DDR2 Latency...

Sumanji · 10 May 2006 at 17:55

Hey,

Are there any articles comparing DDR2 performance at tight and loose memory timings. I've found a fair few articles doing this with DDR, but not DDR2.

Looking at a PC2-5300 2Gb kit to run at stock (absolutely no overclocking) in my HTPC, so just wondering if it's worth splashing out extra on low latency (4-4-4-12) modules over regular 5-5-5-15

Cheers,

Suman

[edit] I've found a couple of articles now, but they're really old (from 2004!), is there anything newer floating about?

trojan698 · 10 May 2006 at 17:58

afaik, because theres no onboard memory controller, theres no benefit in having tight timings, it's all about bandwidth. I could very well be wrong though

Pee For · 11 May 2006 at 07:17

Not sure as to the reasons why but,
High speed definetly works, tight timings make very little difference.

TechnoCorruption · 13 May 2006 at 19:06

If its for a HTPC and no overclocking is involved I would go for the 5/5/5/15 pack out of the 2 options, in those circumstances the timings would make little difference, it may even be wise to save the cash and go for some 5300 (667) as 6400 (800) sticks are aimed for overclocking.

Sumanji · 13 May 2006 at 19:19

Ah yeah sorry, I got confused with my bandwidth numbers

Corsair DDR2-667 seems pretty nice, might pick up a Gb or two of that...

Cheers,

Suman

TechnoCorruption · 13 May 2006 at 19:45

Yeah its nice stuff, I have Corsair XMS2 667, they just had an insane deal on Ocuk, shame its finished now though, they were doing 2x256mb for 17quid so 34quid for 1gb of decent overclocking ram was pretty sweet.

Sumanji · 13 May 2006 at 19:59

Wow steal

the board I'm looking at only has 2 slots though, so it's gonna have to be bigger sticks

Suman

TechnoCorruption · 13 May 2006 at 20:01

The cheapest I have seen 2x512mb packs of that ram is 70quid, Im going to buy a couple packs of them over time to swap out for the 256mb sticks, if your looking for 2x1gb they retail for around 160quid.

Sumanji · 13 May 2006 at 23:30

Might just get the Value select tbh... works out at about £120 for 2 x 1Gb (5-5-5-15). That should be good enough for Vista MCE (I hope!).

Suman

TechnoCorruption · 14 May 2006 at 09:25

Yeah it should be fine for Vista, its the size of the ram thats going to be more important than quality I would imagine for that OS, and thats not to say that the Value Select ram isnt quality, I have had some of that ram in the past and its real reliable and clocks quite well and as you say 120 for a 2gb pack is a real nice deal.