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Low Voltage DDR3

B

BChico

Platinum Member
I read awhile back that low voltage (1.5v) DDR3 modules were more stable on Core i7 chips than higher voltage.

Is there any truth to this?

Both sets of memory that I am looking at have low timings 7-7-7-20, however the 1333 is 1.5v and the 1600 is 1.65v.

The only reason I am considering the 1600 is for a potential furture overclock, but wanted to consider if there any benefits to getting lower voltage memory.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145250

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145242
 
Those sticks of RAM use the exact same chips under the hood. Personally I would save the money and get the DDR3-1333 stuff.

Assuming a i7 920:
1333/6x21=4665.5Mhz

So DDR1333 can take that processor up to 4.6. And its not like you can't overclock RAM as well
 
Can you explain how those numbers work?

Last time I overclocked was on a P3 system and only had to modify the FSB or Core Fsq back then. Must be different now.
 
RAM multipliers/ratios/dividers, whatever you wanna call 'em.

Common ones you'll have: 6x/8x/10x/12x

BCLK speed x RAM ratio = RAM speed.

Default i7 920 runs @ 20x133 (2.666 GHz) with the RAM @ DDR3-1066 (8x).

With the one extra multi you gain via Turbo, that means 21x.

So anyway, if you use the lowest multi, that's DDR3-800 (6x)

DDR3-1333 / 6 = 222, meaning you can do up to 222 BCLK with your RAM @ a mere DDR3-1333.

So with that previously mentioned 21x CPU multi, we have 21x222 = 4.66 GHz.


Hopefully that helps explain Ben90's post.
 
So by default, the i7 920 doesn't run the RAM @ DDR3-1333?

If 1066 is a 8x multiplier, then 1333 is a 10x multiplier, correct?

DDR-1333 / 10 = 133, so then running at 1333 you can only the CPU at stock speed?

What am I missing?
 
BChico said:
So by default, the i7 920 doesn't run the RAM @ DDR3-1333?

If 1066 is a 8x multiplier, then 1333 is a 10x multiplier, correct?

DDR-1333 / 10 = 133, so then running at 1333 you can only the CPU at stock speed?

What am I missing?
Click to expand...

Default "Intel spec" speed is DDR3-1066 (8x), yes.

If you are using the 10x RAM multi, then increasing BCLK (OCing CPU) would also OC the RAM past 1333, yes.

Hence why you'd be choosing a lower RAM multi when you OC.

If you like very heavily OCing/tweaking RAM, then i'd be looking at something that can do ~ DDR3-2000, as yes, you could then maintain 10x RAM ratio with a high BCLK still.

That is in no way imperative though, & higher end RAM like that isn't really worth the current price premium unless you are getting it purely for the OCing benefits, as it will not affect real world performance really.
 
Thanks, that makes sense. So say you weren't going to OC, would you set the RAM (x10)?

Is there a good guide to OC'ing the Core i7 processors?

What is the concensus on the stock coolers? If you run a mild OC are they still sufficient?
 
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