Trying to find RAM for the new E8400

[whiplash willy]

I am finally upgrading my ancient P4 3.0GHZ Rambus PC because of the limitations of the 850 chipset. I just ordered an Intel Core 2 DUO E8400. I don't know too much about DDR RAM, but Im shooting for DDR2-667 RAM with a 4-4-4-12 latency. I want the ram clock speed (333mhz) to match the quad-pumped CPU's FSB of 333mhz (quad-pumped 333mhz).

My problem is I can't find good DDR2-667 5300 memoy. I can find DDR2-675 5400 memory, and plenty of DDR2-800 memory, but can it be underclocked to 667mhz to match the clock speed of my FSB?

 

[Glavinsolo]

yes it can be underclocked, just go with 800 or 1000 if you plan to overclock

 

[QuixoticOne]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820231145
That's some nice and relatively good value / performance DDR2-1000 PC2-8000 memory.
It will perform well at any FSB at or under 500 MHz, and it'll probably be able to be overclocked a useful bit past 500 MHz if that was ever needed.

Here's some good value/performance DDR2-800 PC2-6400 memory. It will work well at any frequency 400 MHz or below. And it'll work a bit over 400 MHz as well if you overclock it.
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=T8UB2GC5&show=p

The E8400 has a maximum CPU multiplier of 9x, and a stock frequency of 333 MHz, so any DDR2-unbuffered non-ECC RAM rated 333 or faster (at a voltage your motherboard will take) will work fine.

If you overclock the CPU, you'll raise the 333 MHz up to maybe over 400 MHz, but probably lless than around 460 MHz. So there's some advantage to getting RAM rated to 400 - 460 MHz or so so you can raise the frequency for both the CPU and RAM (they go together 1:1 and the RAM clock must be at least as fast as the CPU clock).

Either slightly overclocking 400 MHz memory or slightly underclocking 500 MHz memory would be well suited for overclocking your CPU, it is up to you.

 

[M1A]

I also have an E8400 as you see below. I have 4-1g sticks of 6400 ballistic and have ordered some 8500 dominator to try. My ballistic are ok to 440 FSB or 880 memorybut after that I get failure running orthos. I believe it to be the memory because I lowered the mult and raised the FSB to 490 so its not a wall for the FSB . Thats at 1:1 and with 2.3v on the mem. At that voltage and above the memory should some active cooling as they get hot.