2GB memory to buy for OC. Help!

It has been covered extensively. Believe me if you want to, but we have had this discussion over and over and the findings of people like Angry Games and others is that tight timings are better. How you managed 2-2-2-5 1T @ 275 without BH5 (didn't think OCZ did that except in their VX's) bemuses me as this is the only RAM capable of it, and even then, you'd need amazing sticks. Most top out about 270mhz. If you are going to make something up, please make it plausible. The fact you have OCZ 4800 suggests you have TCCD chips (I used to have TCCD and it will not reach 275 2-2-2-5 1T). MY BH5 does 260mhz (as far as I have tested) 2-2-2-5 1T with 3.58V though. Not sure if it would reach 275mhz.

Games benefit from tight timings. Your assertion on the P4 northbridge is wrong, they need bandwidth rather than timings. If benchmarks show an improvement (esp something like SuperPI), this means the processor can number crunch faster which means it is better. Whether you notice it is another matter...
 
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Anyway for now I am using Corsair Value Ram which is rated at DDR400 2.5,3,3,8. Once I have figured out the limitations of overclocking my cpu I will get some good ram.

Now assuming I can get my 3000+ to 2.8ghz (10x280) and this gigabyte mATX mobo I am getting has dividers on it - On a 166 divider, do you think it will be possible to run this value stuff at 233 with really crap timings, or will I have to settle for a 133 divider and settle for 186mhz for the ram.
 
Flanno said:
Anyway for now I am using Corsair Value Ram which is rated at DDR400 2.5,3,3,8. Once I have figured out the limitations of overclocking my cpu I will get some good ram.

Now assuming I can get my 3000+ to 2.8ghz (10x280) and this gigabyte mATX mobo I am getting has dividers on it - On a 166 divider, do you think it will be possible to run this value stuff at 233 with really crap timings, or will I have to settle for a 133 divider and settle for 186mhz for the ram.
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It won't hit 233mhz. GeIL Value is the best overclocking value RAM and would hit about 220-230mhz tops.
 
Flanno said:
Just read this review and they got the Corsair memory I have to 240fsb at stock timings. So I will give it a go when the mobo arrives on Wednesday.

http://www.amdzone.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=printpage&artid=181
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Entirely depends on the IC's used. GeIL back about 6 months ago used BH5 Winbond IC's which overclock like mad, then switched to Micron standard chips a few months later. The IC's mentioned in that article are dated 17 05 i.e. week 17 of 05 (April?). We are several months down the road so the IC's might not be the same. I do hope indeed you get the good IC's but don't be disappointed if not. Usually when a high end model is coming EOL (end of life) they use up the IC's, rather than just throw them away, in the value range.

Also just noticed that they are 512MB modules and 1GB modules clock no where near as well. 2.5-3-3-8 @ 240mhz on 1GB modules would be EXPENSIVE IC's.
 
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Ah well....at least I will be able to get my max cpu speed with a crap 133 divider if I have to, and then upgrade to some better memory next week.

So I am going to get one of the following....

Assuming my cpu will hit 2.7 or 2.8, do I get

1. 1gig of Geil Ultra-X TCCD DDR550 which will do near 1:1 - 2.5,4,4,7 at 275mhz.

or spend a few quid more on :

2. 2gig Gskill DDR HZ....which will mean using a divider of course as its DDR500. But at 233mhz or so, will I be able to run it at 2,3,2,6 ?
 
2) No. The best at that speed will be about 3-3-3-8 1T. The HZ is probably the way to go for you. 2GB really offsets the timings issue compared with 1GB. Even my 1GB BH-5 @ 250mhz 2-2-2-5 1T is not as good for my usage as 2GB (only the 2GB are currently in RMA).
 
Flanno said:
Thanks...I'm convinced. It's the HZ for me then. cheers mate.
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Np. It's either that or the ZX but seeing as you seem newer to clocking, the HZ should be easier and you might get 1:1 up to about 270-80mhz (these have been known to hit that).

Out of interest, what happened to your 2GB 3500LLPro in sig? Those are amazing sticks.... This a second PC?
 
smids said:
How you managed 2-2-2-5 1T @ 275 without BH5 (didn't think OCZ did that except in their VX's) bemuses me as this is the only RAM capable of it, and even then, you'd need amazing sticks. Most top out about 270mhz. If you are going to make something up, please make it plausible.
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To be honest I am not really that bothered if you think this is plausible or not, I know what I achieved, as you should know every system is different, every chip reaches different FSB, every motherboard / chipset / BIOS is different, I spent a lot of time to get to this level, the RAM ran Mem test but wouldnt run BF2 or CSS reliably, therefore I slackened the timings, upped the FSB and BOOM the game runs a hell of a lot better and more stable.
 
Sorry, but as a Law Student I only go by evidence. You have made a statement which does not sit with any of the review sites etc and goes way beyond what is to be expected (TCCD usually can run 2-2-2-5 1T up to about 220mhz with active cooling - I know Jimbo Mahoney hit 235 or thereabouts with watercooling - which is what I assume you have as it is the IC on the OCZ 4800 sticks). Also you state that FSB is better than timings with no justification for this.

My aim in countering your posts is to prevent anyone being mislead by your statements. There is theoretical evidence as well as actual proof that timings are better than FSB on the A64. Not only that, you are off topic talking about your 1GB sticks and not 2GB sticks. I suggest you read more about memory before posting your erroneous 'findings'. I will quite happily eat my words should you prove me otherwise, but until then, I stand firm on my statements.
 
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Smids, i don't think craigr76 was taking into account using a divider to reach a maximum overclock with tight timings.

Craigr76, you do know that smids is talking about the comparison between 2 CPUs running at the same speed, one with high frequency/high timings, the other with low frequency/low timings, right? In these cases, as a high frequency is less important because the memory controller is now on die, low timings trump high timings. A high frequency does still make a difference, but it's now less significant than tight timings (at least by comparison to Intel systems).

Flanno, good luck with the new build. Let us know how it turns out (and thanks for educating me on those little known 3000+).
 
smids said:
Np. It's either that or the ZX but seeing as you seem newer to clocking, the HZ should be easier and you might get 1:1 up to about 270-80mhz (these have been known to hit that).

Out of interest, what happened to your 2GB 3500LLPro in sig? Those are amazing sticks.... This a second PC?
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Not really....I just always splashed out on the best memory and cpu at the time and usually did not have a need to overclock that much :). Still managed 3.1 on my FX57. Them were happy days. But I recently sold my rig (except the dell flatpanel and logitech speakers) and have not got around to changing my sig yet.

I am putting together the micoatx system to be used as an internet/torrent box (gaming strictly on the xb360 now) as I shortly found I could not do without a pc after selling up. I had the 90% of the parts lying around, the only outlay was a microatx mobo and case, and a cheap 3000+. The only real weak spot is the memory and when I think about it, I am not so sure I even need 2gig. Which is why I was thinking the Geil-ultra TCCD would give me 1:1 with very good timings.
 
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