So after overclocking the CPU, does over clocking the memory gives a lot of benefits?

[hypeMarked]

Hi all, I just finished overclocking my first system. I have DD2 8500 (1066), but right now, i have the setting at 1:1 (390fsb * 2 = 780mhz). Should I change the memory divider so it goes close to 1066mhz? or lower the timings? I read some overclocking tutorials, but they only give a small briefing of the memory overclocking. Thanks,

 

[magreen]

What cpu? Amd or intel makes a difference.

 

[hypeMarked]

Intel Q6600

 

[sutahz]

AMD may see a bigger difference, but in the end, im sure it all equals jack shiz. In order to see any.. and i mean ANY (synthetic/theoretical) gains, you need ~50% increase over FSB on your DDR speed. So in your case of 390FSB, your memory will need to be 1170DDR ((390*2)*1.5=1170).
What timings are you using, 'cause guess what? Timings have as much effect on performance as freq does, a whole lotta nothing. Use 5-5-5-18 and make your life easy.

 

[hypeMarked]

My current memory settings are 5-5-5-15, and running at 780mhz. So you're saying that there's no real world increase?

 

[BonzaiDuck]

There are consistent and reliable trade-offs between FSB, latency settings and voltage.

If you choose a 4:5 divider instead of 1:1, you would have to loosen the timings IF - I say IF -- you have tweaked them already to the tightest stable settings. I doubt that you have done that, or changed them from their SPD stock values. You might also be able to drop the memory voltage a notch @ 4:5. The results would be a wash with the 1:1 settings and tightest latencies.

I can "measure" these differences in synthetic benchmarks -- the only "objective" measure of comparison which nevertheless may not reflect real-world performance. But I can gauge real-world performance subjectively, and compare maximum achievable game scores at different settings. For that, I have to trust the Everest memory benchies as a reliable relative indicator of "improvement."

If you don't understand my jargon in the first paragraph, I mean, by "trade-offs" -- that an increase in FSB will require looser timings (latencies) at various thresholds as you go up the FSB ladder. Tighter latencies may require higher voltage, even as you also drop the FSB a tad. Conversely, if you lower the FSB, you can tighten the timings. But at any particular FSB setting, tighter timings require higher RAM voltage, and lower RAM voltage requires looser timings.

 

[hypeMarked]

Thanks for the info all, it is very helpful. One last question, I figured from the info that you all gave and reading around, overclocking the memory will have insignificant effect on the whole system. But my memory is rated at 8500 (1066mhz) and I am only running it at 780mhz, does it make sense to change the divider to get to as close to 1066mhz as possible or there's no gain from doing so?