Should I overclock motherboard to match RAM memory frequency?

Yukicore

Member
Sep 16, 2012
66
0
0
Hello, I have this question - Should I overclock motherboard to match RAM memory frequency? Default Mothb settings - 1333MHz, RAM frequency 1600MHz.

The motherboard RAM frequency support is 2400(OC)/1600/1333/1066 (as written in official Gigabyte web-site). When I first set up my computer, by default memory frequency was set 1333MHz.

I personally would prefer leaving it that way, because as far as I know there is not much difference, and there is just no point, and it should feel better at lower frequency.

I use my computer for gaming, would I notice a difference? Because for some quite a long time I have it at 1600MHz.

But what should I really do with this?



CPU - Intel i5 3570K
GPU - Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 OC (Dual-X)
RAM - Crucial Ballistix 8GB (1600MHz)
MTB - Gigabyte GA-Z77X-D3H
PSU - Cooler Master GX-750W
HDD - Western Digital 7200Rpm 32Mb cache
 

BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
16,110
1,723
126
Hello, I have this question - Should I overclock motherboard to match RAM memory frequency? Default Mothb settings - 1333MHz, RAM frequency 1600MHz.

The motherboard RAM frequency support is 2400(OC)/1600/1333/1066 (as written in official Gigabyte web-site). When I first set up my computer, by default memory frequency was set 1333MHz.

I personally would prefer leaving it that way, because as far as I know there is not much difference, and there is just no point, and it should feel better at lower frequency.

I use my computer for gaming, would I notice a difference? Because for some quite a long time I have it at 1600MHz.

But what should I really do with this?



CPU - Intel i5 3570K
GPU - Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 OC (Dual-X)
RAM - Crucial Ballistix 8GB (1600MHz)
MTB - Gigabyte GA-Z77X-D3H
PSU - Cooler Master GX-750W
HDD - Western Digital 7200Rpm 32Mb cache

With the new architecture or designs that use processor i7 and variants (socket 1155 and 2011), there is no need to strive for a 1 : 1 CPU-to-RAM ratio. The QPI (bCLK) should be fixed at 100 Mhz; there is a CPU multiplier, and a memory multiplier.

For over-clocking, you can (and probably should . . ) over-clock the CPU and RAM separately. Or -- you don't need to over-clock the RAM, since benefits are very small.

Just the way you've written your question, I suggest you go out on the web and collect some links to over-clocking guides. If it were me, I wouldn't limit myself entirely to Ivy Bridge guides, either. Nor would I limit myself exclusively to the Z77 chipset, or to a particular (Gigabyte) motherboard.

Study hard. I wouldn't start tweaking your CPU etc. without getting a bit more familiar with the BIOS and processor features.
 

Yukicore

Member
Sep 16, 2012
66
0
0
Thanks for the reply, but I think you got it wrong.

I was not talking about any of the component overclock, I was talking about motherboard's memory frequency to RAM support.

I have a 1600MHz RAM, but it's running at 1333MHz, since it's set to do so, because by default, not overclocked, motherboard supports 1333MHz RAM frequency.

I wanted to know if that's a problem if I use only 1333MHz of 1600MHz RAM freq. And how much performance increase would I get if I overclock the motherboard to fully support the 1600MHz, and what would be the draws for the motherboard if I do so.

Either ||| Motherboard 1333 + RAM 1333UC(1600) ||| or ||| Motherboard 1600OC(1333) + Ram 1600 |||
 
Last edited:

MagnusTheBrewer

IN MEMORIAM
Jun 19, 2004
24,122
1,594
126
I'll give it to you short and sweet. Unless you are benchmarking, you will notice zero difference in games or, any other software, between running the ram at the default 1333 Mhz or, running at 1600 Mhz. We're talking about nano seconds. Lower latency also means nothing unless you benchmark.
 

Yukicore

Member
Sep 16, 2012
66
0
0
Yes, but what about the fact that I am using only 1333MHz of the 1600MHz RAM, would that damage it in any way?
 

codyray10

Senior member
Apr 14, 2008
854
4
81
You paid for DDR3 1600mhz speed, why wouldnt you just simply select the 1600mhz setting in your bios?! It is not "overclocking" your motherboard, it's just your bios default preset is 1333mhz. Your motherboard supports 1600, so you might as well use it. Its not going to hurt anything. Although, as others have stated you will not notice a difference between the two.
 

jhansman

Platinum Member
Feb 5, 2004
2,768
29
91
You paid for DDR3 1600mhz speed, why wouldnt you just simply select the 1600mhz setting in your bios?! It is not "overclocking" your motherboard, it's just your bios default preset is 1333mhz. Your motherboard supports 1600, so you might as well use it. Its not going to hurt anything. Although, as others have stated you will not notice a difference between the two.

This. My mobo defaulted to 1333MHz at first boot with my 1600MHz RAM installed. All I had to do was go in and change the frequency, and have not touched it since.