Is 1066 Memory Really Worth It over 800?

[charlestek]

I have an Asus Maximus Formula motherboard with Vista Ultimate 32 bit and an intel Q6660 processor (latest bios). I had been using 4GB of 800Mhz Ocz memory (2 sticks of 2GB) until it looks like the memory failed. I have rma'd the memory and am waiting to find the results.

In the meantime I bought 4GB of 1066Mhz Corsair Dominator memory TWIN2X4096-8500C5DF (2 sticks), and found that almost identically to this article: http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=3172&p=10 I have to increase the Northbridge voltage to about 1.61v in order to pass OCCT (one hour mix), with the rated timings of 5-5-5-15

This also increases the northbridge temperature from the high 40 deg centigrade to around 56 deg centigrade (while running OOCT) , higher than I'd like. I'm using an antec case with two intake fans and two exhaust fans. The motherboard has heatpipe cooling of the entire chipset. Running the memory at 800Mhz, I can have the northbridge voltage around 1.34 volts, and pass OCCT.

I do not play computer games, I repeat, do not play computer games.
The performance difference I see in browsing and doing visual studio programming does not seem to be that significant, surprisingly.

So since I worry about overheating the northbridge, the question becomes: Is running this memory at 1066 really worth it?

 

[DSF]

Originally posted by: charlestek
I do not play computer games, I repeat, do not play computer games.
The performance difference I see in browsing and doing visual studio programming does not seem to be that significant, surprisingly.

That's pretty much the case. There isn't a significant performance increase in the real world from faster RAM. The main benefit of high-speed RAM is providing overclocking headroom. I have to wonder why you bought a motherboard like the Maximus Formula if you don't play games though.

 

[charlestek]

I just wanted to get the best motherboard I could that would last the longest before it became obsolete. I am angry at Newegg, as the same day or a day or two before I ordered the maximus, Newegg started carrying the Rampage, which would allow me to use DDR3 in the future. When I did a search of Newegg the day or two before, the Rampage didn't show up.

 

[ShadowFlareX]

1.61V NB just to have 2x2GB Dominator at 1066MHz 5-5-5-15? How much RAM voltage do you apply? I mean, I have 4 of the same sticks that you have there at 1066MHz 5-5-5-15 2.0V and NB is only 1.31V. Actually I can have NB at 1.2V and still pass OCCT without problems, but thought I give it a little more juice to be absolutely stable. I am using Rampage though but is that how much difference it makes from a Maximus?

Plus, DDR3 is not worth it..... yet. Maybe in 12 months time DDR3 will be a little bit more worthy to have. The only gain you have from DDR3 is from benchmarks, that's all. In real world applications, it's just par with DDR2. I personally prefer 1066MHz rated RAMs, cause they give me headroom to overclock with good timings.

 

[DSF]

Originally posted by: charlestek
I just wanted to get the best motherboard I could that would last the longest before it became obsolete. I am angry at Newegg, as the same day or a day or two before I ordered the maximus, Newegg started carrying the Rampage, which would allow me to use DDR3 in the future. When I did a search of Newegg the day or two before, the Rampage didn't show up.

As you've discovered, RAM speed doesn't make much difference in current Intel systems. Keeping that in mind, you haven't really hurt yourself by not buying the combination board, as a move to DDR3 would have little to no impact on system speed.

 

[Yellowbeard]

The NBv does look odd. What RAM voltage are you setting in the bios?