What to set my FSB:RAM ratio to?

[flynismo]

Ok, just put my order in for an Asus motherboard and OCZ Platinum DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 memory.
Being a noob to overclocking, I want to be prepared when the stuff arrives...don't want to fry my stuff the same day I get it!

I'm kind of unclear on the RAM settings...I guess first I should list my components so that you know how to respond-

- Q6600 Quad Core
- 4 GB PC2-8500 memory
- NVIDIA GeForce 8500GT video card
- Asus P5KPL-CM motherboard

Basically, my questions are:

1) For this setup, should I run the memory linked or unlinked?
2) If linked, at what ratio should I set it to?

Not sure if I'm understanding correctly, but I believe that the memory is running at 533MHz, so theoretically, I could set the FSB all the way to 533MHz without touching the RAM settings? If that is the case, would it be best to just run the RAM unlinked?

Also, was just wondering....
I also ordered this ASUS HSF">http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835101021</a> (hey, it was only $30!) and a 500w PSU. What would be a reasonable expectation be of how far I can OC the Q6600 with these components?

Thanks in advance!

 

[nastymatt]

Originally posted by: flynismo
Ok, just put my order in for an Asus motherboard and OCZ Platinum DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 memory.
Being a noob to overclocking, I want to be prepared when the stuff arrives...don't want to fry my stuff the same day I get it!

I'm kind of unclear on the RAM settings...I guess first I should list my components so that you know how to respond-

- Q6600 Quad Core
- 4 GB PC2-8500 memory
- NVIDIA GeForce 8500GT video card
- Asus P5KPL-CM motherboard

Basically, my questions are:

1) For this setup, should I run the memory linked or unlinked?
2) If linked, at what ratio should I set it to?

Not sure if I'm understanding correctly, but I believe that the memory is running at 533MHz, so theoretically, I could set the FSB all the way to 533MHz without touching the RAM settings? If that is the case, would it be best to just run the RAM unlinked?

Thanks in advance!

Here is how I understand it - linked will alow your mem to creep up when you OC. So your mem will OC too. Unlinked is obviously the opposite.

If you don't want to OC your mem you need to work out what you want to run it at. 1066mhz is 2x 533mhz (2 sticks of mem). So if you fsb was 533 you run your mem at 1:1.

Now what happens if you set your fsb lower and your cpu multiplyer higher? Say at 466mhz? Well if you stay at 1:1 your mem is now runing at 932mhz. Not good.

How to get it back to 1066? divide it by 7 and multiply it by 8. ((932/7)8) = 1066mhz.

In short.. what do you want your fsb to run at? Multiply that by 2 and then work out the ratio to get that to your mem speed.

 

[Billb2]

Yes, unlinked and using multipliers and dividers allows you to overclock the CPU and the memory independent of each other.

You can also use this method to determine your CPU overclock without having the memory be a factor. Just use a divider that keeps the memory at or below it's rated speed. Then, when you OC fails, you'll know it was the CPU, not the memory, that couldn't go any higher. Then set a low multi, that keeps the CPU at or below at its rated speed, and overclock the memory. Then you'll know the max speeds for both and can put them together (with the appropriate FSB, multi and divider).