Which Combo Should I Get?

[GML3G0]

My budget allows for one of the following:
AMD 3000+ and Crucial Ballistix
AMD 3500+ and Corsair or Mushkin Value RAM

I want to OC a bit. Maybe 3800+ speeds if they're worth it.

Or, would this be better - 3200+ and Crucial Ballistix.
I would prefer not having to run a divider when OCing, and have tight timings.

Motherboard is an Abit AV8.

 

[CheesePoofs]

3200+ with the value ram. Ram speeds and timings don't matter with the athlon64's, and you probably won't get a better OC with the 3500 than the 3000 or 3200, so i'd say get the 3200 because you get the 10x multi so its easier to OC, and use a divider.

Spend the extra money on something else.

 

[Arcanedeath]

I'd also suggest the 3200+ and the Value Ram. memory bandwith / clock speed isn't that important to A64's although lower timings can make a 5-10% difference.

 

[GML3G0]

Originally posted by: Arcanedeath
I'd also suggest the 3200+ and the Value Ram. memory bandwith / clock speed isn't that important to A64's although lower timings can make a 5-10% difference.

The Ballistix is 2-2-2-5 up to 235MHz and the Mushkin is 2.5-3-3-6 up to 215MHz...
If RAM timings make a difference, why are you suggesting the value RAM, when I can get the 3000+ and OC it to around 2165MHz at 2-2-2-5 with the Ballistix?

 

[Arcanedeath]

Because the timings at most make a 5 to 10% difference (in memory intensive apps) and the Value ram costs over $100 less for 1 GB and it should not effect your overclock in any way as you can just use a ram divider. If you trying to keep the system at a 1 to 1 raito then by all means get the Ballistix but at least for me it doesn't improve performance enough espicaly on A64 to justify it's price which is out in pluto compared to the Value ram.

 

[GML3G0]

Fine, I'll put that money towards a better monitor. 710T instead of the 710N-2.

 

[frogger9]

Good choice.

I think it's far better to spend the money on a better monitor than on the maybe 5% performance increase better RAM timings will get you. I did the same thing in my recent build -- 1 GB Corsair Value Select and a 2001FP

 

[GML3G0]

so wait, hold on, if i run a divider, all that will do will keep the mem locked at the speed i set it to. can i keep it at 200MHz and maintain the standard timings?

 

[Chosonman]

3200+ with the value ram

 

[CheesePoofs]

If you run it with a divider it means you run the memory at a certain fraction of the FSB speed, so its not at a set speed, although i believe auto runs the ram at 217mhz.

The only place you would see a 5-10% increase with better timings is in memory benchmarks, in the real world they make NO NOTICABLE DIFFERENCE. Just read the thread i linked to above if you want more proof.

 

[thegimp03]

3200 + value ram

 

[GML3G0]

OK, I guess I'll go with the Mushkin Value RAM. My question is though, when I run the divider, and the memory is running at xxx MHz (let's just say 200MHz in this case), then will it still be running the 2.5-3-3-6 it is supposed to do. The divider, +=+ let's just say +=+ is keeping the RAM in the range that it should do 2.5-3-3-6. So will it do those timings?

 

[CheesePoofs]

Im not completely sure what your asking ..... but if the ram is running at 200mhz it should use the timings for 200mhz, and if it doesn't you can just set the timings in the bios.

 

[GML3G0]

Yes, that's what I was asking thanks. So even with a divider, if the RAM was set by the divider to run at 200MHz, then it will run the standard 2.5-3-3-6 timings it claims it will do at 200MHz. Value RAM it is.

 

[CheesePoofs]

200mhz is and will always be 200mhz, so yes .

 

[GML3G0]

ok, thx, so im definately getting the value RAM now. Thanks a lot. One last question. Monarch is offering me Shin-Etsu G675 (or something like that) in my AMD CPU/Motherboard combo for $14. Should I go for it? Is it better than the stock included with the HSF? I know it would be $4 cheaper to buy AS5 and put it on myself, but I rather let them do. How does this stuff compare to the AS5? I know it's not better, but if it's pretty damn close (1-5*C), I'll go for the Shin-Etsu.

 

[ts3433]

The AMD stock heatsink has Shin-Etsu (almost as good as AS5) pre-applied, at least the one in the retail box...

 

[ltwentoncha]

Originally posted by: CheesePoofs
3200+ with the value ram. Ram speeds and timings don't matter with the athlon64's, and you probably won't get a better OC with the 3500 than the 3000 or 3200, so i'd say get the 3200 because you get the 10x multi so its easier to OC, and use a divider.

Spend the extra money on something else.

Quick question: what is a memory divider?

Thanks.

 

[MaverickBP]

Originally posted by: ltwentoncha

Originally posted by: CheesePoofs
3200+ with the value ram. Ram speeds and timings don't matter with the athlon64's, and you probably won't get a better OC with the 3500 than the 3000 or 3200, so i'd say get the 3200 because you get the 10x multi so its easier to OC, and use a divider.

Spend the extra money on something else.

Quick question: what is a memory divider?

Thanks.

...

Example would be in your bios like a 2:3 divider. For every 3 mhz the cpu/fsb runs the memory will run 2 mhz. So 2/3. If you overclocked your fsb to 300 mhz your ram would run 200 mhz. brief example hopefully not too vague.

 

[GML3G0]

But what if I don't want to hit 300MHz FSB. Can I have a FSB of 240MHz with the 3200+ Winchester and still have thte memory at 200MHz. All I would have to do is set the DRAM clock to 400ddr and 1T timings. http://legitreviews.com/article.php?aid=116&pid=3 <<< That's pics of the BIOS. Scroll down and see the BIOS RAM settings screenshot.

 

[GML3G0]

Bump.

 

[MaverickBP]

there are many dividers. in your case of 240fsb the closest divider i remember is 5/4. u'll only get about 190 out of ur ram. bump ur fsb up a bit more to 250.

 

[GML3G0]

ok, sounds good enough. so 250 FSB, 200 RAM, 2.5GHz CPU. nice, lets just hope i can reach that on stock cooling with reasonable temperatures. one thing though, my motherboard, as i saw in the BIOS pics in the site I mentioned earlier, doesn't show the divider as a ratio. see this pick >>> http://legitreviews.com/images...ews/116/chipsetram.jpg It shows it as 400ddr, 333ddr, 266ddr and 200ddr. so 400ddr keeps it at 200MHz and would be the same thing as the 5/4 ratio if the FSB is at 250.

 

[GML3G0]

Oh, wait 333ddr would be around 5:4, so that won't run the RAM at 166MHz, it runs it at the 5:4 ratio, so if the FSB was at 250, the RAM would be at around 200MHz. 266ddr would be a 3:2 ratio. Am I correct on this?

 

[CheesePoofs]

you have the right idea, but wrong math. DDR333 is a 6:5 divider, DDR320 would be a 5:4 divider.