No 2x4GB DDR-1333 and is 1666 Mhz ok with AMD Phenom II 955?

Dancer · 5 Oct 2010 at 10:35

Why don't Overclockers have any 2x4GB DDR3 dual channel kits? My motherboard supports 1600 Mhz, but my AMD Phenom II X4 Quad Core 955 only supports 1333 and the only one I could find was "Kingston 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 1333MHz i5 Memory Kit Non-ECC CL9 1.5V". Will this stick work with my AMD system or is this better "Corsair 8GB (4x2GB) DDR3 1600MHz/PC3-12800 XMS3 i5 Memory Kit CL9(9-9-9-24) 1.65V" (it's cheaper!)

Is there any performance issues with 2x4GB? I want to increase the RAM in my system. I have a Gigabyte GA-MA770T-UD3 which supports up to 16GB, but the Fenrir heatsink blocks one of the slots so I'm stuck with 2x4GB.

Ok, found these which look very promising. Anyone?
OCZ Gold 8GB (2x4GB) PC3-10666C9 1333MHz Dual Channel Memory Kit

Greboth · 5 Oct 2010 at 11:11

As far as I know any of that ram you have listed will work in your set up. Obviously though as standard, even though some of its 1600mhz, it will run at 1333 mhz. There shouldn't really be any performance difference either running 2 x 4gb over 4 x 2gb, though running 2 x 4gb may help with overclocking if your planning to do so.

Out of the three you listed, OCZ seem to have a not so good rap with ram though I have never used any. Kingston I have never had problems with in 6+ years in my old pc. Corsair have a good rep for a good reason in my opinion. So if corsair is cheaper then kingston go with them

Dancer · 5 Oct 2010 at 11:21

Greboth said:
As far as I know any of that ram you have listed will work in your set up. Obviously though as standard, even though some of its 1600mhz, it will run at 1333 mhz. There shouldn't really be any performance difference either running 2 x 4gb over 4 x 2gb, though running 2 x 4gb may help with overclocking if your planning to do so.

Out of the three you listed, OCZ seem to have a not so good rap with ram though I have never used any. Kingston I have never had problems with in 6+ years in my old pc. Corsair have a good rep for a good reason in my opinion. So if corsair is cheaper then kingston go with them

Thanks Greboth, appreciate the input. I've also read good things about corsair, so I think I might go with that. Do I need to downclock the 1333 mhz in the bios or will it detect that the CPU only supports 1333 and downclock it?

Dancer · 5 Oct 2010 at 11:33

Dancer said:
Corsair 8GB (4x2GB)

I think I need a holiday... that is 4x2 so useless to me. Kingston it is then, although the description is a little bit worrying. ValueRAM is not going to be much good for overclocking I'm guessing, but anyone have any experience with it?

Link to Kingston's Specification PDF which means very little to me...

"ValueRAM is Kingston's value-priced line of industry-standard, generic memory intended for customers who have white box or generic computer systems, or who plan to purchase memory by specification. ValueRAM is designed to industry specifications tested, is 100% tested and is available at competitively low prices."

Greboth · 5 Oct 2010 at 11:40

As far as I know it will run it at the fastest that is possible, so 1333 mhz automatically.

Ah shame about the corsair. I have never had experience with Kingston value ram so I can't help you there sorry.