DDR3 Memory

[CrazigXn]

Which is the best? Or, does it matter? I am a fan of Corsair and I know they Are usually rated the highest. I am looking to add 6 gigs of 1600 to a PC with 3 gigs of 1333 already. If all are good, should I focus simply on best price? Will the 1600 be clocked down to the 1333 3 gig kit? If so, should I buy another 3 goig 1600 kit. I want to be at 9 gigs and plan to OC my 17 920 to at least 3.5, but will go higher if I can. Thanks in advance.

CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TR3X6G1333C9 - Retail
Item #: N82E16820145220
Return Policy: Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy

CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TR3X6G1600C9 - Retail
Item #: N82E16820145222
Return Policy: Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy

CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model TR3X6G1600C8 G - Retail
Item #: N82E16820145236
Return Policy: Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy

OCZ Gold 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ3G1600LV6GK - Retail
Item #: N82E16820227365
Return Policy: Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy

G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9T-6GBNQ - Retail
Item #: N82E16820231225
Return Policy: Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy

 

[theAnimal]

OCZ Platinum 1600.

 

[Blain]

Buy a kit that sticks to the JEDEC DDR3 voltage standard of 1.5v

 

[taltamir]

Originally posted by: Blain
Buy a kit that sticks to the JEDEC DDR3 voltage standard of 1.5v

+1

the voltage is the important bit. Imagine going to buy a car, one dealer says "this car gets 150 HP", while the other dealer says "this car for the same price gets 170HP*" and the fine print reads: *Only when running on jet fuel with an after market NOS.

Frankly if they force you to dig through documentations to find what it gets on normal "fuel" (voltage) I wouldn't even bother buying it. EVERY stick of ram can be juiced up with more voltage and give better performance (at the cost of heat, and lifespan, and potential stability issues)

 

[theAnimal]

Originally posted by: theAnimal
OCZ Platinum 1600.

SPD is 1.5V for 1066MHz.

 

[taltamir]

oh ouch, that is two levels below.

 

[theAnimal]

It's only 1.65 for 1600 @ 7-7-7-24.

 

[PUN]

get the crucial 2x2GB 1333 DDR3 1.5v for $40 shipped from newegg

Mine is running at 1498 1.5v...didn't try higher since my i7 920 @ 3.9 at stock voltage

 

[taltamir]

Originally posted by: theAnimal
It's only 1.65 for 1600 @ 7-7-7-24.

isn't that the upper limit before you damage the i7 cpu? I remember overclockers saying "only over volt the ram by up to 0.15v or the neha cpu will fry in days"

 

[iCyborg]

Yes, it is, that's why most higher-speed modules are rated at 1.65V. All of them will work at JEDEC spec voltage with JEDEC spec speeds and CAS. You can get more with most kits for sure, but usually not the highest settings.
And quite a few knowledgeable people said the 1.65V limit is only if CPU core voltage is <=1.15V, i.e. the difference between the two should be less than 0.5V and you're fine.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: iCyborg
Yes, it is, that's why most higher-speed modules are rated at 1.65V.
All of them will work at JEDEC spec voltage with JEDEC spec speeds and CAS.

I would never assume that a kit rated to run at 1.65v would also run at the JEDEC DDR3 voltage of 1.5v

 

[iCyborg]

I think it should be a safe bet by now. Even before i7 launch, most ddr3 at 800/1066MHz (and even 1333) already worked by default at 1.5V, and newer ones should have an even easier time meeting this. Intel's recommendation is that jedec compliant ddr3 be used, so I'd think they would want to meet that.
The one I have was at 1.5V/1066mhz when I went into the BIOS for the first time, and it's rated at 1.65V (1600MHz kit).

 

[CrazigXn]

Hold on now, so the are the 1.65v RAMs above safe? or do I need to do more tweaking? I ask because the corsair module has a nive 8-8-8-24 cas and is only $79 after MIR w/ free shipping

Definitely want 1600 becuase by now, 1600 is as cheap as 1333 (corsair xms3 ddr3 1333 is $74)

 

[Blain]

Higher volted (above JEDEC standard), memory is lower quality than the same speed rated memory that's volted in-line with the JEDEC voltage standard for the memory in question.

"Joint Electron Devices Engineering Council"
JEDEC DDR3 standard voltage = 1.5v
JEDEC DDR2 standard voltage = 1.8-1.9v
JEDEC DDR standard voltage = nobody cares anymore

 

[taltamir]

DDR = 2.1v

 

[Blain]

DDR (PC1600-PC3200) = 2.5-2.6v