overclocking memory: timings for gaming

[Regulator07]

what would be my best bet for acheiving the most out of my overclock, should i use a divider and keep my ram running between ddr400-ddr420 at 2-2-2-6 timings, or should i loosen the timings and run the memory at 1:1. i mainly game, so i am wondering what provides more benefit in games. thanks for help.

 

[dunkster]

Ideally, you want best combination of max stable CPU speed and max memory bandwidth.

Emphasize CPU speed, relaxing memory timings as required to run your RAM speed same as CPU FSB/HTT speed.

Your RAM is probably limited to about 220MHz stable at 2/2/2/6, but will probably run stably at 250MHz or better at 2.5/3/3/7.

Hope this helps!

 

[Regulator07]

that does help, thank you
do you think that running the ram with looser timings but faster speed with provide benefit over the tighter timings and slower speed?

 

[peleejosh]

Memory bandwitdh does not help on a64 setups. A64's run better with tighter timings. I would go with highest cpu clock, divider on the ram to run it at highest fsb with 2-2-2 timings.

 

[orangat]

Originally posted by: Regulator07
that does help, thank you
do you think that running the ram with looser timings but faster speed with provide benefit over the tighter timings and slower speed?

There used to be a sticky around here comparing the benchmarks.
But generally good latencies are better than higher bandwidth for the A64s. Thats why a single channel 754 with only half the bandwidth is still pretty competitive with 939 systems.

 

[Regulator07]

do you guys think 1.45-1.46 volts is safe on air, if temps are not going over 42-43 full load while primeing?

 

[peleejosh]

yes

 

[Regulator07]

thank you

 

[Heckler 5th]

i've done some testing on this. increasing RAM bandwidth improves 3dmark01 scores somewhat significantly (several hundred points) but the affect on 3dmark05 is virtually nil. this suggests that, for modern games, low timings affect performance more then bandwidth.

 

[orangat]

Originally posted by: Regulator07
do you guys think 1.45-1.46 volts is safe on air, if temps are not going over 42-43 full load while primeing?

What do you mean by safe? Any voltage increase kills the cpu faster regardless of how good the cooling may be at least at room temps.

 

[Regulator07]

well how much faster, are we saying it will take off 3 years of its say 10 year life?

 

[Unkno]

Originally posted by: Regulator07
well how much faster, are we saying it will take off 3 years of its say 10 year life?

to build onto the question, does it include running at stock voltage?