Does newer memory *need* the voltage it's rated for?

dderidex

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Mar 13, 2001
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Something of a question on this....I'm running an AthlonXP right now, but think my overclocking may be being held back by my memory. So, I'd like to get newer sticks rated for higher FSB speeds - in fact, I'd like to get sticks I can keep using when I do my Athlon64 upgrade next year.

HOWEVER....my motherboard (in the Shuttle SN45G XPC) offers no memory voltage adjustments. It's 2.55v, period, that's all, end of story.

However, when looking for new memory, I was checking out Corsair's XMS stuff on Newegg, and it says the rated voltage is 2.75v. Odd, I think, that they have started showing the max voltage? But, no!

Taking a look at the spec sheet for the TWINX1024-4400C25 and the TWINX1024-4400 and the TWINX1024-4000, heck, pretty much all of them - it seems to imply the voltage was set to 2.75 in order to *achieve* those latencies.

Am I misreading that? Or, do you need 2.75v to the ram in order to achieve those settings and timings? And, if so, how do you find what kind of stable ram speeds can be achieved on 'spec' DDR voltage?
 

Amaroque

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Jan 2, 2005
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It depends on your system components, PSU, how much you OC, ect... My Ballistix 4000 are rated 2.8v, but they ran fine at 2.6v 2-2-2-6 210MHz in my AXP system.
 

dderidex

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Mar 13, 2001
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Originally posted by: Amaroque
It depends on your system components, PSU, how much you OC, ect... My Ballistix 4000 are rated 2.8v, but they ran fine at 2.6v 2-2-2-6 210MHz in my AXP system.

Yeah, that's kinda what I'm looking for. The XMS sticks I'm looking at are rated for 2.75v for PC4400 spec, but I'd only be running them at 440fsb, tops. For now, anyway.

I've found that Kingston has HyperX PC4000 memory rated for 2.6v, though.

So, that's kinda my question. Which is better? PC4400 rated at 2.75v or PC4000 rated at 2.6v?
 

Amaroque

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Jan 2, 2005
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For that system you want low latency RAM.

So, that's kinda my question. Which is better? PC4400 rated at 2.75v or PC4000 rated at 2.6v?

In that system, I'd go for PC4000 2.6v. It also depends if the RAM is tuned for high bandwith, or low latency. The Ballistix seem to be tuned for both. But, there are other good brands also.

I'm not familiar with all the brands capabilities, but the Kingston HyperX PC4000 needed the voltage, and didn't want to run at a low latency, even at PC3200 speeds. I got rid of it. Hope that helps.