Need help choosing RAM: Corsair or Crucial?

[Airflo]

Hello everyone,

I am currently running my E6600 @ 3.0GHz using stock fan and some system fans!

My current setting is FSB=333 x 9 ~ 3.0GHz and the CPU Voltage is at 1.425V.

My motherboard is Asus P5W DH Deluxe.

I am using Corsair Value RAM: 2 x VS1GB667D2 and they're running beautifully at stock speed DDR2-667 at 2.1V and 1:1 with FSB.

Now I have found some good price on the 2 following RAM (only $20 difference between the 2 sets and both are 1GB total):

Corsair TWIN2X1024-6400C4 @ 4-4-4-12 and Crucial Ballistix DDR2 PC2-8000 @ 5-5-5-15 with 2 x 512MB sticks.

The question is for getting better overclocking on this board, as far as the FSB can go, which RAM is better for overclocking?

I know that the Crucial has higher clock at 1000MHz but the RAM timing is slower while the Corsair is only 800MHz but the RAM timing is tighter so what is the better choice in this case?

My main use for the system is Video Encoding & Editing.

Thanks for all your input.

 

[ojingoh]

in all honesty the latency will be the same with both of those sticks overclocked. if you were running an nvidia motherboard i would think that the enhanced spd info or whatever it's called could be a factor, but you're rocking an intel chipset.
i would pick crucial/micron, but then again if you pick the corsair you are also picking micron, 99% of the ddr2 made for high performance systems are currently micron-made. what i am saying is it is very very likely they are identical chips with a different spd chip. keep in mind that the spd has no actual affect on performace, it's basically a descriptor to the bios on what the rated/default speed is.

 

[Airflo]

Originally posted by: ojingoh
in all honesty the latency will be the same with both of those sticks overclocked. if you were running an nvidia motherboard i would think that the enhanced spd info or whatever it's called could be a factor, but you're rocking an intel chipset.
i would pick crucial/micron, but then again if you pick the corsair you are also picking micron, 99% of the ddr2 made for high performance systems are currently micron-made. what i am saying is it is very very likely they are identical chips with a different spd chip. keep in mind that the spd has no actual affect on performace, it's basically a descriptor to the bios on what the rated/default speed is.

Thanks for the input!

I am thinking of pushing the FSB to around 400MHz or a bit more if possible.

If actually both stick have the same type (may be) micron chip then in this case the Corsair 800MHz is a better choice as it runs at C4 and of course with FSB 1:1.

On the other hand, I can also tight the Crucial RAM timing as its FSB will be 500 1:1 so if I run it at 400MHz FSB may be I can drop the CAS down to C4. Do you think so?

 

[Kango2020]

This is a tough call, Airflo. For your application either will perform very similarly to the other. Probably the deciding factor should be reliability. On that count I'd have to cast my vote for Corsair. Lifetime warrantee and excellent support (in my experience). The only stick of Corsair I've ever had go bad was replaced in a week.

As a final note, the guaranteed latency advantage of the Corsair will be noticed in video work. Since latency only shows itself over the long run, video editting is the perfect way to realize speed improvements.

But I close by saying, it's a toss up, man.

 

[ojingoh]

yea, toss up is the best way to think of it. i have used micron's stuff (and so does corsair lol) for pretty much all my rigs going back 10 years, they are always solid performers. just make sure you can return it!

 

[Hal0]

G.Skill ?

 

[gobucks]

i'd go corsair but i'd personally buy 2x1GB of CAS 5 sticks rather than 2x512MB CAS 4 sticks (should be about the same price). the CAS 5 sticks are capable of DDR2-1000 speeds, and they can run at DDR2-800 4-4-4-10. I think the CL4 sticks are a waste of money.

As for Crucial, i've had really bad luck with their Ballistix DDR modules. I have no idea if their DDR2 modules have the same issues, but I still have a bad taste in my mouth from their DDR modules and i won't buy them again.

 

[markymoo]

It dont matter which memory you get by the time you run memory at 1000mhz at 1:1 divider it means the fsb will be 500 so you wont get there with your stock fan. It better you invest in better cooling and see how far your can oc your current setup so you can judge better what you need next.

 

[Airflo]

Originally posted by: markymoo
It dont matter which memory you get by the time you run memory at 1000mhz at 1:1 divider it means the fsb will be 500 so you wont get there with your stock fan. It better you invest in better cooling and see how far your can oc your current setup so you can judge better what you need next.

FYI, using only CPU stock fan and 2 normal system fans (80mm), Everest gave me these results:
- My idle temps are:
CPU=31C, M/B=43C, CPU Fan=1600RPM
- My maximum temps (running 2 copies of Prime95, one on each CPU and virus scan at the same time after 30 min.) are:
CPU=49C, M/B=44C, CPU Fan=1900RPM

so I don't think I have problem with heat issue at the moment, but of course I'll look into better heat sink for the CPU when the FSB is higher.

Thank you for your input!

 

[Madellga]

If you have your E6600 already running at 3.0Ghz and 1;1, save the money.

Your overclocking bottleneck will the the CPU very soon. Most people cannot go past this mark wihout jacking up the VCore a lot, faster ram will not help - unless you want to run at higher FSB and lower multiplier.

 

[Airflo]

Originally posted by: Madellga
If you have your E6600 already running at 3.0Ghz and 1;1, save the money.

Your overclocking bottleneck will the the CPU very soon. Most people cannot go past this mark wihout jacking up the VCore a lot, faster ram will not help - unless you want to run at higher FSB and lower multiplier.

My ASUS is currently running BIOS 1305 (latest) at the moment, the latest update does make overclocking a lot easier with couple of extra settings. The Extreme X6800 can drop to lower multiplier (not locked) compares as to my E6600 I can not lower the multiplier as it is locked.

My current CPU VID is 1.425V at the moment so I still can go a bit more to 1.450V if I want to!

 

[Airflo]

Originally posted by: Madellga
If you have your E6600 already running at 3.0Ghz and 1;1, save the money.

Your overclocking bottleneck will the the CPU very soon. Most people cannot go past this mark wihout jacking up the VCore a lot, faster ram will not help - unless you want to run at higher FSB and lower multiplier.

Thanks for the input everyone, I guess I could not save the money as I already bought 2 x 1GB OCZ EL XTC RAM PC2-8000 @ 5-5-5-15 and are trying them. At least I can be sure that I have what I need to do with Video Encoding & Editing properly!