P5WDH Memory

[jonathan1822]

I have just bought various components and are in the process of building my system. My only issue is RAM...

I have bought - TWIN2X2048-6400C4 for the new system but have a pair of CM2X512-5400C4 Pro from my old system, should i use these aswell.

System:

E6600 - Not going to O/C as it is a media pc (needs to a quiet)
P5WDH
X800XT (from current system)
Pair of Raptors (from current system)

Thanks

Jonathan

 

[phile]

It should work just fine.

-phil

 

[jonathan1822]

Thanks for the quick reply...

I take it from a performance point of view they will not hinder my system?

Jonathan

 

[phile]

Here's the skinny of it: the P5WDH has official support for PC4200/PC5300-PC5400/PC6400 - that's DDR2-533, DDR2-667, and DDR2-800 respectively. Since Conroe has a stock real clock speed (FSB) of 266MHz, you only need PC4200 (DDR2-533) memory to run at 1:1. So, your old mem is already more than fast enough for your new system, and even gives you some moderate overclocking headspace. In fact, you should consider at least a mild overclock, seeing as your hardware will do it with ease. I would suggest overclocking your E6600 to 3GHz (FSB 333). There's a really good chance you won't even have to raise your CPU voltage, thus hardly affecting temps. Also, at FSB 333 you can run your PC5400 mem at the fully rated speed at 1:1.

If you're wondering what this 1:1 to business is all about, it's the ratio between real memory clock and real FSB clock. For example: the real memory clock for your PC5400 (DDR2-667) is 333MHz. The effective clock is 666MHz because it's Dual Data Rate (DDR) memory. So, at FSB 333MHz you would run your mem at DDR2-666, which has a real clock speed of 333MHz - 333/333 = 1:1.

-phil

 

[BadThad]

Nice post phil! :thumbsup:

 

[phile]

Heh, thx. Although, having re-read my post, it's not the most articulate thing I've written. 😱

-phil

 

[Skott]

Add a $20something Artic Freezer 7 Pro HSF and set that fsb to 333 for a 25% easy OC. With a E6600 you'll have a nice quiet, cool, and easy OC of 3.0GHz and not have to increase voltage or anything heavy.