Memory: higher frequency or tighter timings ?

[hmmzzz]

What would bring more performance? The most common idea here (yes i actually did the search thing since this forum seems kinda busy) seems to be that bandwith is more important for performance then tight timings...

As for 3d applications ive always thought it was the other way around, choosing between 500 mhz with 2-2-2-5 timings or 600mhz memory with say 3-4-4-8 timings i thought was an easy choice, WHEN on an AMD platform and mostly playing games or benching,...

What would u guys choose in that case? And to make it somewhat more specific, when having an FX-55 and a DFI Nforce 3 board ? OCZ pc4800 (tccd) or say OCZ pc4000 VX ? Or something else ?

Bandwith or timings, what would bring the most benefit under the circumstances described above ?

 

[Kaspian]

Originally posted by: hmmzzz
What would bring more performance? The most common idea here (yes i actually did the search thing since this forum seems kinda busy) seems to be that bandwith is more important for performance then tight timings...

As for 3d applications ive always thought it was the other way around, choosing between 500 mhz with 2-2-2-5 timings or 600mhz memory with say 3-4-4-8 timings i thought was an easy choice, WHEN on an AMD platform and mostly playing games or benching,...

What would u guys choose in that case? And to make it somewhat more specific, when having an FX-55 and a DFI Nforce 3 board ? OCZ pc4800 (tccd) or say OCZ pc4000 VX ? Or something else ?

Bandwith or timings, what would bring the most benefit under the circumstances described above ?

For games and 3d go for the bandwith.

 

[Mickey21]

Originally posted by: hmmzzz
What would bring more performance? The most common idea here (yes i actually did the search thing since this forum seems kinda busy) seems to be that bandwith is more important for performance then tight timings...

As for 3d applications ive always thought it was the other way around, choosing between 500 mhz with 2-2-2-5 timings or 600mhz memory with say 3-4-4-8 timings i thought was an easy choice, WHEN on an AMD platform and mostly playing games or benching,...

What would u guys choose in that case? And to make it somewhat more specific, when having an FX-55 and a DFI Nforce 3 board ? OCZ pc4800 (tccd) or say OCZ pc4000 VX ? Or something else ?

Bandwith or timings, what would bring the most benefit under the circumstances described above ?

Ideally obviously both, but in sheer gaming, timings are slightly more important. Of course you would want as high a bandwidth at the tightest timings...

 

[Kaspian]

Here is some reading material.

 

[Hacp]

http://www.anandtech.com/memory/showdoc.aspx?i=2392

Here is benchmkarks. Clearly shows that tigher timings give more FPS in Wolfstien....

 

[Diogenes2]

Here are another set of tests which should give you what you want..

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/memory/display/ocz-ddr600_4.html

 

[imported_tss4]

so, it looks like there is directly conflicting results. Based on that, I'd go with what ever route is cheaper. You're talking a couple frames per second anyway.

 

[Mickey21]

The idea is not that bandwidth isnt important, it is, without one, there is not much point of the other. CAS1 memory at DDR100 would not beat CAS3 memory at DDR600. The idea is to get the bandwidth with the tightest timings capable. DDR500 memory at low latencies would beat DDR500 memory at highlatencies. Just buy the best timings per bandwidth that you can afford, however if you are not going to overclock, just get the maximum capable you will be running (ie DDR400 if using AMD's that use DDR400). If your board cant do the DDR speed needed or voltage required to sustain the speed or cooling allowed to keep stable, this is all not worth considering anyways...

 

[hmmzzz]

allright guys...thx for the links and replies ...

I see i have some serious reading to do ...

 

[ElTorrente]

Originally posted by: hmmzzz
allright guys...thx for the links and replies ...

I see i have some serious reading to do ...

What are you worried about?!?! You have Ram at 267 2,2,2,6.. that's pretty darn good.

 

[hmmzzz]

yeah but i wasnt asking for me hehe... I dont have the money to buy an fx-55, well not now at least,...that's for sure .... I could, but then i would have to cut back on some other things like food and soap ....

Someone was asking what would be better for his upcoming system,...i advised him to go for some pc4000 memory with tighter timings instead of the pc4800 he was suggesting...But i wasnt all to sure why exactly, and got curious about the bandwith versus timings thing...So i thought i'd ask for a second opinion..

And yeah, the redline modules are pretty sweet indeed, not to fond of the ocz booster though, a -5 Volt for the leds, what were they thinking...My antec neo didnt have one, so thats money down the drain, and so i learned later, many PSU's dont have a -5 Volt rail...So im using my trusty "ednet" 450 now, which does have a -5V, and is actually a great psu so it seems...cool to tough at any time, i personally think "ednet" will become the new leader in performance PSU's ... j/k ha-ha ...

anyways thx again ...