DDR2 1066/800 question

[Teaf]

I have just ordered 4GB (2x2GB) of DDR2 1066 memory. I've already got 2x1GB of DDR2 800 memory. Would it be better to just use the 4GB in dual channel mode at 1066 speeds, or use 6GB without dual channel at 800 Mhz speeds? This is assuming that the 1066 RAM would work with the 800 Mhz stuff, but running at 800 Mhz to match.

Cheers

 

[outsourcedsoul]

If your running a 64 bit OS then go for more ram, you wont notice much speed difference between running at 1066 and 800 and both pairs should still function in dual channel mode just with the 1066 pair running at 800Mhz.

 

[Kennysevenfold]

4gig at 1066

and sell the 2 gig set

 

[Voxination]

But surely 6GB at 800 will give better performance than 4GB at 1066?

I'd try both combinations and run some benchmarks/ use them for a while, and then just go with whatever one you prefer.

 

[Kennysevenfold]

If you arent using any software that is going to use more that 4gig anyway i would rather have 4gig at a higher speed that i am actually going to use than 6gig of a slower speed that i am not.

 

[Voxination]

Or if you just like having a lot of applications open .

 

[Kennysevenfold]

Or if you just like having a lot of applications open .

6 gig worth of applications.?

no normal person does this.!

and having the whole 4 slots on his motherboard being uses this could affect the stability of the system, cpu overclock, and he might have to manually increase the northbridge voltage

 

[Teaf]

I don't overclock at all, not even slightly - I'd rather reduce volts to save power I do always play games in windowed mode though as I like to take breaks often and then just keep it open and go back to the game, so all the Windows overheads are still loaded with the game.

Could filling all the RAM slots prove an instability without overclocking or is this purely just an overclocking concern?

Also I doubt I'd use 6GB or even close to it since I always just play games, watch TV through WMC, or watch BluRay movies, but if the extra Mhz on the RAM only really gives an insignificant performance increase then I guess I might as well just shove the 6GB in? LCD TV is only 1360x768 resolution also.

Thanks for the replies by the way

 

[Voxination]

If you have a lot of stuff open at once, then the 6GB of RAM will definitely give you a greater benefit than faster RAM.

 

[outsourcedsoul]

Some MB's are funny about having all 4 slots occupied, but as Kennysevenfold said increasing the NB voltage by about .2 volts should stabilize everything, at least it did for me. If you actually notice a difference in speed during your daily usage between running at 1066 and 800mhz I'd be surprised, more ram is definitely more of a benefit over the speed.