Which RAM for i5 build?
- Thread starter Monkey Puzzle
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Pretty shameful to advertise the Patriot Ram at 1600MHz 7-7-7-20 when you can't acheive this without over-volting the P55/core system. They should advertise the 8-8-8-24 @1.65V, and 7-7-7-20 @1.9V as seperate XMP profiles
True but 1600MHz CL7 is achievable @ 1.7V
I feel OcUK should correct this error on their website asap. Otherwise people may be misleaded (as I was be4).
So you wouldn't mind buying a CPU rated at 4GHz, only to find it's actually 2GHz and to get 4GHz you need liquid nitrogen and 2.4volts?
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I'd also like to know why the patriot ddr3 2000mhz sector 5 kit 2x2gb is rated as 8-8-8-24 1.65v yet the sticks themselves rate it as 8-8-8-26 @2000mhz, and have green a green pcb rather than black... Patriot haven't given me an answer. Going for an almost entirely black set-up in an open case so it's pretty annoying for them to be falsely advertised. Still undecided as to whether to return them under dsr.
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I've already answered in the same post you quoted
you didn't though - the cpu needs to be overclocked to run ram at their rated speed, but the ram is rated to run a set of timings at a rated speed and at a certain voltage. By saying they only need 1.65v to do so they're falsely advertising, and the consumer hasn't the right to return them to the manufacturer if they fail to run at the falsely advertised speeds.
It's like saying "this car has 200bhp on unleaded" only to find you need to use nitrous for that to be the case.
OCUK isn't saying 1.65v, usually doesn't mention volts at all unless they're specially low. But the manufacturer has all of that openly available and since memory DOES have to be overclocked to get over 1333mhz - it won't run faster just by plugging it in to a stock system, it is the overclockers business to check the spec.
Although interestingly enough Patriot says that particular memory is rated for 8-8-8-24 at 1.65v. While OCUK is saying 7-7-7-20 (from where?) at unknown volts. Patriots page
I don't really have a problem with the memory speeds, just the fact that it's not very obvious to the consumer what they're buying.
When you buy ram, irrespective if it's faster than normal standards, it's normally clear what speed it's guaranteed to run at, and what voltage. The big issue with i5/i7 is the 1.65volt limit imposed by Intel, and so memory advertised for i5/i7 use shouldn't hide the fact it must exceed that voltage limit to run full speed.
The casual user who runs this as 1.8volts likely hasn't read about the recommended <0.5V difference between Vdimm and uncore to reduce the chance of killing your CPU.
But I also fully agree that you should research your purchases in full before putting down any money. Took me a while to get my head around the i5/i7 base clock memory speed relationship.
When you buy ram, irrespective if it's faster than normal standards, it's normally clear what speed it's guaranteed to run at, and what voltage. The big issue with i5/i7 is the 1.65volt limit imposed by Intel, and so memory advertised for i5/i7 use shouldn't hide the fact it must exceed that voltage limit to run full speed.
The casual user who runs this as 1.8volts likely hasn't read about the recommended <0.5V difference between Vdimm and uncore to reduce the chance of killing your CPU.
But I also fully agree that you should research your purchases in full before putting down any money. Took me a while to get my head around the i5/i7 base clock memory speed relationship.
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I heard back from patriot technical support; apparently the pcb colour is due to supply and demand issues and the 8-8-8-26 listed on the sticks is a typo. Not exactly confidence-inspiring or satisfactory. I understand there are issues for RAM companies getting supply of ddr3 RAM, but they should at least state the fact. You wouldn't ecpect to buy other products marketed partially on their aesthetics to look different from how they've marketed them.
Hotwired: You're still missing the point. The RAM shouldn't need to be overvolted past safe voltages to run at stated spec, and besides which, running at stated spec isn't overclocking the ram- by definition you're running it at stock. So whilst you would have to overclock the processor, that's a moot point.
Hotwired: You're still missing the point. The RAM shouldn't need to be overvolted past safe voltages to run at stated spec, and besides which, running at stated spec isn't overclocking the ram- by definition you're running it at stock. So whilst you would have to overclock the processor, that's a moot point.
I guess if they work, they work. But disappointing they aren't stealthy black. My Ram is all black heatsinks with green PCB - but I don't really care as you can't see inside my case.
Funny about the 'typo'. I wonder what kind of Quality Control they've got going on?
Funny about the 'typo'. I wonder what kind of Quality Control they've got going on?
On Cpu-z The XMP profile shows timing of 8-8-8-26 for me, whats going on here?
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From reviews it seems they come up as 8-8-8-24 in the BIOS but 8-8-8-24 in cpu-z.
Seems they use elpida hyper chips, as do corsair dominator GTs - so presumably they run at similar speeds and timings.
Seems they use elpida hyper chips, as do corsair dominator GTs - so presumably they run at similar speeds and timings.
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I read that lower latency is better than higher frequency when it comes to the i5. So if you can pick up some C7 stuff, it should make a difference.
Hmmm, maybe they programmed the XMP profile for 8-8-8-26 in line with the 'typo'. Not so sure about that being a typo!
Anyway, CPU-Z doesn't seem to read the SPD properly from a lot of DDR3 chips. Basically, my memory is the G.Skill RipJaws 1600MHz C7. XMP is 7-7-7-24 at 800MHz, whilst standard timings (JEDEC) are 9-9-9-24 at 666MHz. These are read fine by my BIOS, and on AUTO it sets the 9-9-9-24 timings.
but CPU-Z shows the following SPD tab (taken from a German review):
9-9-9-25 isn't correct, neither is the 685MHz. I read somewhere about CPU-Z not reading these from the SPD, but can't find it... either way don't worry too much about the SPD tab of CPU-Z. Go with your BIOS!
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Yeah - I asked whether the green pcb versions still use elpida hyper chips and why cpu-z shows timings as 8-8-8-26, and was told it wasn't a typo, and only that it would run at rated spec.... Hmmmm....