New mobo and memory...is this ok?

[jonathan_phang]

@Big Al

You say that even for 3500+ RAM that I needn't get expensive stuff "unless I'm worried about timings". I'm not a newb but I'm also not a veteran OCer either, so...

Do the mem timings have an impact only on performance or stability too? In that if i get cheap-ish 3700 RAM, will it still be stable when I OC my CPU to a high FSB, but just run slower than expensive brands with low latency. OR will generic RAM in anyway limit what FSB I could push the CPU to?

[Amazing what you can learn in one day on a forum ]

@daz

Thanks for that link. Will have a browse through it soon. I'm asking all these silly q's to make sure that I dont make any mistakes along the way! I'm also quite cheap (S.T.U.D.E.N.T) and i want to make sure I get every penny of value I can from that CPU.

Thanks again for all posts back. I'm only new here, but people are genuinely helpful here and boy, the replies are quick! Keep em coming

JP

[Allen]

Do the mem timings have an impact only on performance or stability too? In that if i get cheap-ish 3700 RAM, will it still be stable when I OC my CPU to a high FSB, but just run slower than expensive brands with low latency. OR will generic RAM in anyway limit what FSB I could push the CPU to?

I'm no veteran either, but from what I understand...

Yes the timings impact performance. The lower (tighter) the timings, the faster the RAM will run so it will increase performance. If you get cheapish PC3700 RAM but ran your FSB less than 233MHz then in theory it should be stable enough, but you might not get great timings. My cheap PC3200 is running fine at the timings listed below at 200MHz though I doubt it will go higher in MHz with low timings like that.

I wouldn't go with generic RAM at all. Always get branded. But just because it's branded, doesn't mean it has to be expensive. Only Corsair, OCZ and the like is so expensive because they can do both high FSB and low timings together to give the ultimate performance gain.

I hope I'm helping you and not confusing you, coz I'm confused myself. Please correct me anyone if I'm wrong anywhere...

[jonathan_phang]

OMG My head is spinning now

Actually, when i said generic, I meant cheaper branded RAM (Crucial, TwinMOS). I think to clarify the question, I want to know if Cheaper RAM will still run at its stated frequency STABILY. I'm happy to have 'slower' 3700 ram as long as I know it WILL run at 233FSB. Whew.

God , who knows. I may just stick with 3200 and leave it at that! but wheres the fun in that...

oh btw Big_AL, not a veteran??...2000+ posts and still learning

JP

[Allen]

oh btw Big_AL, not a veteran??...2000+ posts and still learning

Umm, yeah! About 1800+ of those were probably crap though! Anyway, there is always stuff to learn, no matter how much you know!