RAM - need more... but options ?

Jono · 16 Feb 2011 at 13:06

I've probably asked this before, but can't remember where what anyone's reply was.
I have an overclocked i7 920 that can run at 4Ghz... It has 6GB of "Corsair XMS3 6GB (3x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Triple Channel" in it, apparently.

I'd like to buy the same again, so i have 12 GB... but apparently that will kill my OC

I don't know what it's like un-overclocked... from stock.. is that a big loss?
Can I have any kind of OC with 12GB?

shannowdr · 16 Feb 2011 at 13:42

What do you use your PC for ?

And what Operating system does it run?

If its for gaming them upgrading from 6 to 12 gig is a bit pointless as most games use less than 4gig.

At stock the 920 is still a cracking processor.

Predicament · 16 Feb 2011 at 13:49

Sup Jono,
I would say 12 Gb is pretty much overkill
....
Unless, you are running RAM intensive apps.

You will be able to get an OC but just not the same degree of performance (in terms of Mhz)

Jono · 16 Feb 2011 at 14:01

It's for running samples on, virtual instruments... big sample libraries. East West PLAY, to be precise.
Windows 7 64-bit

Redmint · 16 Feb 2011 at 14:05

Jono said:
Can I have any kind of OC with 12GB?

Yes, if you have a half decent chip it should do 3.6GHz, maybe 3.8GHz if you're lucky. Not sure how many of them still manage 4GHz with 12GB installed.

farmer · 16 Feb 2011 at 14:06

12Gb of ram is overkill really, as already said by others.

You will still be able to get some sort of overclock, possibly even same speed, but the chances are instead of 4Ghz you will probably realistically have to settle for ~3.6Ghz I would think.

Redmint · 16 Feb 2011 at 14:09

farmer said:
12Gb of ram is overkill really, as already said by others.

Read post #4, for some uses (including his) 12GB of RAM is definitely not overkill.

Jono · 17 Feb 2011 at 09:19

Thanks for the replies... I didn't perform the OC - but it's saved as a profile by ocuk.... can anyone point me in the right direction of OCing it as much as possible but keeping it stable when I get RAM?

Jono · 18 Feb 2011 at 15:15

Aw, no one?

Redmint · 18 Feb 2011 at 15:33

http://www.overclock.net/intel-cpus/538439-guide-overclocking-core-i7-920-930-a.html

Follow that guide, just reduce the BLK slightly to get 3.6GHz instead of 4.0GHz, if you find 3.6 is stable then try slowly increasing it a bit.

Emphacy · 18 Feb 2011 at 18:44

Heat is going to be a big issue, more RAM, with OC = More Heat.
I've never heard of such a problem as it being 'harder' to overclock, other than some memory modules will have a slight change in latency timings, particularly CAS and RAS.

Sometimes, although uncommon, you can gain more performance from lower timings than that of increasing the MHz. Ofcourse increasing MHz increases timings also, and can also reduce stability.

If you simply increase the MHz to that of your current or previous OC. Then attempt to reduce latency timings, checking if stable, using Intel Burn Test etc, you should have no problem getting optimum performance.

Redmint · 19 Feb 2011 at 12:57

More RAM = memory controller has to work harder = harder to overclock (heat being part of the issue). It's a problem which has existed for a long time, it's always been harder to get a high overclock with all RAM slots populated, doesn't matter if the RAM controller is on the motherboard or the CPU.