RAM Timings and Overclocking

[BlueAcolyte]

Alright, I understand that there are usually 5 modes of timing to choose from when you start, and 1:1 is most efficient. I am getting 4-4-4-12 PC6400 RAM (400FSB) and an Intel E4500.

I guess I can get the E4500 as high as 3.30GHz with a Cooler Master HyperTX2, so that would mean that it is 11 x 300FSB, setting my RAM to that also.
I would be more comfortable setting the E4500 to 11 x 266, which is 2.93 GHz and 533 speed RAM

Should I get a different member of the E4XXX family?
How will this affect my RAM speed and will I notice it?
Will running at such a low clock for my 800 RAM damage it?
Will running in a low async mode produce exponentially more heat?

 

[akhilles]

The only way I can think of that damages the ram is overheating. To run ram out of specs, it may need more voltage.

Instead of dumping money on ram, how about you tell what it is that you want to achieve. Improve gaming performance? -> GPU. Improve general performance? -> CPU (Q6600).

 

[BlueAcolyte]

I am getting a budget gaming PC, PowerColor HD 3870 and all. I was just wondering if I would notice the difference in RAM speed, and this stuff is only $65 dollars for 2x1GB sticks.

 

[myocardia]

If you run your CPU @ 11x266, you can then use the 3x/1.5x memory multiplier (depending on what your motherboard calls it), and your RAM will run @ exactly 400 Mhz/800 DDR2.

 

[akhilles]

IMO, any 800mhz ddr2 is fine for o/cing on P35/P965. The trick, as implied above, is to get the ram to near its specs while overclocking the CPU.

OT: if you haven't gotten your video, here's a killer deal for $200 + free shipping:

http://accessories.us.dell.com...J&cid=24471&lid=566643

 

[BlueAcolyte]

Originally posted by: akhilles
IMO, any 800mhz ddr2 is fine for o/cing on P35/P965. The trick, as implied above, is to get the ram to near its specs while overclocking the CPU.

OT: if you haven't gotten your video, here's a killer deal for $200 + free shipping:

http://accessories.us.dell.com...J&cid=24471&lid=566643

OMG! Thanks a lot, it's actually in stock and around the suggested price!

I can use 2:3 instead of 1:1 without a lot of extra heat+power use? That's good.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: BlueAcolyte
I can use 2:3 instead of 1:1 without a lot of extra heat+power use? That's good.

Yes, 2:3 is actually the same thing as 1.5x.