Conroe and Dual Channel Memory Question

[rickshobbies]

Hey everyone,

I am hoping that someone may be able to help answer a question for me. I am in line with everyone else for a Conroe (E6600 for me). Currently, I am running a P4 3.2Ghz with DDR400 RAM in dual channel mode in a Bad Axe (ver 304, latest bios). As I understand it, DDR400 in dual channel is a 1 to 1 match for the FSB of the P4 (800 Mhz). Assuming everything is left at stock speeds, this matches the RAM's combined throughput with the processor's FSB bus speed.

Now, assuming I continue to leave things at stock speeds (no OC) with the Conroe, it would make sense to use DDR533 RAM with this processor to match it's FSB 1 to 1.

Reading through the Intel whitepapers, it seems that there would be no performance benefit from using DDR667 or DDR800 with this configuration because the processor won't be fetching data any faster than the speed of the FSB.

Am I understanding this correctly? Would there be any performance advantage from using RAM faster than 533?

Regards,

R

 

[broly8877]

533 for 1:1, yeah.

However, I'd still get at least DDR2-667 for the following reasons:

1) Overclocking headroom
2) Future processors may move to a 333 FSB
3) There are ratios that run RAM faster than the FSB
4) It's easily available at prices just as cheap if not cheaper than 533

 

[rickshobbies]

Thanks for the feedback!

Now, what I plan to get is 2Gb. I was considering 4Gb, if there are any performance gains to be had for a gaming system. Or, if Vista might benefit from it. Is 2gb still the sweet spot, or should I consider 4Gb these days?

 

[broly8877]

2GB is still very nice, but once Vista launches you'll probably see more people moving up to 4GB.

And yes, I've seen some benches that show there's a benefit to using 4 sticks. (4-Way Interleaving)
Nothing significant though.

 

[rickshobbies]

Ah, alright.

Here is the RAM I am considering:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145098

or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820134046

R

 

[LittleNemoNES]

either should be good but I've never had corsair ram crap on me. Kingston, however...

 

[theteamaqua]

memory has ery little on performance ... but do know that when u pick every part on the weaker side:

forr example: DDR2 533 1GB 1 stick 5-5-5-15 , and E6300 and a crap board like Asrock. even if u manage to OC to X6800 clock speed 2.93GHz, ur oging to see performance lost, a thing there and a thing here every littel thing adds up

 

[Roy2001]

RAM deal!, DDR2-800 with CS4 (4-5-4-15), price lower than any other 2GB DDR2 RAM.

Order now and deal ends tonight!

 

[Dr Pepper]

Agreed. I posted a fairly similar question Here and was pointed to another thread Here.

Ultimately I went with the OCZ memory from Fry's/Outpost.

 

[rickshobbies]

Originally posted by: Roy2001
RAM deal!, DDR2-800 with CS4 (4-5-4-15), price lower than any other 2GB DDR2 RAM.

Order now and deal ends tonight!

Very cool, but the Intel Bad Axe manual says it supports 1.8v and 1.9v RAM up to 667, though I've read that BIOS updates have added 800 support.

Stability is the key for this machine, so I want to make sure I stay within Intel recommendations.

That's a heck of a deal, though. Thanks for posting it!

 

[Dr Pepper]

Should you not be able to "underclock" the memory if needed?

 

[Roy2001]

RAM speed would be controlled by FSB, right? set it to 266Mhz, and RAM would run at 533Mhz I believe.

 

[rickshobbies]

A buddy brought over 2 sticks of 533 and the system detected them at 533 despite the fact that the FSB is 800. So, I would assume that it would run 667s with the Conroe. I guess if it doesn't provide more performance, the fact that that I wouldn't have to buy RAM again if Intel introduces a faster FSB is something to consider.