CPU and RAM speeds - What's better?

Dru · 19 Sep 2006 at 20:53

I'm in a bit of predicament with my system:

AMD64 x2 4400
2Gb Geil Value
Asus A8n SLI SE

If I increase both RAM and CPU at 1:1 then I can only get a 15mhz increase (2.36Ghz CPU and 430 ram)

However putting the ram on the closest divider I can set in the Bios (has a strange naming convention) I can push the CPU to 2.7Ghz comfortably, but at the expense of running the ram at 190x2 (380 rather than 400) so I'm losing some memory bandwidth.

I don't have the money for new ram or a mobo currently so which of the two scenarios would produce the quicker system???

Thanks

Jokester · 19 Sep 2006 at 20:55

CPU by miles in that case.

Jokester

Dru · 19 Sep 2006 at 20:59

Thank for the swift reply!

Day03 · 19 Sep 2006 at 21:03

Try increasing the voltage to the RAM and then overclocking further without the devider.

Dru · 19 Sep 2006 at 21:05

I've tried it but the RAM must be a bad set as I know other people have gone much further. It won't budge above 215 even with stock timings and 2.9v going through it.

harris1986 · 19 Sep 2006 at 21:38

did you try loosening the timings?

Dru · 19 Sep 2006 at 22:29

Good point, I've not tried that. I'll have a bash before bed and see what comes of it.

Meridian · 20 Sep 2006 at 07:12

The only thing that really matters with A64 is absolute CPU speed. With a few rare exceptions, nearly all specialist benchmarks, it doesn't matter if the RAM is fast or slow, or whether the bus speed is high or low - all that counts is the CPU speed. So drop the RAM and raise the CPU.

M

Dru · 20 Sep 2006 at 10:55

Well I had no more luck with the RAM anyway.I'm really happy with the cpu overclock though.

Didn't even need anything more than stock cooling and it's maxing out at bang on 50 under full load (on both cores) in prime. I'm going to get a better HS & fan from a friend who has one spare and then see if I can go any further.