What type of RAM should I get?

[Seiphas]

So I recently started building a new computer, since I decided my old one wasn't exactly "stellar". Currently, I've purchased:

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
Asus P5K-E
Antec P182
Corsair TX-650 PSU

The remainder of the parts I took from my old computer, or borrowed from friends, to get the thing to turn on:

1 gig of RAM from a friend
320 gig IDE HDD
Sony 710A DVD Burner
nVidia 6600.

So now, I finally want to get some RAM for the thing. Unfortunately, I don't have any idea what half the numbers associated with RAM are.

I want 4 gigs of RAM, as I do a lot of virtualization / gaming, and I was told to get 2x2gb. I'm fully aware that 32 bit OSes can only address 3.3 gigs, although this is irrelevant given that I run Linux64, Vista64, and Leopard64. Given that I'll probably upgrade to 8 gigs at some point, it makes sense that I should leave two slots free.

So now, my questions lay as follows;

Should I go for 1066MHz RAM, or is it not yet cost efficient?

I know lower latencies are better, but why is something like this:

http://canadacomputers.com/index.php...id=RAM.346.307

much more than this:

http://canadacomputers.com/index.php...id=RAM.346.307

Unless there's something I'm missing, why is the first one much more expensive?

So now, what RAM should I get?

[willy]

I don't think you need the DHX one ... http://www.legitreviews.com/article/383/1/

The second set looks good.

BTW, are you planning to overclock ?

[Seiphas]

I'm not saying I'd get it, I'm asking why it's so much more expensive than the cheaper stuff, while the timings are higher.

By all means, I have the intention of overclocking, assuming it's worth it. I don't plan on spending hours tweaking it if the performance increase is negligible.

[willy]

Those DHX RAMs actually use special PCB as well as *heatsink* (not heatspreader) so that it can withstand the heat from some crazy over-voltage ... According to the web, it can handle as high as 2.4V (DDR2 default = 1.8V) ... That's quite something ... Unless you plan to go crazy on FSB overclocking, the DHX will not be fully utilized and certainly not justify the price premium.

[Seiphas]

Currently, I've overclocked my Q6600 from 2.4 to 3.6 by changing the FSB. By doing stupid stuff like this, will I need RAM like that?

Also, can someone recommend some RAM for me to get?

[willy]

Currently, I've overclocked my Q6600 from 2.4 to 3.6 by changing the FSB. By doing stupid stuff like this, will I need RAM like that?

Also, can someone recommend some RAM for me to get?

3.6GHz ... 400 x 9 ... DDR2-800 is all you need.

You may need to allocate part of the budget for a decent cooler.

[Seiphas]

What about if I push 4GHz? Also, can you explain the math that you did (ie, where the numbers come from).

Can you recommend a specific brand and place to get it?

[willy]

Q6600 has default core clock of 2.4GHz with 1066MHz FSB (quad pump of 266MHz) and the CPU multiplier of 9x (2400MHz / 266MHz). At the default speed, you only need DDR2-533 (double pump of 266MHz) to run it at 1:1.

To overclock it to 3GHz, FSB will need to be raised to 333MHz (333 x 9 = 3000MHz). At this speed, DDR2-667 can do 1:1.

I think 3GHz is an easy and realistic overclock target. To go any higher, DDR2-800 would be needed and you should have a decent cooler.

However, I highly doubt you can push a Q6600 to 4GHz with 'ordinary' cooling (water cooling maybe) .... If you want to hit the magical 4GHz, 45nm C2D E8400 is a better choice.

[Seiphas]

A Q6600 can't hit 4GHz with the stock cooler, but it can hit it with air, assuming you have something like a Ultra 120. By all means, that's on the shopping list, right under RAM.

Assuming I can get it to 4, I can see that 800MHz won't be enough. Is it possible to overclock the RAM so that it is in fact enough? And if so, what brand / where should I be buying it?

[willy]

The TWIN2X4096-6400C5DHX set is $111.25 AR at DirectCanada ... http://www.directcanada.com/products...acture=CORSAIR

I read up some reviews on the web. Some can hit 500MHz (at 2.0V with 5-5-5-15).

[silentio]

2x1gig of Crucial Ballistix can do 500fsb. 4x1gig can do about 475 on my system - some can do higher.

Ballistix is one of the more famous sticks you should look at.

[willy]

2x1gig of Crucial Ballistix can do 500fsb. 4x1gig can do about 475 on my system - some can do higher.

Ballistix is one of the more famous sticks you should look at.

Please don't quote me on this ... but I 'heard' the 'new' Ballistix is no longer as overclockable as the 'old' Ballistix (different chips used) ...

[Seiphas]

Any other suggestions? I lack credit card, and hate mail in rebates.

[silentio]

Please don't quote me on this ... but I 'heard' the 'new' Ballistix is no longer as overclockable as the 'old' Ballistix (different chips used) ...

Oh crap. When did reports start coming in?

[azn_dan]

everyone's been saying that the new ballistix are also one sided? weird thing is I just rmaed my ram like 1 week ago, and my ram came back two sided. As for overclocking, it runs just as good as my old pair at 3.6ghz for my E6750(8*450). So potentially YMMV.