DDR3 1333 vs 1600

[MrGrim999]

I recently built a gaming rig and had 2 questions about the memory. I purchased 2 8Gb's of G.Skill DDR3 1333 dual channel memory...

1. Do I have to manually configure any settings in the bios or default settings are ok?

2. Is there a noticeable difference between DDR3 1333 & 1600?

 

[BFG10K]

1) I'd enable XMP as long as the voltage stays at 1.5V or less.

2) No, but if the RAM is 1333 you won't be running it at 1600 anyhow.

 

[ithehappy]

1- Like the above user said, enable XMP profile and keep an eye on the Voltage.

2- I have no idea but I have same frequency RAM as yours (XMS3 running at 1333) and I overclocked it to 1600 MHz and I can say that there was a significant difference in WinRAR compression/extraction process, I mean I can't remember the exact figure by how much those processes were gained as it was done a long time ago but I remember that the difference was really noticeable. I have no idea what happens in games though, I don't think there will be any difference there, but then again I am not sure.

 

[mikeymikec]

Performance improvements depend on the hardware platform and the games.

I tend to buy DDR3-1600 generally speaking anyway because (at least in the UK) there's very little price difference.

 

[MrGrim999]

1) I'd enable XMP as long as the voltage stays at 1.5V or less.

2) No, but if the RAM is 1333 you won't be running it at 1600 anyhow.

I should have mentioned I'm a newbie when it comes to overclocking. My bios has the OC Genie which made it easy for the CPU. But, I couldn't find any option for enabling XMP. When I went under OC Configuration screen, I saw DRAM settings. The timings was set to auto and options were: auto, link, and unlink. Is it possible it doesn't have XMP?

 

[Dasa2]

I can say that there was a significant difference in WinRAR compression/extraction process. I have no idea what happens in games though.

in games the improvement is similar to winrar if the game is cpu limited ~10% unless your talking 1333c9 vs 1600c11 in which case there is ah heck all difference as the loser timings counter the frequency increase
if its gpu limited like most games there is no performance difference