Need RAM advice on new build...

[oeuf]

So I'm in the process of building a new machine, with the intended purpose of using it for doing 3D work as well as After Effects, Photoshop, Illustrator and the like. I'm a bit out of the loop as far as the latest tech, but I have been browsing articles on the latest tech. My last build was an amd xp 2500 OC'd to xp 3200 speeds, so that'll give you an idea of how long its been.
Now i'm looking to build something around a Q6600 with the intent to OC it to 3.2ghz or higher, if I can. Here's what I've spec'd out so far.

• Core 2 Quad Q600 (hopefully a G0 step from Newegg)
  XIGMATEK HDT-S963 92mm Rifle CPU Cooler
  GIGABYTE GA-EX38-DS4 LGA 775 Intel X38
  MSI NX8800GT 512M OC GeForce 8800GT 512MB
  SeaSonic S12 Energy Plus SS-650HT ATX12V / EPS12V 650W Power Supply
  Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500AAKS 250GB
  SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD753LJ 750GB

Now, i'm stuck on what RAM i should get. I've read that the fastest RAM I need is DDR 800 even with OC'ing in mind. Is that correct? I'd like to get a rock solid stable OC of the Q6600 to at least 3.2ghz (and of course higher if posible), but stability is key. Should I get faster RAM? Wouldn't faster RAM give me more overhead as to not be pushing the RAM to it's limit?
I'm also planning on filling the 4 mem slots with 2GB sticks, will that effect my OC'ing?

Any suggestions on my build? Thanks.

 

[DSF]

Originally posted by: oeufNow, i'm stuck on what RAM i should get. I've read that the fastest RAM I need is DDR 800 even with OC'ing in mind. Is that correct? I'd like to get a rock solid stable OC of the Q6600 to at least 3.2ghz (and of course higher if posible), but stability is key. Should I get faster RAM? Wouldn't faster RAM give me more overhead as to not be pushing the RAM to it's limit?
I'm also planning on filling the 4 mem slots with 2GB sticks, will that effect my OC'ing?

Any suggestions on my build? Thanks.

It's correct that with a Q6600, you can push the chip right up to its limit on DDR2-800. As far as overhead, it's not an issue unless you're pushing your FSB past 400MHz. DDR2-800 is designed to work on a 400MHz FSB. If it doesn't, then you bought bad RAM. If you buy quality RAM, DDR2-800 will be just fine.

As far as filling all the slots with 2GB sticks, I don't know the specifics on that. Some motherboards would probably handle it better than others.

 

[imported_wired247]

since you will be running the RAM at stock clock 4 slots full should be fine, unless you have a crap mobo that can BARELY handle ddr2-800, but it does not sound like that is the case.

 

[oeuf]

Originally posted by: DSF

Originally posted by: oeufNow, i'm stuck on what RAM i should get. I've read that the fastest RAM I need is DDR 800 even with OC'ing in mind. Is that correct? I'd like to get a rock solid stable OC of the Q6600 to at least 3.2ghz (and of course higher if posible), but stability is key. Should I get faster RAM? Wouldn't faster RAM give me more overhead as to not be pushing the RAM to it's limit?
I'm also planning on filling the 4 mem slots with 2GB sticks, will that effect my OC'ing?

Any suggestions on my build? Thanks.

It's correct that with a Q6600, you can push the chip right up to its limit on DDR2-800. As far as overhead, it's not an issue unless you're pushing your FSB past 400MHz. DDR2-800 is designed to work on a 400MHz FSB. If it doesn't, then you bought bad RAM. If you buy quality RAM, DDR2-800 will be just fine.

As far as filling all the slots with 2GB sticks, I don't know the specifics on that. Some motherboards would probably handle it better than others.

Thanks fellas. One more question, the mobo i'm looking at says that it has a memory standard of DDR2 1200, i know it probably means it supports up to DDR2 1200, but should I get that? or is that a waste of my money?
If I get faster RAM, can't I push the CPU a bit further, or does the q6600 cap with the DDR2 800 RAM?

*edit- I have my eye on these sticks of memory, what do you think?
DDR2 800- http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820146726
DDR2 1000- http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820146755

 

[DSF]

You cannot reasonably expect a Q6600 to go past 3.6GHz. That's just about the limit of that particular chip. On the occasions that you see people with Q6600s past that point, they're usually employing more exotic cooling methods and/or excessive voltages that aren't good for the long-term use of the chip.

As far as the motherboard, that means it supports up to DDR2-1200, not that it requires it. Again, DDR2-800 is all you need to get up to that 3.6 GHz mark. DDR2-800 is rated to run on a FSB of up to 400MHz. With the Q6600's 9x multiplier, 9x400 = 3600MHz or 3.6GHz. There's no real need to bother with anything over DDR2-800, and certainly not DDR2-1200.

 

[oeuf]

Thanks for the help! Very much appreciated!