Ok, before I bite the bullet I need some advice...

[DeepBlueJH]

Ok, before I bite the bullet I need some advice...

I'm planning on upgrading my system with the following:
DFI Lanparty NF4
A64 3500+ Venice
2x1GB Geil Ultra DDR400

Those components will replace the following thats currently in my system:
Asus A7N8X-E
AXP 2500+ @ 2.3Ghz (11.5x200)
3x512MB Corsair Value Select DDR400 (2.5-3-3-6)

Now, I'm shooting for a 2.9Ghz overclock on the Venice 3500+. Obviously I cant do that 1:1 with the RAM I'm getting (and I'm not wild about the idea of spending $350 on RAM to do it). Instead I'll be using a RAM divider.

Here is my question. How much would a 150 RAM divider hurt performance with a 2.9Ghz Venice as opposed to running a 166 divider and a command rate of 2T. For what I use my computer for, I need more than 1GB of RAM. What I'm trying to decide is whether to use 2x1GB sticks or 4x512MB sticks. From my research, what I gather is that even with the new Venice memory controller, I'm still stuck at 2T if I use 4 2-sided dimms. However I can run 1T if I use 2-1GB dimms.

To simplify things a bit, here are the two scenarios I'm describing:

2x1GB Geil Ultra (2.5-4-4-8 1T) @ 198Mhz
150 RAM divider
Venice 3500 @ 2.9Ghz (264HTT x 11)
COST: 2x$95.50 = $191

4x512MB OCZ Value VX (2-2-2-6 2T) @219Mhz (can I do this with 4 sticks?)
166 RAM divider
Venice 3500@ 2.9Ghz (264HTT x 11)
COST 2x$117 = $234

Now, to tie up some loose ends and answer some questions I already know are coming, here goes:
1. I plan to use the 2GB of RAM and processing power for heavy browsing and editing of photos (Canon RAW files). For what I do, it can put a serious strain on my current system.
2. As far as cooling, I'm using a Zalman Reserator, which by my approximation cools about as well as a Thermaltake SLK-900u w/ 92mm fan. (I have owned both). I have seen 3Ghz+ Venice overclocks in quite a few of the reviews I've looked at - even 2.8Ghz OCs on stock cooling and voltage. Deducing from this, I believe that a stable 2.9Ghz OC is a realistic goal.
3. The RAM speeds and timings are estimates of what I believe I can get with the DFI board and each particular RAM. With a little voltage, the Geil should do CL 2.5 and the OCX value VX should hit 220 2-2-2-6 easy (see the Anandtech review on value ram).

Keeping in mind that I would really rather not spend loads of money on RAM, as well as the performance hit of the 2T command rate and the upgradability issues with 2/4 dimms, which really makes the most sense?

 

[Elfear]

In my opinion, if you really need 2GB of ram, I'd go for the first scenario as the hit with 2T is worse than the hit with looser timings (within reason). I'd think the Geil modules would at least be able to run 2.5-3-3-6@198MHz. I'd look into the Corsair 1GB sticks also as they supposedly run pretty tight timings for 1GB modules.

 

[Zebo]

See sig

 

[DeepBlueJH]

Zebo, can you post a link to that memory? Is this it? http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820146190


Thats the closest thing I can find on Newegg.

 

[Zebo]

http://shop2.outpost.com/product/4292564

 

[Zebo]

I don't understand buying a 3500 for overclockers? Could you explain that to me?

3200 is a nice sweet spot. Has a great 10X multi for it's predicted 2800-3000 Ocability. Plus it's hella cheaper. Say you get 3000Mhz off it.

That's 300HTT memsetting 166 = a nice 250Mhz on the memory.

Buy the LL UTT ram I showed you and with 3.3 volts 2-2-2-7-1T @ 250

:thumbsup:


Here's a list of all modules with winbond UTT
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=59957

 

[DeepBlueJH]

xWhat are the odds of me getting good chips with that memory? It would be quite unfortunate to drop nearly $250 on memory, then be stuck at 220mhz.

Additionally, do you really think thats better than 2x1GB CL 2.5, 1T. I'd have to run 2T with the Mushkin.

 

[DeepBlueJH]

Actually buying the 3200 does make more sense. I just quoted the 3500 because thats all that Newegg had right now. They'll probably have the 3200 sometime next week I figure.


And is 3.3V safe for that memory? =

Originally posted by: Zebo
I don't understand buying a 3500 for overclockers? Could you explain that to me?

3200 is a nice sweet spot. Has a great 10X multi for it's predicted 2800-3000 Ocability. Plus it's hella cheaper. Say you get 3000Mhz off it.

That's 300HTT memsetting 166 = a nice 250Mhz on the memory.

Buy the LL UTT ram I showed you and with 3.3 volts 2-2-2-7-1T @ 250

:thumbsup:


Here's a list of all modules with winbond UTT
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=59957

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: DeepBlueJH
xWhat are the odds of me getting good chips with that memory? It would be quite unfortunate to drop nearly $250 on memory, then be stuck at 220mhz.

Additionally, do you really think thats better than 2x1GB CL 2.5, 1T. I'd have to run 2T with the Mushkin.

I did'nt realise you need 2 gigs!!! Does'nt matter so much anyway. So what if you're "stuck" @ 200Mhz ??? (i.e. using 133 memsetting) what matters is LL and that will give it better than anything for the money. You have to spend twice this much to get similar performance. Here a thread all about the ram in question.
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=56685

 

[Shimmishim]

3.3 is safe for the VX... they are warrantied up to 3.5 i believe.

 

[DeepBlueJH]

So am I understanding this right?

If I use 4 512MB dimms, then I wont be able to overclock (much) past 200Mhz?

If that be the case, then the decision towards the cheaper 1GB dimms becomes an easier decision.

 

[xylem]

Originally posted by: DeepBlueJH

If I use 4 512MB dimms, then I wont be able to overclock (much) past 200Mhz?

That remains to be seen. It will probably depend on the board and bios tweaks. One of the improvements of Venice is that it officially supports DDR ram speed of 200 MHz, 2t, with four double sided sticks, and I don't think there's been enough data, and time for bios tuning, to determine what a reasonable max DDR rate will be with 4 double sided sticks.

If you already have some DDR, it might be a good idea to hold on your decision for another week or two, until a lot of results start showing up. I already have 2 GB of Mushkin Blue (original BH-5), 4 x 512MB, so I'll be one of the guinea pigs.

 

[Zebo]

Ya I don't care to speculate on 4 stick OCing either. I guarantee better performance than value ram. Is it worth the price premium? Doubtful.