Asynchronous timings with A64s...

MT01XP · 13 Jun 2006 at 23:26

....ie running the memory at a different speed to the HTT.

What are the implications?

p4radox · 13 Jun 2006 at 23:30

Not a lot, Athlon 64s are not too fussy about having the RAM on a divider. Certain uses like video encoding that require large bandwidth will benefit from running the RAM at a high speed. Games benefit loads from tight timings though.

MT01XP · 13 Jun 2006 at 23:34

p4radox said:
Not a lot, Athlon 64s are not too fussy about having the RAM on a divider.

Strictly speaking one can have the memory on a divider but still keep the HTT and memory at the same speed though?

monkeypants · 13 Jun 2006 at 23:37

That's called a 1:1 divider

MT01XP · 13 Jun 2006 at 23:49

monkeypants said:
That's called a 1:1 divider

You raise a good point there!

OK, so let me put it this way....

...let's say we opt for a 1:1 divider, does memory exist that provides as much headroom for overlocking as the CPU?

For example I have an A64 3000+ Venice (Core speed = 2Ghz, HTT = 200Mhz, Multiplier = 10) that is stable with a HTT of 265Mhz.

Could I purchase DDR400 (PC3200) memory that I could OC up to 265Mhz?

Thanks in advance!

Indy500 · 13 Jun 2006 at 23:50

Yeah, for example Corsair XMS.

Minstadave · 13 Jun 2006 at 23:53

MT01XP said:
Could I purchase DDR400 (PC3200) memory that I could OC up to 265Mhz?

You can run 1:1, I've run 1:1 as far as 292Mhz with Crucial Ballistix (avoid this RAM like the plague, it dies a lot), but ultimately its pointless, the performance gain is minimal whilst the cost is high.

Ideally you want a middle ground, use a divider to run tight timings at a good HTT with your CPU as fast as it can go. On A64 CPU speed is everything.

MT01XP · 13 Jun 2006 at 23:55

Minstadave said:
You can run 1:1, I've run 1:1 as far as 292Mhz with Crucial Ballistix (avoid this RAM like the plague, it dies a lot), but ultimately its pointless, the performance gain is minimal whilst the cost is high.

The reason I ask is that I have some cheapo £50 Elixir 1GB PC3200 DDR400 memory and I'm pretty sure that I'll have to run it on a divider to get the max OC on the CPU.

Minstadave · 14 Jun 2006 at 00:17

MT01XP said:
The reason I ask is that I have some cheapo £50 Elixir 1GB PC3200 DDR400 memory and I'm pretty sure that I'll have to run it on a divider to get the max OC on the CPU.

Thats probably good enough to get a decent overclock and not hamper your system.