New AMD AM2 5000 on the way...and have ddr2-667 memory

bob4432

Lifer
Sep 6, 2003
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well, i have some ddr21066 too, but was wondering if there is much of an issue running the slower memory on this amd setup. i haven't been w/ amd for the last generation and needed a cheap test machine, so i picked up this cpu and a m/b to go w/ it.

so, is ok to run the ddr2667 memory on the am2 5000? i remember it was really no big deal to run the skt939s out of sync w/ memory. fwiw, this will be a huge step ahead for my test rig (athlon xp) and i don't need a lot of performance, just something stable.

tia
 

magreen

Golden Member
Dec 27, 2006
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Originally posted by: bob4432
well, i have some ddr21066 too, but was wondering if there is much of an issue running the slower memory on this amd setup. i haven't been w/ amd for the last generation and needed a cheap test machine, so i picked up this cpu and a m/b to go w/ it.

so, is ok to run the ddr2667 memory on the am2 5000? i remember it was really no big deal to run the skt939s out of sync w/ memory. fwiw, this will be a huge step ahead for my test rig (athlon xp) and i don't need a lot of performance, just something stable.

tia

It's ok to run with ddr2-667, and it will be stable and fine. However, being an X2 system you'll see significant overall performance gains by using ddr2-800 or 1066. It's very different than an Intel Core 2 system where the memory speed doesn't affect much.
 

Flipped Gazelle

Diamond Member
Sep 5, 2004
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Actually, memory speed doesn't effect the X2 much, either. Memory latency is much more of an influence, just like with S939.
 

magreen

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Dec 27, 2006
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Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle
Actually, memory speed doesn't effect the X2 much, either. Memory latency is much more of an influence, just like with S939.

Not true. Just read this thread.
 

Flipped Gazelle

Diamond Member
Sep 5, 2004
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My own experience ran counter to yours. I found lower bandwidth with faster latencies improved gaming performance (fps) vs higher bandwidth/greater latencies.
 

magreen

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Dec 27, 2006
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Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle
My own experience ran counter to yours. I found lower bandwidth with faster latencies improved gaming performance (fps) vs higher bandwidth/greater latencies.

I don't have any information on latency's effect on X2 performance, so I can't compare which has the greater effect, memory bandwidth or latency. But I do know that higher bandwidth has a large effect on system performance, including fps in gaming. Did you see the AT link I provided in that thread?

EDIT: oh I see, you're comparing low bandwidth with low latency to high bandwidth with high latency, and saying the former is preferable. You may be right. That's a different thing than I'm comparing. I'm comparing low bandwidth to high bandwidth while keeping latency constant. And I'm saying the higher bandwidth makes a significant difference in performance, all other things being equal.

And when someone asks whether to put in ddr2-667, ddr2-800 or ddr2-1066 memory, I assume they are of equal latency (CL5), unless he mentions otherwise.
 

bob4432

Lifer
Sep 6, 2003
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thanks for the answers. while it does look like there is a diffference, for what this machine is going to to do, i think the ddr2-667 will be fine as this is just a testbed and i will never know the difference in a couple (even 10+) % points. what i remembered w/ the 939 stuff was that in an o/c you got more out of the out of sync memory w/ the cpu running faster than worrying about the memory running a bit slower or limiting your o/c based on memory and using dividers was ok. at the moment w/ the rig i am using w/ the current os and old m/b (trying to run 2k3 and 2k8 server on a athlon xp system that has n support) that there doesn't seem to be good drivers for i am currently getting 1MIN+ delays between a click and and action, so i think i will be g2g w/ 667, i just wanted to make sure it worked :)

edit - just assume all the memory is cl5

edit - a bit off topic, but how does the am2 handle 3 sticks (3x1GB)? i know my c2d had a bit of an issue w/ 3sticks, was wondeirng if am2 does too?
 

magreen

Golden Member
Dec 27, 2006
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Originally posted by: bob4432
thanks for the answers. while it does look like there is a diffference, for what this machine is going to to do, i think the ddr2-667 will be fine as this is just a testbed and i will never know the difference in a couple (even 10+) % points. what i remembered w/ the 939 stuff was that in an o/c you got more out of the out of sync memory w/ the cpu running faster than worrying about the memory running a bit slower or limiting your o/c based on memory and using dividers was ok. at the moment w/ the rig i am using w/ the current os and old m/b (trying to run 2k3 and 2k8 server on a athlon xp system that has n support) that there doesn't seem to be good drivers for i am currently getting 1MIN+ delays between a click and and action, so i think i will be g2g w/ 667, i just wanted to make sure it worked :)

edit - just assume all the memory is cl5

:thumbsup:


EDIT:
edit - a bit off topic, but how does the am2 handle 3 sticks (3x1GB)? i know my c2d had a bit of an issue w/ 3sticks, was wondeirng if am2 does too?
I dunno. I've only tried 2 and 4 sticks in mine. But I'd guess it's rock stable however you configure it, as that's its reputation.
 

daveybrat

Elite Member
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Jan 31, 2000
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Well, with an AM2 socket motherboard, you should only run your memory in pairs, not 3 sticks. You don't want to run in single channel mode, you want dual-channel mode for better performance.
 

Flipped Gazelle

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Sep 5, 2004
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Originally posted by: magreen
And when someone asks whether to put in ddr2-667, ddr2-800 or ddr2-1066 memory, I assume they are of equal latency (CL5), unless he mentions otherwise.

Yeah, sorry, I kinda went of on a bit of a tangent there, didn't I? :eek: