4x2@800 or 2x2@1066 - Overclock.net

esocid · 02-27-09

I'm entering the world of 1066 support CPUs and was wondering about this since I couldn't find any posts (at least not what I searched for).

I've just purchased an AMD Phenom II x4 920 2.8 which supports 1066, but to my chagrin, only on a single channel. So I'm waiting on my ram to arrive, had to buy some ddr2 because I was mistaken about what I had in my current box

. Went with this corsair dominator ddr2@1066. Would it be more advantageous to run just 2x2@1066 or fill all 4 and be forced to run at 800?

My mobo is an asus m3n72-d, NB is NVIDIA nForce 750a SLI. Bios hasn't posted yet, since like me, it has no memory.

Rick Arter · 02-27-09

I say go with 2x2GB sticks of the 1066mhz.

4 DIMMs filled can also be harder on the board so I here, not sure if is an issue with newer chipsets.

Melcar · 02-27-09

Memory bandwidth is of little importance for AMD systems. Add to that the fact that more RAM is always a good thing, and you have a very strong incentive for using the slower 8GB of RAM. One thing to note however, is that populating all four RAM slots may reduce your CPU's overclocking potential, but so far for me this has not been the case on either of my AMD machines (just had to reduce RAM frequencies and loosen timings, neither of which has a real impact on actual performance).

Mushimoto · 02-27-09

I would go with the 1066. It is real world performance. Also the timings can be much tighter even with a higher clock memory than four dimms.

esocid · 02-27-09

Well since I overlooked this single channel technicality, 4x2gigs are already en route. I guess I can always test it out myself as well. Why waste 4 gigs of perfectly good RAM?

I've never really messed with cpu or board clocks, or RAM timings for that matter. Mainly out of fear I'd fry something, but I can always give it a shot and try to get the 2.8 up to 3.

Melcar · 02-27-09

The extra RAM will benefit you much more than an extra boost in bandwidth, which will be more noticeable in benchmarks than in real situations. If you do overclock, just put them on a divider and maybe even loosen the timings a little.

sgdude · 02-27-09

how about 2x2 800 and save the rest. u wont notice the difference.

		Overclock.net - Overclocking.net > AMD > AMD Memory
4x2@800 or 2x2@1066

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)