Memory Recomendation Please

[voodoo1694]

I plan on building my first rig and was wondering what memory would be best. This will be a Q6600, Gigabyte DS3R, etc system. I do not plan to OC this system. I really want something stable, so what would be your recommendations? I am planning on either 2GB or 4GB. Also, if I get DDR2 800mhz RAM (vs DDR2 667mhz), do I need to underclock it since I'm not OC'ing? Are there are repercussions to doing so? Sorry if my questions seem amateur... I'm new at this stuff. Thanks for the help!

 

[Aznguy1872]

You won't be underclocking them, there is a multiplier for the FSB of CPU vs RAM, if you get DDR2-800 memory they will run at those specs as long as you set the multiplier up. Crucials on newegg is very good and cheap.

 

[Ryenot]

I'm also in the "building a new rig" mode.

I bought a set of Crucial DDRIIs that have a stated voltage of 2.2v ... which Crucial listed as "Compatible" with my motherboard.

My mobo's (Gigabyte GA-M57SLI-4) manual specs for 1.8v memory (with ability to increase voltage from .025 to .7 above the "normal" setting. AMD also recommends 1.8v DDRII for my X2 5600+ CPU. Did I buy the wrong RAM, or could I use the 2.2v sticks I have w/o damaging either mobo or CPU?

Will the effect be just that the ram will run at the the slower 1.8 default setting in my BIOS?

As with others, I'm new at this game and appreciate the patience.

Thanks in advance!!

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: Ryenot
I'm also in the "building a new rig" mode.

I bought a set of Crucial DDRIIs that have a stated voltage of 2.2v ... which Crucial listed as "Compatible" with my motherboard.

My mobo's (Gigabyte GA-M57SLI-4) manual specs for 1.8v memory (with ability to increase voltage from .025 to .7 above the "normal" setting. AMD also recommends 1.8v DDRII for my X2 5600+ CPU. Did I buy the wrong RAM, or could I use the 2.2v sticks I have w/o damaging either mobo or CPU?

Will the effect be just that the ram will run at the the slower 1.8 default setting in my BIOS?

As with others, I'm new at this game and appreciate the patience.

Thanks in advance!!

When your board boots the voltage with be 1.8v and timings will be loose maybe 5-5-5-15. Go to the BIOS and adjust your voltage to the rated 2.2v and change the timings to the rated 4-4-4-12. You're fine if you adjust manually.

 

[Ryenot]

Thanks cmdrdredd. I appreciate the insight.

 

[drob]

My question is very similar, building anew machine, E6750 and a P35DS3 GIGABYTE MB. if i do not intend to overclock, would i benefit form a MHz memory, or would MHz suffice?

 

[SerpentRoyal]

Don't plan to overclock? Best deal is the 1GB HP/Crucial DDR2 667 @ hot deals forum. It's $22 AR. RAM is rated at 1.8V. Will post at default settings with many MBs due to the single-sided design. Bumping Vdimm to 2.0 should net 400MHz speed.

Overclocking your memory to +500MHz may add another 1 or 2% to the benchmarks, but you'll never notice this under normal use.

 

[drob]

I am sorry it seemed numbers were dropped from my post so here it is again:

My question is very similar, building a new machine, E6750 and a P35DS3 GIGABYTE MB. if i do not intend to overclock, would i benefit form a 800MHz memory, or would 667MHz suffice (half the 1333 FSB)?

 

[SerpentRoyal]

Default RAM speed for 1333MHz FSB is 333MHz. That's the speed of DDR2 667. The use of DDR2 800 will raise memory speed from 333 to 400MHz...very small improvement in system performance.

Most quality 1.8V DDR2 667 should be able to run at DDR2 800 speed with a minor bump in Vdimm (2.0-2.1V).

 

[drakore]

To both posters...

just get DDR2 667 and tighten the timings at low voltage... you don't need the overhead if you aren't going to oc

 

[drob]

Thank you for saving me money :thumbsup: