Confused by DDR3 Choices for AM3 :(

eddiew

eddiew

eddiew

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Hi guys,

So I've been out of the loop for a while, but now I'm eyeing up a new cpu/motherboard/memory to replace my ageing Core2Duo E4300 (lol, yes that's the 3-year-old kind :D).

Currently gunning for a AM3 board with a Phenom II 955 BE, but I'm getting stuck on memory choices. So many things in the DDR3 list seem to say "optimised for i5" and the ones that do specify for AM3 seem to be way more expensive (at a time when memory is already way overpriced, no less!)

Is this actually a problem? I'm lost as to what way this memory "optimised" for Intel systems, and does that make it an actual problem if I put it in an AM3 board? Equally, does "optimised for AM3" translate into a real advantage?

On a similar note, voltages: is 1.65V memory a no-no on AM3 because it needs to be higher, or is it just that Intel can only go that far and AM3 can go higher, but doesn't have to? If I stick, for example, some OCZ Gold Low Voltage 1600MHz (1.65V) into an AM3 board, am I going to find the BIOS only goes down to 1.8 and it fries?

Advice much appreciated :)


Oh, I'm pretty flexible about what I put together, so if anyone wants to put a case for going i5, or for a particular AM3 motherboard, please feel free. I'd like to set a budget cap around £350 and get at least 4GB of memory. Mostly the system gets used for Photoshop/GIMP/etc work (some pretty hefty 3000x3000 pieces) and World of Warcraft cos I'm a nerd :P

Thanks in advance :)
 
*polite bump* Sorry, bad form, but I'd really like to be able to order some kit today so's to get my mitts on it by the weekend - if anyone has any info it would be highly appreciated ^^;
 
eddiew said:
Hi guys,

So I've been out of the loop for a while, but now I'm eyeing up a new cpu/motherboard/memory to replace my ageing Core2Duo E4300 (lol, yes that's the 3-year-old kind :D).

Currently gunning for a AM3 board with a Phenom II 955 BE, but I'm getting stuck on memory choices. So many things in the DDR3 list seem to say "optimised for i5" and the ones that do specify for AM3 seem to be way more expensive (at a time when memory is already way overpriced, no less!)

Is this actually a problem? I'm lost as to what way this memory "optimised" for Intel systems, and does that make it an actual problem if I put it in an AM3 board? Equally, does "optimised for AM3" translate into a real advantage?

On a similar note, voltages: is 1.65V memory a no-no on AM3 because it needs to be higher, or is it just that Intel can only go that far and AM3 can go higher, but doesn't have to? If I stick, for example, some OCZ Gold Low Voltage 1600MHz (1.65V) into an AM3 board, am I going to find the BIOS only goes down to 1.8 and it fries?

Advice much appreciated :)


Oh, I'm pretty flexible about what I put together, so if anyone wants to put a case for going i5, or for a particular AM3 motherboard, please feel free. I'd like to set a budget cap around £350 and get at least 4GB of memory. Mostly the system gets used for Photoshop/GIMP/etc work (some pretty hefty 3000x3000 pieces) and World of Warcraft cos I'm a nerd :P

Thanks in advance :)
Click to expand...
It won't be a problem. The memory will work so long as it doesn't state it only works on intel systems. When they say it's optimised they just mean it runs slightly better on those. Now if your motherboard says DDR2 or 3 get that kind of ram and with it being AMD stick to the dual channel ofcourse. I'm not sure how much the optimisation for AMD or Intel systems would effect performance though sorry.

I think you should be fine with a lower voltage ram as they are on sale with no warning and I'm pretty sure I've seen others with that ram on AMD systems but I may be wrong.

Are you wanting to buy a completely new system or upgrade your old one? If upgrading list your system please.
 
Insanties_birth said:
It won't be a problem. The memory will work so long as it doesn't state it only works on intel systems.
Click to expand...

Thanks, that's good to hear - don't think anything says "only for" just "optimised for." Curious to know whether those optimisations go beyond running at a low enough voltage though :)


Insanties_birth said:
Are you wanting to buy a completely new system or upgrade your old one? If upgrading list your system please.
Click to expand...

Upgrading - but replacing CPU, motherboard and memory as a unit, so pretty much anything goes :) Have a 1TB hard drive and an 8800GT that work perfectly fine, so I'll hang on to those for the mo.

Presently eyeing up...

Phenom II 955 BE: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-244-AM&groupid=701&catid=6&subcat=1328

Asus M4A79XTD Evo: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-366-AS&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1481

4GB OCZ Gold: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-180-OC&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=1517

... but I'm prepared to be swayed by a persuasive argument for alternatives if they stay around a ~£350 budget :)

I guess I could do with a 3rd party CPU cooler too?
 
eddiew said:
Thanks, that's good to hear - don't think anything says "only for" just "optimised for." Curious to know whether those optimisations go beyond running at a low enough voltage though :)




Upgrading - but replacing CPU, motherboard and memory as a unit, so pretty much anything goes :) Have a 1TB hard drive and an 8800GT that work perfectly fine, so I'll hang on to those for the mo.

Presently eyeing up...

Phenom II 955 BE: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-244-AM&groupid=701&catid=6&subcat=1328

Asus M4A79XTD Evo: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-366-AS&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1481

4GB OCZ Gold: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-180-OC&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=1517

... but I'm prepared to be swayed by a persuasive argument for alternatives if they stay around a ~£350 budget :)

I guess I could do with a 3rd party CPU cooler too?
Click to expand...
I think you've picked some good stuff there so I'd stick with them. Just to save money though (so you can stick in that cpu cooler) you could get a cheaper mobo and patriot ram
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-355-AS&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1481

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-026-PA&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=1517

Your choice though. Your stuff looks good^^
 
Insanties_birth said:
I think you've picked some good stuff there so I'd stick with them. Just to save money though (so you can stick in that cpu cooler) you could get a cheaper mobo and patriot ram
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-355-AS&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1481

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-026-PA&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=1517
Click to expand...

Hehe, cheers for the ideas, although unless there's some limit on how fast AM3 can run it's memory, I'll stick with the 1600MHz flavour :)

I am a bit baffled by all the AMD chipsets though... can't figure out which is considered the newest/best >_<
 
Insanties_birth said:
Just to save money though (so you can stick in that cpu cooler)
Click to expand...

Turns out I don't need to, I just realised my current Zalman CNPS9500A will fit on socket AM3 - now if only I can find the box of bits it came with... man I love this cooler, quietest thing in the world :D
 
eddiew said:
Hehe, cheers for the ideas, although unless there's some limit on how fast AM3 can run it's memory, I'll stick with the 1600MHz flavour :)

I am a bit baffled by all the AMD chipsets though... can't figure out which is considered the newest/best >_<
Click to expand...
The patriot ram I mentioned was also 1600MHz but it's your choice ofcourse. No AM3 generally doesn't matter when it comes to running ram, it's your motherboard that should state whether it can run that speed of ram or not. The mother board you picked for yourself does run 1600MHz ram though so no worries there.

The best AMD chipsets is the phenom 2 quad core 9xx's. The 965 is the best but your 955 should be pretty much the same processor just running at 0.2 GHz less which isn't that bad when it's still got 3.2 GHz. Like I said you picked good stuff so don't worry about it.
 
eddiew said:
Turns out I don't need to, I just realised my current Zalman CNPS9500A will fit on socket AM3 - now if only I can find the box of bits it came with... man I love this cooler, quietest thing in the world :D
Click to expand...
Nice to know your CPU cooler is good to go with your processor, I hope it goes to good use is some decent overclocking :D I hope you have fun with your new PC when it's all sorted then :p
 
Generally speaking, in some cases "optimized for Intel" means different ICs from what is used on the AMD versions. Don't be surprised if your system cannot hit 1600 with an "Intel" kit. You won't fry anything but, you may be forced to run slower speeds due to either voltage and/or IC based issues.
 
Yellowbeard said:
Generally speaking, in some cases "optimized for Intel" means different ICs from what is used on the AMD versions. Don't be surprised if your system cannot hit 1600 with an "Intel" kit. You won't fry anything but, you may be forced to run slower speeds due to either voltage and/or IC based issues.
Click to expand...

Ah. Oh well, too late, it's ordered now :/

I doubt it'll matter, real world performance difference from 1333 vs 1600 DDR seems to be slight enough that I won't notice, given how much of a massive upgrade the CPU will be on my current one :)
 
Well... 1 stick works, 1 stick doesn't. Hopefully just a bad pack rather than an indication that "optimised for i5" means "doesn't work with AMD" :/
 
For what it's worth - Test I did a while back with Crysis, as you can see no different using timings at 1333mhz or 1600mhz.
Graphics Card: GTX 295

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition @ 3.6GHz (3.8Ghz = add extra 2 fps)

Ram: OCZ Blade Series 6GB (3x2GB) DDR3 PC3-16000 Triple Channel (Tested at various timings using 2x2GB) / OCZ Platinum 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-10666C7 1333MHz Dual Channel (SAME RESULTS)

Crysis 1600mhz 7-7-7-24 = 54.98 fps

Crysis 1333mhz 7-7-7-24 = 54.43 fps

Crysis 1333mhz 6-6-6-24 = 54.87 fps

Crysis 1333mhz 9-9-9-24 = 52.98 fps
Click to expand...
 
PhoenixUK said:
Strange,
It should work just fine.
Click to expand...

After repeated swapping I concluded that 1 stick of the pair was bust and packed it up for RMA. I'll post again here for closure when I have a working pair :)

Nelly said:
For what it's worth - Test I did a while back with Crysis, as you can see no different using timings at 1333mhz or 1600mhz.
Click to expand...

Heh, that's the sort of thing you should make into public knowledge! Might save a lot of people some cash :o
 
Despite the crime of thread necromancy, I did say I'd post again to conclude.

Replacement "optimised for intel" memory is working fine at 1600MHz in my AM3 motherboard. Whatever optimised means, it isn't "doesn't work at all" :)
 
had the same issue with my DDR3-1600 RAM too mate.
Stated it was optimised for Intel Core i5 - and the price was only £95 v's the £130+ for AMD optimised stuff.

Initially had problems with my Asus board picking up the timings correctly - once i'd adjusted CMD Rate to 2T and upped the voltage as per spec it runs perfectly fine.

if you have a DOCP option on in your BIOS settings (under AI tweaker) - you can set DOCP to DDR3-1600 and select Profile 1 which will set the SPD (standard settings) accordingly on the mainboard.

hth.
 
Troezar said:
So is the consensus that "Optimised for" is just marketing speak?
Click to expand...

NO, it isn't. We have done extensive testing in house on both AMD and Intel platforms. AMD IMCs will not consistently meet our specifications and run the "A" version at 1600. So, we made a "B version that does work consistently with AMD. We would not have made a second version of the same memory if it was not necessary. It costs more to do that.

Some AMD users run the "A" version just fine but most can't get it to run spec. So no, it's not just marketing.
 
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