PC2-8500 or PC2-6400?

Frozen Death · 19 Feb 2007 at 00:21

First thing, hello everyone, I'm new to the forums

Anyway, to the question. Would there be much of an overall performance difference between running an Intel E6600 at 533MHz FSB, 6x multiplier (CPU 3,198 MHz), with the the PC2-8500 533MHz 5-5-5-15, ratio 1:1, as opposed to running the Intel E6600 at 400MHz FSB, 8x multiplier (CPU 3,200 MHz), with the PC2-6400 400MHz 4-4-4-12, ratio 1:1.

I'm fairly new to overclocking, and I'm buying a new PC so would like to know your thoughts before I buy. I'm not worried about the £70 difference too much. Ignoring the 2 MHz difference, I'm guessing the PC2-8500 will be the better option for performance, but by how much?

I can't find any benchmarks comparing the two or something in a similar situation.

Cheers for the help!

trojan698 · 19 Feb 2007 at 00:42

The E6600 has a stock FSB of 266mhz, to achieve an FSB of 533Mhz will be very difficult if not impossible due to motherboard limitations. most people on here buy PC2-6400 stuff and overclock it due to the hefty premium on pc2-8500 kits. If you're looking to achieve 3.2Ghz with an E6600 it is possible to run the RAM on a 4:5 divider so the RAM is running 1 and a quarter times the FSB.

So 8x400 = 3.2Ghz, RAM @ 4:5 means its running at 500Mhz (1Ghz effective) saying that you're best running the chip on the highest multi possible.

TBH, the difference between running your ram at 1:1 (400Mhz) or 4:5 (500Mhz) will be minor and not worth the extra £100+ the PC2-8500 stuff cost you.

Welcome to OcUK, btw.

Frozen Death · 19 Feb 2007 at 01:00

The Abit IN9 32X-MAX can support the 533MHz FSB can't it? If not and I get the PC2-6400, is there any point running RAM at 500MHz over the 400MHz, while running the E6600 at 400MHz. Surely having faster RAM than the CPU won't benefit at all, how would it? Sorry, newbie here. So in that case I may as well keep RAM at 400MHz and run 1:1.

trojan698 · 19 Feb 2007 at 01:27

By 533mhz are you merely halfing the 1066Mhz fsb of the core 2 duos? Intel chips have a quad pumped FSB so although the 1066 FSB is advertised the true FSB of the CPU is 266Mhz - this is the FSB you'll be concerned about when overclocking. Or are you refering to the Abit boards support of 533Mhz RAM, as in PC2-4200..?

Bizarre · 19 Feb 2007 at 02:45

I think the OP is saying that the Abit IN9 32X-MAX is capable of running 533FSB (quad pumped=2132) hence he's presuming he can just plonk a E6600 in there and set it to 6x533 (3.198Ghz).

Tbh, I'd go/aim for the second option, its cheaper, and your pretty much guaranteed to get 3.20Ghz stable at your desired settings (8x400, ram 1:1), you you might even get/got? a great clocking chip capable of running 9x400 (3.60Ghz) which will still keep your ram at 1:1 and within its rated specs.