enhanced latency and enhanced bandwidth?

Sniper991122

Member
May 25, 2004
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i was about to get 2x512mbs stick of ocz memory, the enhanced latency onces since i had heard the latency was very important... but over that the enhanced bandwidth was even more? what do each of these mean and whats their importance?
 

HardWarrior

Diamond Member
Jan 26, 2004
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I'd like to see a defnitive answer for these things as well. I simply bought the best reviewed RAM I could find and set it for the lowest latency possible, without REALLY understanding why. Anyone?
 

Illissius

Senior member
May 8, 2004
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Best bet without becoming a DRAM engineer is to just read the reviews. IIRC the EL does better at lower speeds (PC3200) while the EB is better at PC3700+, but uncertain about the former.
 

FishTankX

Platinum Member
Oct 6, 2001
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Enhanced latency will be better if you stay at stock speeds. Enhanced bandwidth, if you're overclocking. Yeah.. so.. Enhcnaced bandwidth will make a higher clockspeed giving your CPU more headroom. Enhanced latency makes every request faster so at the same clockspeed enhanced latency will win out. But overclockers love higher clockspeeds so there Enhanced Bandwidth wins out.
 

HardWarrior

Diamond Member
Jan 26, 2004
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That being true then won't better OC's be accomplished by buying the highest rated RAM possible, like PC4000? Or is buying RAM that says it's "EL" at any speed better?
 

FishTankX

Platinum Member
Oct 6, 2001
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The general rule of thumb is that the lower the latency the better.

The higher the bandwidth, the better.

But the higher the bandwidth, the better RAM you need to maintain lower latencies.

Also, EL memory might do better at lower speeds with latency then much higher rated RAM.
 

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Lifer
Jun 3, 2002
10,518
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Very little real world difference either way. I'd go with the OCZ EL modules simply because:

1) They're actually widely available, EB's are generally not (though Newegg and others do carry them).
2) They're priced lower.
3) If you're running at stock speeds there's literally no point to using an EB module.