Intel X38 - Can it run memory faster than CPU bus?

[imported_Jackyl]

I'm getting a Q6600 with a X38 board and plan to overclock it to 3.6GHz. At 3.6GHz, I've read that the memory would run at exactly DDR800. Is there a way to bump up the memory speed faster, while leaving the CPU speed at 3.6GHz?

 

[DSF]

You can, but most of the time it's not going to do anything noticeable for you.

 

[GarfieldtheCat]

Originally posted by: Jackyl
I'm getting a Q6600 with a X38 board and plan to overclock it to 3.6GHz. At 3.6GHz, I've read that the memory would run at exactly DDR800. Is there a way to bump up the memory speed faster, while leaving the CPU speed at 3.6GHz?

Yes, using the memory dividers that are in the BIOS. But the P35 boards can also do this (use dividers to run RAM faster then the CPU).

Running the RAM faster won't net much in the way of extra speed, for most games and apps, maybe ~3% on average.

Edit: Why X38? Unless you want crossfire, P35 and X38 are about equal in performance, and P35 is cheaper.

 

[n7]

Absolutely you can run higher ratios than 1:1.

 

[imported_wired247]

Originally posted by: GarfieldtheCat

Originally posted by: Jackyl
I'm getting a Q6600 with a X38 board and plan to overclock it to 3.6GHz. At 3.6GHz, I've read that the memory would run at exactly DDR800. Is there a way to bump up the memory speed faster, while leaving the CPU speed at 3.6GHz?

Yes, using the memory dividers that are in the BIOS. But the P35 boards can also do this (use dividers to run RAM faster then the CPU).

Running the RAM faster won't net much in the way of extra speed, for most games and apps, maybe ~3% on average.

Edit: Why X38? Unless you want crossfire, P35 and X38 are about equal in performance, and P35 is cheaper.

The reason to get X38 is if you want more than 1 fully functional pciex16 slot.

 

[GarfieldtheCat]

Originally posted by: wired247

Originally posted by: GarfieldtheCat

Originally posted by: Jackyl
I'm getting a Q6600 with a X38 board and plan to overclock it to 3.6GHz. At 3.6GHz, I've read that the memory would run at exactly DDR800. Is there a way to bump up the memory speed faster, while leaving the CPU speed at 3.6GHz?

Yes, using the memory dividers that are in the BIOS. But the P35 boards can also do this (use dividers to run RAM faster then the CPU).

Running the RAM faster won't net much in the way of extra speed, for most games and apps, maybe ~3% on average.

Edit: Why X38? Unless you want crossfire, P35 and X38 are about equal in performance, and P35 is cheaper.

The reason to get X38 is if you want more than 1 fully functional pciex16 slot.

Well, I did put using crossfire in my post, and the OP never mentioned a RAID card (off the top of my head, the two main reasons for a 2nd high-speed PCIe slot)