E4300 & DDR800

[DoubleDigits]

I am wondering if I bought DDR800 ram and did a slight OC to the 4300 to 3ghz to get a 667mhz 1:1 ratio will it be better to just buy 667 ram or 800 ram for performance? will the ddr800 decrease in performance b/c its being downclocked to looser timings?

I am asking b/c I dont want to get stuck with 667 ram then finding out I can go higher and then have to OC the ram b/c im planning on getting Corsair VC ram. Im thinking just getting DDR800 and downclocking it to 667 then if I get a better cpu or can get a higher OC the I wont hav eto go out and buy new ram.

sorry if its too long...

thanks!

 

[nyker96]

well I guess DDR2-800 can go tighter timings when running at DDR667 speed. but of course you can go with DDR667 for 3ghz OC.

 

[Oerekum]

Most likely (not guaranteed ofc) your cpu will be able to reach 3.2 (So essentially 401 memory speed × 8) if it can reach 3.0. So I would recommend DDR800, since higher frequency gives a good boost in overall memory bandwith with Intel systems. And you will have the headroom for overclocking above 3.0 if you want to.

EDIT: though this will give you a higher FSB overclock (1600MHz instead of 1333Mhz), I don't know what motherboard you have but be sure your northbridge is well cooled.

 

[BigShroom]

Originally posted by: Oerekum
Most likely (not guaranteed ofc) your cpu will be able to reach 3.2 (So essentially 401 memory speed × 8) if it can reach 3.0.

E4300 has a multiplier of 9 btw.

Just buy this and be happy. There are some pretty good reports of it doing upwards of DDR800 speeds.

 

[VooDooAddict]

Since you are overclocking for value. I'd say 4300 @ 3Ghz from 333FSB, x9 multiplier, 1:1 memory, Running DDR667 in spec.

I'm planning the same route myself as a stopgap till quad core prices come down.

It will give me more then a slight boost over the AMD 3000+ I was running as a main rig, while giving me room for Quad Core. What motherboard you planning to use?

 

[DoubleDigits]

Thank you guys for all your replies.

The motherboard I am planning on getting is the Gigabyte DS3. Ive heard so many good things about it here and on the ncix forums about how great it is for overclocking. Any other suggestions as to another mb or is this gigabyte the best 1 to get atm?

 

[GuitarDaddy]

1. If you want to use DDR667 ram make sure the board you pick has the ddr400 setting(1:1 for 800fsb chips) some don't
2. You can always use the 4:5 divider to bring your DDR800 ram back up to spec.

 

[Cheex]

If you can afford to get the DDR2-800 RAM...get it. It is becoming more and more the standard for mainstream systems and will also give you more headroom to take your overclock even higher than 3GHz (if there isn't some other limitation).

Also the best memory performance is at the 1:1 ratio.


PS @ OP: Welcome to the forums!!