which 12GB memory kit

[TitusTroy]

I'm in the market for 12GB of DDR3 triple channel RAM...I'm confused as to whether it is best to get a 6 x 2GB kit or a 3 x 4GB kit...taking price out of the equation, will filling up all 6 DIMM slots have a negative affect on performance?...I remember in the past it was always recommended to avoid filling up all available memory slots on your motherboard...does the same still apply?

 

[TemjinGold]

Generally, if you are OCing, more mem slots filled means you can't OC as high.

 

[TitusTroy]

Generally, if you are OCing, more mem slots filled means you can't OC as high.

does the same still apply nowadays or is that a thing of the past?

 

[TemjinGold]

It should always apply. Having more sticks puts more strain on the controller, hence the more difficult OC.

 

[tweakboy]

I totally agree. I used to be able to run 2 sticks @ 1112 Mhz . WIth 4 , I cant even do 1066Mhz, Soo Im @ 940Mhz as you can see, but at least IM running 5-5-4-12@55ms checked with everest. thx

 

[TitusTroy]

what about if not overclocking...does it make any difference in that case?

 

[Ben90]

Pros for having higher density:
-Lower power consumption
-Room for expansion
-Less chance of failure
-Lower command rate
-Less stress on controller (only matters if pushing timings/frequency)

Pros for having more sticks:
-Lower non-command rate timings possible (if controller permits)
-Looks cooler IMO
-Cheaper for maximum density/2

This entire response takes the same amount of lines as TemjinGold's signature, Including this line

 

[Seggybop]

After going through all the prices on newegg, I found that it was substantially cheaper to get 3 sets of 2x2gb than any other combo leading to 12gb.

I know that's not what you asked, but it might help =/

for what it's worth, going from 2x2gb to 6x2gb didn't affect my overclocking success in any way I've noticed so far.

 

[TemjinGold]

After going through all the prices on newegg, I found that it was substantially cheaper to get 3 sets of 2x2gb than any other combo leading to 12gb.

I know that's not what you asked, but it might help =/

for what it's worth, going from 2x2gb to 6x2gb didn't affect my overclocking success in any way I've noticed so far.

That's probably because you weren't pushing very hard...

 

[n7]

Having all slots populated does make extreme OCing more difficult, yes.

But this was more specifically relevant in the days of s775, especially toward the end with 45nm quad cores, as you generally needed a very high FSB to reach higher OCs, which put a lot of stress on the NB.

If you were running a lower FSB on a good board, i never really found all slots populated being a big issue.
Good board/perfect voltages/settings were important though; 4 DIMMs heavy OCing on s775 isn't usually n00b-friendly.


For P55/X58 with less of a need for extremely high BCLKs in many cases, it seems you will usually run into a CPU cooling limitation before anything else, unless you are doing good water-or-better cooling.

Also, there are always lower RAM ratios available, so it's again less likely for RAM to be holding things back.


In short, for the time being anyway, i would say populating all slots in H55/P55/X58 is less of an issue with regards to OCing.

 

[tweakboy]

WIth all slots full there is no way you will get the same OC if say 2 slots were full.

If your not OCing then don't worry about it as long as you can get them to run at stock speed. youll have to tweak with that since your raising your FSB etc...

 

[Blain]

Buy This Kit...
Based on my analysis, it's the best kit for your needs.

 

[KamiXkaze]

Are low voltage kits better (1.35v) versus (1.66v)
Is it better to get the kit's at CL:7 or CL8 or CL9

 

[tweakboy]

Cas Latency you want lower the better so CL7

CL9 will give you high latencies like 80ms and higher,

For example purposes im @ 55ms

The one down fall about getting new DDR3 ram is your latencies will get higher.

 

[n7]

WIth all slots full there is no way you will get the same OC if say 2 slots were full.

If your not OCing then don't worry about it as long as you can get them to run at stock speed. youll have to tweak with that since your raising your FSB etc...

If you are referring to how far the RAM will overclock, okay.

If you are referring to the CPU, as i mentioned in my post above, it's unlikely the RAM in any amount is going to be holding you back much, if at all.

Also, he's looking @ X58, it's BCLK not FSB.

Cas Latency you want lower the better so CL7

CL9 will give you high latencies like 80ms and higher,

For example purposes im @ 55ms
The one down fall about getting new DDR3 ram is your latencies will get higher.

No, they don't.

Even on s775, the higher speed makes up for the "latency increase" & you have comparable numbers in stuff like Everest.

On P55/X58, we're dealing with an on-die memory controller, so latency actually goes down on average.

I've done a lot of OCing & tweaking with 8 GB on P965/P35/P45, & it's much easier on P55.

Also, without even trying, WAY better latency & synthetic numbers.
Same thing is the case with X58.

 

[pjkenned]

In my main rig I'm using two sets of the Corsair Dominator GT CMG6GX3M3A1600C7 for 12GB in total. Really like them as you can either run at 1600 and tighten timings or keep timings and run them at higher speeds.

 

[TitusTroy]

Buy This Kit...
Based on my analysis, it's the best kit for your needs.

that's a nice looking kit!...are the tall heatspreaders an issue with large CPU coolers like the Noctua?

 

[Ben90]

Are heatspreaders really necessary at 1.5v?

Ive been running this cheapo crucial kit at 1.7v and under full load they are slightly warm to the touch at least a scorching 5 degrees over ambient. Marketing at its finest

 

[RussianSensation]

I would rather get these:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231321

$120 x 3 = $360 - same price as the Pi linked above.
Same timings of 7-8-7-24
But 1.35V voltage!

 

[RussianSensation]

Update: Mushkin has a sale on 6GB (3x2GB) DDR3-1600.
Timings: 6-8-6-24
https://www.mushkin.com/Memory/Ridgeback/998826.aspx

Type code ridgeback at checkout. Webprice: 2x ($80.99 - 10% off with code) = $145.78.

 

[TitusTroy]

I'm still torn between these 2 memory kits...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231335

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231230

I want to get the Pi series kit but I'm worried about the tall heatspreaders...anyone know if it will fit with a Noctua NH-U12P SE and the ASUS P6X58D Premium

 

[RussianSensation]

Whats wrong with the ECO line I linked for you? It's better than the Pi series since it achieves the same timings at lower voltage.