RAM query

[ik9000]

Edit, so I've made my choice - query is now re mixing brands (see latest post below)

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So, my s1156 machine is getting one last spruce up to see it another year or two. Two questions on RAM:

1)Does anyone know if/how to run XMP settings on 1156 without overclocking the CPU?
And then 2) which set of RAM to get?

And then the details for anyone who is interested:

The i7-870 has arrived, as has the PCIe card to give a few more SataIII ports.

The last tweak will be the RAM. (And before anyone says it, yes I know, GPU, can't afford it, and it isn't what limits me in my usage). This is for photoshop batch editing, 3D CAD, and multitrack sound recording editing so it's workflow that I'm trying to improve. My current CPU and RAM semi-regularly hit 100%. The graphics card is old, but just about copes for the time being - and it is whisper quiet which helps no end. Even if photoshop doesn't use it for GPU assisted crunching.

The max RAM my mobo will take is 16GB (4x4), and up to 2200Mhz (oc)

I can get hold of:

4x4GB 1600 9-9-9-24 1.5V Corsair LP vengeance 1.5V
4x4GB 1600 9-9-9-24 Gskill 1.35V
2x(2x4GB) 1866 9-10-9-27 Corsair LP Vengeance 1.5V
2x(2x4GB) 2133 11-11-11-27 Corsair LP Vengeance 1.5V

I know my motherboard is happy at 1.5V for the RAM, not sure if it will be ok dropping to 1.35V - anyone any experience of that? Googling gives some people saying they had issues, but not sure as to the reliability of the site they post on.

To activate the XMP settings to go above 1333MHz the BIOS raises the Bclk of the CPU, so for my current 1600Mhz RAM the i3-540 is currently at 3.2GHz. I think it may have upped the voltages to do this - something I need to unpick when I have time. (Asus auto-settings...)

Should I get the 2133 for the RAM speed and if needs be drop the speed and tighten the timings or just get a slower RAM and be done with it? The cost spread is about £30 between the different sets, so not a huge amount of difference. I don't mind overclocking the CPU if required - so long as it doesn't get too hot/noisy.

The difference between 1333 and 1600 on my machine was noticeable, though both of those were at 9-9-9-24, not sure how the latency step-up would affect things going to higher frequencies. How tight would 2133 11-11-11-27 typically get if run at 1866 or 1600? I'm wondering if I should just get that, see what happens in terms of how fast I can get it to run with the CPU, and if necessary drop the RAM multiplier and tighten the timings to get back to 1600-9-9-9-24 (if feasible) or would I be better off just taking the 1866 or 1600 sets and saving the money?

[flearider]

it's fine to run the gskill at 1.5v .. if you need .. and at that v it will run @ 1866 .. just to let you know ..

[ik9000]

and I've just been offered 9-11-10-27 Corsair dominator 2133 though a bit concerned that would be too tall

[flearider]

and I've just been offered 9-11-10-27 Corsair dominator 2133 though a bit concerned that would be too tall

get your ruler out then .. give it a measure ..


first thing that struck me when I first saw the Corsair Dominator Platinum modules is their height (51mm),
http://www.pcgameware.co.uk/reviews/...gb-kit-review/

[ik9000]

get your ruler out then .. give it a measure ..


first thing that struck me when I first saw the Corsair Dominator Platinum modules is their height (51mm),
http://www.pcgameware.co.uk/reviews/...gb-kit-review/

it's the old sort -where you can unscrew the fins on the top, even then it looks like it will be taller than LP vengeance/XMS3.

[ik9000]

so I've got 2x4GB 2133 for a bargain price. I can get another 2x4 2133 (same timings) for still a reasonable price that just fits my budget but they're a different (still reputable) brand. Is it ok to mix manufacturers on the different channels provided the timings are exactly the same or is that a bad idea?

[flearider]

depends if your lucky .. with ddr3 .. even 4 sticks of the same brand at the same speed might not play well together ..
hence why they sold matched sets ..
best of luck to you tho ..

[ik9000]

depends if your lucky .. with ddr3 .. even 4 sticks of the same brand at the same speed might not play well together ..
hence why they sold matched sets ..
best of luck to you tho ..

Sorry mate, you priced yourself out, and then wanted to sell it someone else as a whole package anyway. Yours was too expensive for just 1600Mhz I'm afraid.

My board is a dual channel not quad channel board. I already run two mixed 4GB sets from the same manufacturer revB 1.5V and revA 1.65V same timings - they work fine together. But I can see that brands mixing might mean diff RAM chips themselves and wonder at the likelihood of problems that might arise because of that. The manual says to ensure matched timings between all RAM, module sizes can differ between channels, and that they recommend using the same brand for both channels for best chance of stability. It's how strong that "recommend" actually matters.

[ik9000]

Amazed at the lack of responses to this thread - this forum used to be hot at helping with queries like this.

Ah stuff it I'll take a punt. I can find what chips are in the Patriot Viper 3, Hynix H5TQ2G83CFR. These were definitely used in the corsair vengeance 2400 at that time, so there's a fair chance they'll be in the vegeance 2133 too. We'll see how well they play together. Stock shouldn't be an issue, and my board only does 2200 so don't need to push them too hard. My real interest is what I can get them to do at tightened timings at 1866/2000 with a lower CPU overclock. We'll see!

[flearider]

Sorry mate, you priced yourself out, and then wanted to sell it someone else as a whole package anyway. Yours was too expensive for just 1600Mhz I'm afraid.

My board is a dual channel not quad channel board. I already run two mixed 4GB sets from the same manufacturer revB 1.5V and revA 1.65V same timings - they work fine together. But I can see that brands mixing might mean diff RAM chips themselves and wonder at the likelihood of problems that might arise because of that. The manual says to ensure matched timings between all RAM, module sizes can differ between channels, and that they recommend using the same brand for both channels for best chance of stability. It's how strong that "recommend" actually matters.

whoa there sport you asked a question .. I gave you an answer .. Sorry mate, you priced yourself out, and then wanted to sell it someone else as a whole package anyway. Yours was too expensive for just 1600Mhz was uncalled for ..

[ik9000]

whoa there sport you asked a question .. I gave you an answer .. Sorry mate, you priced yourself out, and then wanted to sell it someone else as a whole package anyway. Yours was too expensive for just 1600Mhz was uncalled for ..

Sorry, I obviously misinterpreted the meaning of "best of luck to you tho..."