Best RAM for E6850

[Kirth Gersen]

Nooby question.

I am planning on getting an E6850. I don't plan to overclock immediately, but will in the future. So I was thinking of my RAM choice options.

Nooby maths check:

E6850 = FSB 333 Ghz = 1333 effective

DDR2 5300 = 333 Ghz = 667 effective
DDR2 6400 = 400 Ghz = 800 effective.

So if I don't want to overclock, DDR2 5300 would seem a good choice as it hits the 1:1 ratio sweet spot without doing anything. Right?

However, if I do want to overclock. I would need to overclock both CPU and RAM in commensurate amounts. Right?

Or, I could buy DDR2 6400 which immediately gives me the headroom for up to a 400 FSB overclock (400 * 9 = 3.6 Ghz), without touching the RAM. Right?

However, and this is the nub. If I want to achieve the 1:1 sweet spot with the DDR2 6400 when I am not overclocking the E6850, I should UNDERCLOCK the RAM to 333 Ghz. Right? Or should I not bother as the difference in performance is neglible/nil?

I'm just hanging in there with the logic of all this. Help!

 

[Cob]

Crucial Ballistix PC5300. It has tight timings at 667mhz and will overclock to well over 1000mhz if needed.

 

[Kirth Gersen]

Thanks - but could you comment on my logic - is it right?

 

[Cob]

Your logic's spot on.

Tho the PC5300 Ballistix defies logic. It's better than most PC6400 kits.