Tighter timings or faster clock speed?

[spittledip]

Hey,

I was wondering what aspect is better for performance?

Take for example these 2 products:

corsair higher clocks

Corsair tighter timings

The first has timings of 5-5-5-15-2T and clock speed of 1066 mghz.

The 2nd has timings of 4-4-4-12 and clock speed of 800 mghz.

For performance, which would be better? (as is without any OCing or timing tightening) Or is it possible to even say which would be better?

 

[Blain]

Timings make very little difference in benchmarks, let alone the "real world".
I would buy PC2-6400 that is rated at 1.8-1.9v

1.8v is the standard for PC2-6400 memory.
Some manufacturers get by with using lower quality memory chips and slamming them with higher voltage, to keep them running stable.
Even then, some still don't run stable.

Premium memory is rated to run higher MHz with tighter timings and lower voltage.
The exact opposite is true of crappy memory. It's rated to run higher MHz with looser timings and higher voltage.

If you're looking for good 4GB DDR2 kits at a reasonable price to run on a stock or mild OC'd system...
* G.Skill F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ, A-Data ADQVE1B16K, Mushkin 996587 or the Corsair TWIN2X4096-6400C5 if you don't mind rebates.

 

[spittledip]

So you would buy the lower clock speed b/c of lower voltage=longer life/less heat and near identical performance?

 

[Blain]

If you're talking about the Corsair memory you have linked, I wouldn't buy it either.
They're both rated for 2.1v

* Are you going to try some kind of extreme overclock of your CPU?
* If so, please list the processor you're working with.
* What type of tasks do you perform on your PC?

If you want fancy heatsinks, tight timings and lower voltage... Buy the G.Skill F2-6400CL4D-4GBPI-B. :thumbsup::laugh:

 

[spittledip]

Thanks for the replies.

I am in the process of building a system from the ground up. My 939 system is getting a bit slow for certain games, etc. I am just going to go for some small overclocking - you know, get a q9550 bump it up 200 or 300 mghz rather than spend another 200$ and get a q9650.

The most intensive stuff i do is game. I occasionally do some encoding, but not much.

I was just asking why you wouldn't get the 2.1 v- i assumed it was b/c of heat issues and longevity.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: spittledip
I was just asking why you wouldn't get the 2.1 v- i assumed it was b/c of heat issues and longevity.

Read my first reply. :roll:

I prefer to buy quality components.
I view higher voltage rated chips as inferior to lower rated ones.

PC2-6400 memory should get a Q9550 up to 3.4GHz, with the memory running 100% within specification.

 

[spittledip]

Originally posted by: Blain

Originally posted by: spittledip
I was just asking why you wouldn't get the 2.1 v- i assumed it was b/c of heat issues and longevity.

Read my first reply. :roll:

I prefer to buy quality components.
I view higher voltage rated chips as inferior to lower rated ones.

PC2-6400 memory should get a Q9550 up to 3.4GHz, with the memory running 100% within specification.

Oh, sorry. It was not clear to me - I actually read it a couple of times but for some reason I read it wrong. It happens you know.

Thanks for the input.

EDIT: I now know to completely avoid 2.1 v rated RAM- I had assumed before it was just that it was necessary to up the voltage to get those speeds- I now know better. Thanks for the good advice. This was what I was looking for in part.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: spittledip
I had assumed before it was just that it was necessary to up the voltage to get those speeds

You assumed correctly...
It is necessary for them to jack the voltage up on the higher clocked DIMMs to achieve stability.

 

[spittledip]

That Mushkin looks like good stuff. I will probably go with that. Thanks.

 

[Blain]

Just to give you a little perspective...
I got a good deal on some memory a few years ago.
I snagged 2 x Mushkin 128MB DIMMs for $309 shipped! :shocked:

 

[imported_harlanpepper]

I got the 1066 corsair dominator kit a couple weeks ago and I'm very happy with them. I've never had to give them more than 1.8v at 4-4-4-12 at 860 or at 5-5-5-15 at 1066. I've also used the regular Corsair XMS2 stuff and it's a great bargain at $25 AR. Couldn't get cas 4 on the XMS2 sticks @ 800, though.

 

[spittledip]

What do you think about this stuff:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820231194

It runs at 1.8V - 1.9V at 1100 mgtz.

 

[Blain]

It's nice memory. But you're paying for speed that you don't need.
It's like buying 200MPH rated tires for a Pontiac G6
Remember me saying that plain PC2-6400 will allow for an OC of 3.4GHz on a Q9550, and still be running in specification... remember?

Do you just like to see bling in your case or do you have money burning a hole in your pocket?
But the PC2-6400, OC the Q9550 to 3.4GHz and be happy.
Use the $44 saved and buy an AC Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro and a Samsung 22X burner.

 

[spittledip]

Heh, not really a fan of bling, just looking for best performance. If it won't improve performance then I won't bother. Thanks again