Should I buy faster RAM, or RAM with better timings?

[Bold]

I'm building an i5-750 system on the cheap, but I'm weary of overclocking and don't have any strong desire to endlessly tinker with this new build. If I'm trying to keep the memory budget around $100, should I buy DDR3-1333 with better timings (say, 8-8-8-21), or should I buy DDR3-1600 with poorer timings (9-9-9-24) with the idea that I might be able to run it at 1333 using better timings OR I could allow myself some room to overclock in the future if I decide I do want to do so?

I was considering Corsair, but it looks like G.SKILL has a better selection of products available through NewEgg, and I've heard good things:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231275
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231277

 

[Swivelguy2]

You'll have higher memory bandwidth at 1600 CAS9 than you will at 1333 CAS8, but I believe the i5-750 only allows memory multipliers up to 10x. This means that at stock BCLK, you can only get up to 1333 MHz memory. To get to 1600 MHz, you'd have to get an i7-860 or raise the BCLK on the i5 to 160 MHz (which overclocks the CPU to 3.2 GHz, and 3.8 GHz with turbo mode).

FYI, I believe just about every core i5 overclocks to that 160 MHz (3.2 GHz, DDR3-1600) mark without increased voltage or aftermarket cooling.

 

[Blain]

I like both kits. They are rated at the sweet 1.5v

 

[Bold]

You'll have higher memory bandwidth at 1600 CAS9 than you will at 1333 CAS8

If I start out NOT overclocking, could I run the 1600 memory a 1333 but use faster timings, like CAS8? I probably wouldn't bother, however, since I'd need to do a lot of tests to see if it's stable, and I just don't have the patience to do a lot of tinkering anymore on stuff like this.

Especially if there's only a minimal improvement in noticeable speed. 🙂

 

[Blain]

"Timings" offer only limited performance improvement in benchmarks.
In the real world they offer no performance improvement, noticeable to the end user.
Paying a premium for lower timing memory, based on performance alone, isn't advisable.

 

[Bold]

"Timings" offer only limited performance improvement in benchmarks.
In the real world they offer no performance improvement, noticeable to the end user.
Paying a premium for lower timing memory, based on performance alone, isn't advisable.

Okay, thanks for your input! I think I may go with the faster memory, just to give me the headroom if I eventually decide to overclock.

 

[Blain]

I do take timings into consideration when hunting for high quality memory.
But I don't buy it for any performance reasons.