Will my RAM slow my OC?

shanepg · 12 Dec 2011 at 22:51

Trying to OC this setup (see sig). Can you guys please let me know if it's a good idea to spend a few quid on 2x2GB 1600MHz RAM? Is it worth spending the extra and getting 1800MHz? Opinions please.
Thanks?

chrishook · 12 Dec 2011 at 23:00

dont really need any higher than 1600

shanepg · 13 Dec 2011 at 19:12

Cheers mate, RAM is so cheap now I can't really refuse a minor upgrade. Thanks again.

reflux · 13 Dec 2011 at 19:13

Yeah 1600 is usually fine.

Quadcore14 · 21 Dec 2011 at 19:24

1600mhz is fine unless you are doing extreme overclocking

w1llyg · 22 Dec 2011 at 14:48

Hi there,

I've dabbled at OCing my system see sig. And im pretty sure you cant OC the RAM higher than 1333mhz on a 955/965 CPU. The motherboards will support it but the CPU cant handle it (can't remember why) so the only thing you can do to OC the RAM is to tighten up CAS timings.

thezakarum · 22 Dec 2011 at 15:03

I could hardly see a difference in games between 1333mhz and 1600mhz, not sure for anything esle.

But then again, I'd always thought having more ram is better than having faster ram.

SeraphX · 22 Dec 2011 at 15:06

w1llyg said:
Hi there,

I've dabbled at OCing my system see sig. And im pretty sure you cant OC the RAM higher than 1333mhz on a 955/965 CPU. The motherboards will support it but the CPU cant handle it (can't remember why) so the only thing you can do to OC the RAM is to tighten up CAS timings.

nonsense, where do people seem to get this information from?

a phenom II chip will happily run any ram upto and including DDR3 1600

all you have to do is manually enter the timings and rated speed via the bios

w1llyg · 22 Dec 2011 at 15:33

Apologies.

I do remember that performance wise its better to have lower timings (7-7-7-20 @1333mhz) than higher timings (9-9-9-24) running @1600mhz.

But with abit of luck you might be able to get both like SeraphX

Orcvader · 22 Dec 2011 at 15:46

My old 965 was happily running at 3.8ghz with 1600mhz CAS 7 RAM...

To OP the 955 has an unlocked multiplier anyway, so if you overclock it via that method it won't even affect the RAM speed.

SeraphX · 22 Dec 2011 at 16:28

w1llyg said:
Apologies.

I do remember that performance wise its better to have lower timings (7-7-7-20 @1333mhz) than higher timings (9-9-9-24) running @1600mhz.

But with abit of luck you might be able to get both like SeraphX

it's not about luck mate, it about knowing what your hardware can do, and just getting the settings right

Ram for instance,
speeds and timings come stamped on the back of most ram sticks, if not, then trust Cpu-z

Heres my Spd reading for my ram from Cpu-z

Notice the various timings and different speeds, if the memory is left to stock (IE Mobo and cpu devised settings, it would be running at around 600Mhz with Cas 9 timings, slow slow slow

Orcvader said:
My old 965 was happily running at 3.8ghz with 1600mhz CAS 7 RAM...

To OP the 955 has an unlocked multiplier anyway, so if you overclock it via that method it won't even affect the RAM speed.

This is how you do it^^ perfect example, the only time i've ran into problems RE: Cpu clock speed and ram timings is when i was doing a mad dash for 4400Mhz at 1.6V with 800Mhz Ram at Cas 7 timings at 1.55V if memory serves.