720cpu AM3mobo ADVICE on DDR3 Memory please.

Frank@uk · 7 May 2009 at 23:24

Going to put together as follows...
X3 720 BE
MSI 790GX 65G

So AM3 Mobo and CPU I can get them both here at OCUK but its the Memory I need some advice on.
I'm thinking of DDR3 but the OCZ Dual Channel here http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-109-OC&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=1387 at £52 is OUT OF STOCK!!! Next step up is £80 but theres a few dodgey reviews on it.
I see that 6 Gb of Tri-Channel PC3 10600 here http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-151-OC&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=1390 is at £62.

Is it better for me to buy this 6Gb Tri-Channel memory and just use 4Gb of it? I'm sure I read something about needing to turn it into Dual Channel somehow is that right? If so, how?

It would mean I had 4Gb at £62 rather than the 4Gb Corsair Dual channel at £80.

I would like to dabble in overclocking my 720 CPU but need to save on spending too much on memory. False economy?

Sorry.... One more thing.
I'm thinking of using this 700W PSU http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-030-OC&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat= I take it that will be good enough to power this combination. I haven't yet decided on GPU. I'm going to use the onboard HD3300 for now.

Thanks for any and all replies.
Frank.

Art · 7 May 2009 at 23:29

A few people on other websites have muttered about a potential problem with the voltages that the i7 triple channel memory needs, but I don't know how big a problem that is.

Root around in the clearance memory section, they have some 4GB DDR3 sets going for around £50. I don't know why there is so much stuff in that category, it looks like they've really cleaned out the dual channel DDR3 section. Streamlining, I guess.

Frank@uk · 8 May 2009 at 00:02

Thanks for reply Art.
So...be mindfull of i7 Tri-channel because there might voltage problems. OK but you said theres 4Gb DDR3 Dual Channel in clearance.. I saw this http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-116-OC&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=400 which is only 4Gb DDR3 for around £50 price but its got "intel" written all over it!
Bit confussed (feeling like n00b) is this memory OK for my proposed setup?

I'm using Windows XP and I gather it only recognises 3Gb of memory. Perhaps I should just buy 2Gb DDR3 Dual Ch' for now.

Art · 8 May 2009 at 10:11

As far as I know the Intel stuff should work fine: the Intel XMP thing is a gimmick that supposedly makes it easier to overclock with certain Intel chipsets. If you're in no real rush one of the OcUK staff mentioned getting in new AMD-specific DDR3 sometime soon, but they didn't mention when.

If your copy of XP is 32bit (the most common) then the most you're likely to see is 3.25GB. Whether or not that's a big deal really depends on what you want to do with your machine.

2GB or 4GB, it's really up to you. You might want to see if someone else agrees with what I've said about the i7 and Intel stuff though, I'm not particularly clued up on RAM.

Frank@uk · 8 May 2009 at 13:52

Cheers Art. Appreciate the replies.
You know what its like.... you've got to try and cap the spending or it'll get way out of hand. "Ooooh. If I just spend £30 more here and £20 more there..." etc.

Art · 8 May 2009 at 14:43

Hah yeah, I know exactly what you mean. I'm speccing out a rig for a summer build at the moment and I'm having the same issues with the RAM. Some people seem to think the voltages with the i7 RAM won't matter, but I've not found anybody that has actually done it.

Hopefully by the time I'm doing my build OcUK will have some more dual channel in stock, but I hope you get yourself sorted out!

EDIT: just found this on another forum

They should work, there have been a few around the 790i section who bought them (by accident mostly) and it works BUT timings will most likely need to be tweaked especially if running high speeds. Voltages usually need a bump from spec but can still be under general dual-channel voltage.

A few other places say it should work too, but there'd be no guarantee on overclocking. You could have a go if you wanted then, or just wait for the AMD-specific stuff that's supposed to be coming in.