Help me pick between DDR400 and DDR500

[amt]

I'm looking at G-Skill ram;

DDR500 3-4-4-8 or DDR400 2-3-2-5.

If price is a determining factor then the DDR400 is better but will it give my higher overclocking? The problem I have, is my board will have to use either 166 or 133 memory divider to try to get to 3000MHz. At the moment my Corsair Value ram is running at 208MHz on 166. Ideally I'd like to run it with this divider and run the ram at 250(though this is not a prequisite). I'm afraid that If I run the memory with 133 it wont cold boot as this is the problem I'm experiencing at the moment, which could be a factor with the Corsair ram.

DDR500 is rated to run at 250MHz right? But with better ram the DDR400 should also be capable of running at 250?

Not knowing enough about ram and what spec's are required I guess this is as much a learning experiencing as anything else. At the end of the day I could hit a bottleneck with the CPU too.

I hope I gain some knowledge through your input to help me make an informed decision. TIA.

HT 3
FSB 300
mem divider 166

here are the ram specs

DDR400

Package : 2048MB kit (2x1024MB) dual channel pack
CAS Latency : 2-3-2-5 (PC3200)
Test Voltage : 2.6~2.75 V
PCB Board : 6 Layer Brain Power 6U808 PCB
Speed : DDR400 (PC3200)
Type : 184-pin DDR SDRAM
Error Checking : Non-ECC
Registered/Unbuffered : Unbuffered
Quality Control : Comprehensively tested in pairs in a dual channel environment

DDR 500

Package : 2048MB kit (2x1024MB) dual channel pack
CAS Latency : 3-4-4-8 (PC4000)
Test Voltage : 2.6~2.8 V
PCB Board : 6 Layers PCB
Speed : DDR500MHz (PC4000)
Type : 184-pin DDR SDRAM
Error Checking : Non-ECC
Registered/Unbuffered : Unbuffered
Quality Control : Comprehensively tested in pairs in a dual channel environment

Here's another DDR400 with Samsung UCCC

Package : 2048MB kit (2x1024MB) dual channel pack
CAS Latency : 2.5-3-3-6 (PC3200)
Test Voltage : 2.5~2.7 V
PCB Board : 6 Layers PCB
Speed : DDR400MHz (PC3200)
Type : 184-pin DDR SDRAM
Error Checking : Non-ECC
Registered/Unbuffered : Unbuffered
Quality Control : Comprehensively tested in pairs in a dual channel environment

 

[ctbrown]

I have the G.SKILL Extreme Series 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 500 (PC 4000) in my rig. And it has a hard time going above 250mhz. I can't speak for the DDR400 though.

 

[TheRyuu]

G.Skill

It's some good memory (and I'm sure others would agree with me). And not to mention it's cheap too (only $157)

 

[ctbrown]

You may want to check out this thread:

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=28&threadid=1825848&enterthread=y

 

[amt]

I'm not too fussed about forcing the ram over 250MHz, more importantly I'm trying to overclock to 3.0GHz, so will use the memory devider of 166 if my CPU will go that high. If I understand what everyone is saying its better to use the DDR500 because that will have less issues on an overclock as apposed to higher rated DDR400 which may not run at 250 and would cause me to use a lower devider of 133.

so on the performance issue assuming I can get 3.0GHZ, ie, 300x10

on DDR500 using devider 166 running the ram at 250
or
on DDR400 using devider 133 running the ram at 200

which setup will be faster?