if i don't ask I won't find out, right?

I've noticed a slight price discrepancy (sarcasm) b/t DDR2/800 and DDR2/1066 memory. Like a $200 slight discrepancy. :shocked:

Seems that most people are running DDR2/800 with their Conroe CPUs; any disadvantage to doing this over getting 1066 memory?

Thanks.

 

[myocardia]

Yes, you will then be forced to spend an extra $200 on your video card.[/sarcasm] The reason everyone is using PC6400 is because it's extremely hard to find any PC6400 that won't do at least 450 Mhz (900 DDR), and the better quality PC6400 will do upwards of 550 Mhz.

 

[MichaelD]

Thanks, Myocardia. So, what are the limitations, aside from being able to up the FSB as high, to using DDR2/800? Will I be running out of spec or something?

 

[Accord99]

Here's a review of how different speed memories affects the performance of stock C2D.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/memory/display/core2duo-memory-guide_4.html

C2D's FSB actually matches 1:1 with DDR2-533. Still DDR2-800 is faster and with 965 based MBs not supporting dividers with memory slower than the FSB, DDR2-800 gives you a good balance of overclocking headroom and cost.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: Accord99
Here's a review of how different speed memories affects the performance of stock C2D.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/memory/display/core2duo-memory-guide_4.html

C2D's FSB actually matches 1:1 with DDR2-533. Still DDR2-800 is faster and with 965 based MBs not supporting dividers with memory slower than the FSB, DDR2-800 gives you a good balance of overclocking headroom and cost.

Thanks for the response and the link, that helps a lot. :thumbsup:

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: MichaelD
What an embarassing question...but if i don't ask I won't find out, right?

There is no such thing as a dumb question. Not asking said question is a mistake.

The fairly flat curve from increased memory speed and aggressive timings give the C2D the edge when it comes to ultimate stability. It's far greater to use a relaxed memory timing and/or lower speed than worrying about memory errors and jacking up the voltage on the modules which makes them run extremely hot.

 

[Acanthus]

My advice: dont buy into the hype of memory bandwidth/timings.

As it has been for a while, if you buy cheap ram and spend the money elsewhere (the video card), you wind up with much larger gains. Look at the difference in the real games (not the synthetic benchmarks that tell you nothing) from the crappiest junk you can buy to the overclocked cream of the crop the net gain is only 12% in a best case scenario.

For that $200-$250 difference, you can get 2 Geforce 7900GTOs instead of 1. Or even a 7950GX2.

Going SLI is a 20-80% increase in most games.

Unless of course you like to winrar stuff all day

 

[suckerpunch]

Originally posted by: Acanthus
My advice: dont buy into the hype of memory bandwidth/timings.

As it has been for a while, if you buy cheap ram and spend the money elsewhere (the video card), you wind up with much larger gains. Look at the difference in the real games (not the synthetic benchmarks that tell you nothing) from the crappiest junk you can buy to the overclocked cream of the crop the net gain is only 12% in a best case scenario.

For that $200-$250 difference, you can get 2 Geforce 7900GTOs instead of 1. Or even a 7950GX2.

Going SLI is a 20-80% increase in most games.

Unless of course you like to winrar stuff all day

I'm in agreement with this. There's no sense in getting anything over DDR2-533 unless if you absolutely must overclock your processor...

...except that DDR2-667 prices are running equal with DDR2-533 prices right now. So you might as well get some slightly uplevel stuff, as you won't be saving money anyway.


I'm under the impression that OEM builders are creating heavy demand for DDR2-533, and that will keep the price for it a bit high in the near-term.

 

[Acanthus]

Originally posted by: suckerpunch

Originally posted by: Acanthus
My advice: dont buy into the hype of memory bandwidth/timings.

As it has been for a while, if you buy cheap ram and spend the money elsewhere (the video card), you wind up with much larger gains. Look at the difference in the real games (not the synthetic benchmarks that tell you nothing) from the crappiest junk you can buy to the overclocked cream of the crop the net gain is only 12% in a best case scenario.

For that $200-$250 difference, you can get 2 Geforce 7900GTOs instead of 1. Or even a 7950GX2.

Going SLI is a 20-80% increase in most games.

Unless of course you like to winrar stuff all day

I'm in agreement with this. There's no sense in getting anything over DDR2-533 unless if you absolutely must overclock your processor...

...except that DDR2-667 prices are running equal with DDR2-533 prices right now. So you might as well get some slightly uplevel stuff, as you won't be saving money anyway.


I'm under the impression that OEM builders are creating heavy demand for DDR2-533, and that will keep the price for it a bit high in the near-term.

I comepletely agree to get the best memory at the same price, thats just common sense, but dont go breaking the bank on ddr2 800.