4 GB of DDR3 1600 or 6GB of DDR3 1333?

[madtownidiot]

If you decide to run the Crucial memory you will need to perform a full clean install in order to see that activated due to the new 7 hardware profiling. I thought you would want to be aware of while deciding. I went through that when swapping OCZ memory out for the Mushkin now in use. Otherwise need to call into MS to preserve the present install.

Are you serious? I doubled the memory on my system and moved an image to an ssd raid 0 array with no need to reactivate or reinstall windows

 

[Night Hawk]

If you decide to run the Crucial memory you will need to perform a full clean install in order to see that activated due to the new 7 hardware profiling. I thought you would want to be aware of while deciding. I went through that when swapping OCZ memory out for the Mushkin now in use. Otherwise need to call into MS to preserve the present install.

Are you serious? I doubled the memory on my system and moved an image to an ssd raid 0 array with no need to reactivate or reinstall windows

You doubled what memory? aww... the exact same brand and type. Here OCZ was swapped out for Mushkin being the only one found with the 1.5-1.7v voltage range best suited for the board here seeing a different manufacturer of memory take place.

When moving an image you still booted into Windows to see drivers loaded for.... the exact same hardwares with the exception of being on a different drive while nothing on the board itself was changed. That's what the new hardware profiling takes a snapshot of during activation.

 

[blackroseMD1]

One question would be on the first set of dimms you have there would be if they were bought together as a 4 dimm kit or as two separate pairs? For replacing the bad dimm to see 8gb newegg still sells single dimms by themselves while matched pairs is typically preferred.

Yeah, I bought them as 2 2x2 kits from Newegg, so they should have been at least pretty close to the same batch.

In that case, I'd definitely opt to lose the 2GB and go back to dual channel with tighter timings. (If they only send you a 4GB kit)

If they send you out 8GB - bonus

If the Crucial works out well, but you only receive a 4GB kit and find that you really need 8GB - the worse case scenario is that you'll have to buy another 4GB kit.

Either way, you'll end up with better performing RAM than you are currently are using.

Yeah, that's pretty much what I've decided I'm going to do. I can settle for 4 gigs for a couple of weeks until I can order another kit. I'd much rather have 1600 that can OC really well than 1333 that's probably half burned out already.

 

[Fumz]

Hi blackrose,

I too would opt for 1600 over 1333. However, to respond to something posted earlier (your concern about losing dual channel with 6GB's), I'll comment. I hope I'm not too late?

Your board supports asynchronous dual channel. So even with the odd configuration of 2x2GB's + 2x1GB's, you are/were running in dual channel. It's what many Dell's use these days. Of course, it's not quite as good as synchronous dual channel (4GB's or 8GB's with an 1156), but it's still not single channel.

Also, as others have said, unless you're using more than 4GB's with your CAD software, then 4GB's is plenty. Going to 8GB's, you may end up having to loosen the timings of the new 1600MHz RAM, which would not be a good thing.

I think you might enjoy this article, which speaks to this thread: http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/memory/display/ddr3-1600-lga1156.html

 

[smarteyeball]

Your board supports asynchronous dual channel. So even with the odd configuration of 2x2GB's + 2x1GB's, you are/were running in dual channel.

I had a quick look through that mobo manual and it didn't mention anything about it - so I wasn't quite sure. My bad, I was in 775 socket mode

 

[Fumz]

Yeah, I've had a hell of a time finding documentation from motherboard makers, who, for the most part, don't really say anything at all about it. I started looking into this reading stuff from guys with 1156 Dells with 6GB's... wondering about such an odd configuration.

Perhaps the reason is that it's a feature of the chipset, and since there are so many chipsets that support it, they just don't bother.

http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/sb/cs-011965.htm

List of chipsets is at the bottom of the page.

 

[blackroseMD1]

Well, from what I've read, the i5 750 doesn't even support DDR3 1600, although I'm sure there's a way around that through OCing. Thanks for all the help and suggestions guys, and thanks for that article Fumz, very informative.

 

[Fumz]

Trust me, the i5 has no problem at all supporting ddr1600 Mine is flying along just fine; besides, support for specific speed RAM is a function of the motherboard, not the cpu.

Glad you enjoyed the read. I did too.

 

[blackroseMD1]

Trust me, the i5 has no problem at all supporting ddr1600 Mine is flying along just fine; besides, support for specific speed RAM is a function of the motherboard, not the cpu.

Glad you enjoyed the read. I did too.

Sweet. I'd rep ya, but apparently I have to spread the rep around first...

 

[Night Hawk]

With the present memory or the kit you won you would still end up buying a second kit to see 8gb either way since one the present let go on you. As for the dual channel mode the manual will show which pair of dimm slots have to be populated typically chanel 1 a and #2 a depending on the layout.

Supposedly will four slots filled here with 1.5 1600 memory it will oc out to 1800? Yet the memory clock is already at the highest setting? While typically running stock I've yet to how that is available.

 

[blackroseMD1]

With the present memory or the kit you won you would still end up buying a second kit to see 8gb either way since one the present let go on you. As for the dual channel mode the manual will show which pair of dimm slots have to be populated typically chanel 1 a and #2 a depending on the layout.

Supposedly will four slots filled here with 1.5 1600 memory it will oc out to 1800? Yet the memory clock is already at the highest setting? While typically running stock I've yet to how that is available.

All I know at the moment is that I have 1 a and b and 2 a filled. My multiplier choices in the BIOS are 6, 8 and 10. My memory is clocked to 1430 at the moment with 1.58v.

Not a big hardware guy, but I'm learning thanks to you guys.

 

[Night Hawk]

You'll get there in time! The board for the new here turned out to be a different story as well supposedly an AM3 but turned out to be an AM2+ 940? according to the SIW info.

Once the new memory is in try running both with only 4gb of each in at a time to see which speed works out the best for you there. That will save time on knowing which one should see a second ordered for the 8gb you want.

I would recommend removing the other dimm from the pair where the first was found bad since that may have been from a bad lot to begin with simply setting that one aside while making the comparison. Running with a good pair of each will show which will be better to stay with.

 

[A Guy]

Trust me, the i5 has no problem at all supporting ddr1600 Mine is flying along just fine; besides, support for specific speed RAM is a function of the motherboard, not the cpu.

Glad you enjoyed the read. I did too.

Yes, I'm running 1600 too. My BCLK is 160 and at stock multi I'm running my Ram native at 1600. Bought it with this specifically in mind. A Guy

 

[blackroseMD1]

Trust me, the i5 has no problem at all supporting ddr1600 Mine is flying along just fine; besides, support for specific speed RAM is a function of the motherboard, not the cpu.

Glad you enjoyed the read. I did too.

Yes, I'm running 1600 too. My BCLK is 160 and at stock multi I'm running my Ram native at 1600. Bought it with this specifically in mind. A Guy

Your BCLK is 150, what is your multi? Just wondering, so I can see if I can push mine more a little more than I have.

 

[smarteyeball]

Yeah, I've had a hell of a time finding documentation from motherboard makers, who, for the most part, don't really say anything at all about it. I started looking into this reading stuff from guys with 1156 Dells with 6GB's... wondering about such an odd configuration.

Perhaps the reason is that it's a feature of the chipset, and since there are so many chipsets that support it, they just don't bother.

http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/sb/cs-011965.htm

List of chipsets is at the bottom of the page.

Good link.

I know that some 1366 boards still maintain tri-channel if adding an extra 2GB (6GB tri still tri if 8GB etc) yet other boards will revert to dual by adding the extra 2GB

Your BCLK is 150, what is your multi? Just wondering, so I can see if I can push mine more a little more than I have.

Honestly mate, I'd wait until you have the faster RAM before re-addressing your OC.

It's currently stable as it is and you'll just have to re-adjust your multi (and BCLK because you will want to push that 750 further ) when the new RAM gets there.

Then again, as long as you remember your current values, it's just a quick trip to revertsville after a 'fiddle' if it doesn't pan out

 

[A Guy]

Trust me, the i5 has no problem at all supporting ddr1600 Mine is flying along just fine; besides, support for specific speed RAM is a function of the motherboard, not the cpu.

Glad you enjoyed the read. I did too.

Yes, I'm running 1600 too. My BCLK is 160 and at stock multi I'm running my Ram native at 1600. Bought it with this specifically in mind. A Guy

Your BCLK is 150, what is your multi? Just wondering, so I can see if I can push mine more a little more than I have.

I have all turbo and power savings on, so the multi is system controlled. basically my regular clock would show as 21 x 160 = 3.36GHz. But it will throttle down at idle, and if only using 1 or 2 cores, it can hit 3.84GHz. I don't have a static overclock, except for my ram. The default Ram multi is x5 (x 10 DDR) 160 x 10 = 1600. Works for me as I don't need a full time big overclock, and this way I get all advantages with litle disadvantage (temps, power consumption). A Guy