Advice on a Vista Host for running Virtual Machines

robomonkey

robomonkey

robomonkey

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9 Jan 2007
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14
Hi,

I'm going to be building a new vista machine in a few months, but I need help matching memory and processors and mobo's etc. It's primary use is as a host for Virtual Machines, so memory, memory, memory is the most important part, i'll start with 2gb and hopefully at some point get 4gb.

I'm looking to get an E6600 in a Lian Li A10, the reason I note the case is because one of my other primary goals is to minimise noise! I'm hoping I might be able to use a Ninja to passivly cool the processor (I won't be overclocking, and not a gamer)!?!?

The E6600 runs at 1066fsb, so to get the best performace what speed memory do I need? is it 8500? I see a lot of ppl's sigs in this forum running 6400 memory with the coreduo, is there a reason for this?

Also I need a good mobo which will be able to leverage this performance. Ideally I'd like dual gigabit LAN and onboard graphics (longshot I know!)

Ta
 
The reason people use PC6400 Memory is because it runs at 800MHz (400FSB). For example if they were overclocking say an E6300 they could set the FSB to 400 which coupled with the CPU multiplier of 7 would result in the processor running at 2.8GHz (400*7), whereas if they had used PC5300 (667MHz (333FSB) ) then it would mean like me(check my sig) they could only get to 333*7 which would result in an overclock of 2.33GHz, without actually running the RAM above its rated MHz, if this doesn't make sense, then please check the easy overclocking guide as im sure these guys have explained it better than me!

Kiz
 
Hi, thanks for the reply, I have read the memory FAQ but got a little lost still.

Assuming my processor E6600 @ 2.4Ghz,

If I get 8500 memory rated at 1066mhz at 533FSB, then my processor will need a multiplier of 4.5 (4.5x533=2,398).

Or I can get cheaper 6500 memory rated at 800mhz or 400FSB, then my processor will need a mulitplier of 6 (6x400=2,400).

So whats the difference between the two setups? I thought if the processor has a FSB of 1066mhz then you should get memory to match it!

does this mean if I get 8500 memory my processor is only running a FSB of 533mhz? does that matter?
 
You can't lower the multiplier like that, how it works is, with most processors you can only change it to a certain level, e.g. on the E6300 the multiplier is locked at 7, and you can only clock the processor by changing the FSB which is where your CPUs clock speed is taken. Generally most of the multipliers are locked. When they say RAM is rated at DDR2 667 what they actually mean is its 333MHz but because its DDR2 you multiply the FSB x 2 giving you 667 (333x2). If this still doesnt make sense to you as as I'm probably not explaining it properly then try reading this:

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17612922

Hope this helps!

Kiz
 
Ah I see.

So the E6600 is locked at 9x, so 2400/9=266.

DDR 266 = 533mhz. So the Ram I should be looking at is 4200.

Is there any advantage in buying ram faster that that? if I'm never going to overclock the system?

Thankyou for the help.
 
The main reason people buy faster RAM is so that it doesn't limit their overclocking potential as you will have noticed :) which is the same predicament I am in, I bought PC5300 stuff (667) and have clocked my CPU to 2.33GHz (333x2(i.e. 667) if i try to push it any fuurther than this I will be clocking the RAM, its not that it won't work, it may overclock but it means the RAM is running at a faster frequency than it was intended and tbh I haven't got the time to sit down and tweak it! Hope this has helped you mate

Kiz
 
The memory and processor both get their speed from that same FSB so whatever FSB your memory is, that is the value that your CPU speed will be taken from e.g. a memory FSB of 333 (667), will mean a processor speed of 2.33 (333x2). IOW They are both derived from the same thing :)
 
Doesn't that mean a performance hit on the processor, if its capable of running 1066Mhz, and you only run it at 533 FSB, surely thats only half whats its capable of!
 
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