PC6400 v PC8500

[TW]Fox · 17 Dec 2008 at 12:03

I've noticed more and more people going for PC8500. I was under the impression that PC2-6400 was good enough, what are the advantages of PC8500 beyond ultra high bus speeds when overclocking?

I've got 4Gb of OCZ PC6400 and I intend to clock a Q6600 to 3.2-3.4Ghz on my IP35 Pro. Is my memory going to be sufficient?

Fire Wizard · 17 Dec 2008 at 13:05

Hi [TW]Fox, the only real reason to go for PC8500 rated memory is if you either have a CPU with a low multiplier and will need to raise the FSB fairly high for a decent overclock or in your situation, you have a Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 and wish to have a guarantee overclock of over 3.6GHz. The performance differences between PC6400 and PC8500 rated memory in real life situations will be practically unnoticeable.

Edit - The other reason for going for some higher rated speed memory is if you are after some insane overclocks.

To answer your other question - The memory that you currently have, you will be able to take the Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 right up to 3.6GHz without even having to touch the memory. This is of course providing you have a chip that will be able too reach that sort of speed before temperatures come into play.

Reality|Bites · 17 Dec 2008 at 15:07

it's cheap, the X48 boards can do 540Mhz+ on the FSB and 600Mhz on the memory.

ConTRo13R · 17 Dec 2008 at 15:10

Really just more headroom for higher FSB overclocking, like to garantee a clock with being limited my the memory

kppanic · 17 Dec 2008 at 15:56

Fire Wizard said:
Hi [TW]Fox, the only real reason to go for PC8500 rated memory is if you either have a CPU with a low multiplier and will need to raise the FSB fairly high for a decent overclock or in your situation, you have a Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 and wish to have a guarantee overclock of over 3.6GHz. The performance differences between PC6400 and PC8500 rated memory in real life situations will be practically unnoticeable.

To answer your other question - The memory that you currently have, you will be able to take the Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 right up to 3.6GHz without even having to touch the memory. This is of course providing you have a chip that will be able too reach that sort of speed before temperatures come into play.

yeah, just like Fire Wizard said, for your Q6600, 6400 is good enough.

Only when you get something like a Q9300 would you want to venture into 8500.

[TW]Fox · 17 Dec 2008 at 18:19

Thanks guys

MooMoo444 · 18 Dec 2008 at 08:42

Plus if you buy good 6400, it will be good up to 900-1000mhz. My orange GeiL 6400 ULL can do 950mhz, I've not tried higher.

benjo · 18 Dec 2008 at 08:46

I've had my Q6600 @ 3.4 up to 3.8 on the 6400 stuff

gt_junkie · 18 Dec 2008 at 09:00

Agreed, i only bothered with PC8000 when i moved to water cooling.

Very useful for the 474mhz fsb my e8500 needs @ 4.5ghz.

For you and your q6600 the PC6400 will be perfectly fine.

gt