memory in synch or not?

[monkeyboy2323]

Hi there.

I have some ddr 400 ram and an Nforce2 Epox 8rda+ running @ 170fsb. Now, should I run the RAM at its maximum timing (ddr 400) or will I get better performance synchronising it at 100% with the fsb so that it runs at 340DDR? My gut feel is that faster is always better but do I gain anything for having it exactly in synch with the fsb timings?

Any ideas?

 

[bgeh]

i'd run it in synch, i remember seeing benchmarks that show sync running faster than async

 

[monkeyboy2323]

Yeah I remember seeing something about it in a BIOS guide but I've never seen the benchmarks to back it up.........

 

[Doh!]

There are several benchmarks to back it up. I'm sure many people on this board (including me) have seen them (& remember which website did the benchmark which I can't).

 

[monkeyboy2323]

Thanks mate. Can anyone out there help me with a link?

 

[AbusedFish]

You could also run benchmarks yourself using Sandra and what not.

 

[Jeff7181]

I think this may be what you're looking for

Linkage

 

[jjyiz28]

http://www.gamepc.com/labs/view_content.asp?id=a7n8xd&page=1

the gist is performance for a 333mhz bus cpu from best to worst is, dual channel ddr333, single channel ddr333, dual channel 400 im also guessing anything dual channel that is not 333, single channel not 333. so run that bad boy sync, so 340 dual channel.

 

[AkumaX]

har har, my 8rda+ is running @ ddr340 while my cpu is at 225 fsb ( 225 = 75% * 170 ) (DAMN I NEED GOOD RAM) also gotta raise the vdd to at least 1.9v on my c1/a1 stepping northbridge

 

[monkeyboy2323]

Thanks everyone. Quality links and advice! I'll change it to synch @ 340 and try upping the fsb a bit more with the extra freedom on the memory...

 

[NEVERwinter]

I think if the difference is far enough (e.g: FSB 210 and memory 166) it could be better than 175/175. try with benchmarks

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I run synch 422DDR and it be faster than a jackrabbit on a date says I

 

[SkyDiver]

Hi Guys,
I'm a noob on overclocking, but I'm getting ready to buy an Asus A7N8X Dlx. My only question left is what RAM to get. I'm going to get a Gig--two 512's.

From what I've read so far, if I am not OverClocking, I should stick w/ PC2700 because it is in sync w/ the M/B FSB, correct? If I want to O/C, I should get PC3200, because it starts out at 400 and I can reduce it to sync up w/ whatever O/C speed I can get to.

So, I want to stay in sync. How important is CAS rating any more? The last time I bought memory (PC133) CAS 2 and 3 were the only real options.

Which 512MB sticks should I go with?

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Since you will not be overclocking, the question is are you going to be using a 333fsb CPU or not? If yes then use 2700 ( I would look at Crucial or original Samsung) if you are going to use a 266fsb CPU get 2100(Crucial or Kingston). Tight timings@default clockspeeds running synch should make for a small performance gain so you just have to look at wether the price/performance ratio is exceptable to you, for my money the answer is hell nah! I've seen so many benchies comparing the 2 in games, synthetic, ect. and you have to be waaay anal or a professional where time is money to see the gains as worthwhile in real world performance difference in most usage.

 

[SkyDiver]

Well, I haven't o/c'ed yet, but with the nforce2, I might HAVE to....if you know what I mean.

Am I limiting my options by going w/ PC2700?

 

[Wigwam]

having agonised for ages and finally taken the plunge with my ram, i'd say you are. I have never O/C'ed before but know exactly what you mean by "having to" - i feel the same
Especially when you CAN find quality pc3200 ram fairly cheap now i'd say why regret it later. Thanks to Elcs on here i got 1gig twinmos pc3200 w/winbond bh5 chips [supposed to be good to o/c] for only £128!

figure i better run at stock speeds for a bit to test the system out and then let the experimentation begin.
I have a xp2100+; do i take it that at stock speed i should run it in synch then?

 

[jjyiz28]

Originally posted by: NEVERwinter
I think if the difference is far enough (e.g: FSB 210 and memory 166) it could be better than 175/175. try with benchmarks

of course fsb 210 memory 166 will be better than 175/175, but his question was to run his MEMORY faster than the FSB. in that case no.

 

[SkyDiver]

Wigwam,
That sounds like a good plan. I need to build the machine, make sure it is stable and then O/C.

From what I've seen on the boards here, you may have to underclock your RAM to maximize peformance at XP 2100+. However, since I've never done any of this, you should probably disregard everything I just said.

 

[Jeff7181]

I was just running a-sync... 200x11=2200 Mhz... PC2700 RAM still at 166... felt slow in normal windows tasks... so I switched it to 166x12.5 and ran the RAM sync and it feels better. Benchmark scores aren't as high, but it FEELS faster in Windows.

 

[jjyiz28]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
I was just running a-sync... 200x11=2200 Mhz... PC2700 RAM still at 166... felt slow in normal windows tasks... so I switched it to 166x12.5 and ran the RAM sync and it feels better. Benchmark scores aren't as high, but it FEELS faster in Windows.

interesting, but benchmarks don't lie. and your "feelings" may be out of whack. jk =), strange though,.

 

[Jeff7181]

I think it's because running a-sync creates added latency between the CPU and RAM.