At what DDR3 timings will it be worth an upgrade?

Urban Reflex · 10 Apr 2008 at 15:29

Currently trying to run 2x1GB of 1333Mhz OCZ DDR3 7-7-7-20 for Vista 64-bit gaming. I decided to purchase this RAM over some 2x2GB Corsair 1600Mhz 7-7-7-20 Because I'm anticipating better DDR3 timings to be out for a cheaper price before the year is out.

My question is, at what timings do you think it'll be worth upgrading? Ultimately I'd like to get 2x2GB of 1600Mhz stuff but (in my opinion) the RAM is the most important part of a rig to get right first time. Do you think we'll ever see 5-5-5-15 DDR3 at that speed?

dazz25 · 10 Apr 2008 at 16:37

I don't whether we will see them timings as standard but I reckon a lot of DDR3 in the future will be able to achieve these timings.

Reality|Bites · 12 Apr 2008 at 15:07

I think CAS 6 will be the lowest it will go.

DDR3 with 8-8-8-20 timings is like DDR with 2-2-2-5 timings if they are both running at the same Mhz.

Adrianr · 12 Apr 2008 at 15:25

I thought DDR2 superseeded DDR on sheer memory bandwidth in the end, and the tight timings of DDR couldn't keep up? Hence why we have Cas4/5 DDR2 but Cas2/3 DDR?

HangTime · 12 Apr 2008 at 15:38

Urban Reflex said:
(in my opinion) the RAM is the most important part of a rig to get right first time.

Can't answer your question I'm afraid, but thought I'd give my 0.02 on the above.

IMO, the most important part of a rig to get right first time is the mobo. This is because changing a motherboard is very awkward, requiring you to unplug everything etc, and can even result in the need to reinstall windows when changing chipsets. They are also relatively tricky/costly to sell on compared to RAM, which can be switched in a matter of minutes and is cheap and easy to post. The motherboard is also the foundation of any system, and a poor choice can severely limit your options in terms of stability, overclocking, expansion etc.

matt100 · 13 Apr 2008 at 00:20

HangTime said:
Can't answer your question I'm afraid, but thought I'd give my 0.02 on the above.

IMO, the most important part of a rig to get right first time is the mobo. This is because changing a motherboard is very awkward, requiring you to unplug everything etc, and can even result in the need to reinstall windows when changing chipsets. They are also relatively tricky/costly to sell on compared to RAM, which can be switched in a matter of minutes and is cheap and easy to post. The motherboard is also the foundation of any system, and a poor choice can severely limit your options in terms of stability, overclocking, expansion etc.

200% agree with that.. mobo is the very last thing I'll change because its such a PITA!

I've had all kinds of ram and to be honest I've never noticed any difference, been ahead of the curve a bit with going for 1GB when 512MB was common, 2GB when 1GB was standard etc..

Timings also.. had some tight ddr2 when it launched (3-2-2-8) way back when s775 launched, switched that for 2GB of looser timings.. slight superpi difference but otherwise nothing (an we're talking 3/4 of a second over 30 seconds).

Then some tight DDR1 2-2-2-5, then looser/faster, then back to ddr2 with lots of different capacities/timings etc..

The only ram thing thats made a difference was back in the A64 days and going with 1T/2T

I wouldn't worry about CAS6 or 7 on DDR3, I'd worry more about the cost compared to DDR2. Thats what is holding me a long way from 790i etc.

skippo · 15 Apr 2008 at 19:29

HangTime said:
Can't answer your question I'm afraid, but thought I'd give my 0.02 on the above.

IMO, the most important part of a rig to get right first time is the mobo. This is because changing a motherboard is very awkward, requiring you to unplug everything etc, and can even result in the need to reinstall windows when changing chipsets. They are also relatively tricky/costly to sell on compared to RAM, which can be switched in a matter of minutes and is cheap and easy to post. The motherboard is also the foundation of any system, and a poor choice can severely limit your options in terms of stability, overclocking, expansion etc.

I made a poor choice with a Striker II Formula and have had nothing but heart ache! BSOD, hanging, etc etc....
With hind sight i would like to upgrade to a 790i, but this is too late now.