Choosing RAM

[Fumz]

RAM rated to run 7-7-7-20 @ 1.5 volts is going to do just that, no matter if it's in an AMD or Intel rig. That it has an XMP is irrelevant to you. Not being able to enable a feature your board doesn't have isn't going to make the memory slower. It's still going to run at its rated speed.

 

[seekermeister]

Thank you, that is comforting to know.

 

[Fumz]

Yeah, don't worry about the XMP of any kit. What an xmp is is a series of settings that make the most of a particular kit's IC's. No two xmps are alike unless the memory is alike, and by that I mean identical.

For example, tee hee hee, I happen to have two 8GB kits at my disposal: some G.Skill Ripjaws (7-8-7-24) and some Corsair Vengence (9-9-9-24). They're both DDR3 1600; however, the G.Skill's xmp profile sets the frequency at 1600 and keeps the timings nice and tight at 7-8-7. It also applies other sub-system settings which make it nice and snappy.

On the other hand, the Vengeance's xmp profile sets the RAM at 1800MHz, @ 9-10-9-24. One emphasizes timing, the other speed. I've run the two, they're both very nice kits... but in the end, what matters to me is gaming, and to make the most out of my system for my needs, it was 1600 at tight timings. If your apps use raw memory bandwidth, then for you the choice would be the higher clock speeds.

In the end, what an xmp only means is that you don't have to set timings manually. Now, whether or not your board under or over volts is another question, and I always like to set voltage manually.

Newegg.com - G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL7D-8GBXH
Newegg.com - CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9

 

[Colinjbro]

As an addendum to this question, I was wondering how adequate the stock fan on this CPU is:

AMD HDT90ZFBGRBOX Phenom II 1090T Black Edition Six Core Processor - 3.20GHz, 6MB Cache, 2000MHz (4000 MT/s) FSB, Retail, Socket AM3, Processor with Fan at TigerDirect.com

I have this CPU and I can tell you the stock fan is quite good as far as stock fans go =)!

 

[seekermeister]

I have this CPU and I can tell you the stock fan is quite good as far as stock fans go =)!

I'm trying to decide whether to buy a lapping kit for it, do you know just how true the flatness of the heatsink contact is? Is it the typical dull aluminum, or a brightly polished surface...perhaps copper?

 

[Colinjbro]

I have this CPU and I can tell you the stock fan is quite good as far as stock fans go =)!

I'm trying to decide whether to buy a lapping kit for it, do you know just how true the flatness of the heatsink contact is? Is it the typical dull aluminum, or a brightly polished surface...perhaps copper?

If you are talking about the bottom of it that goes onto the chip? then yes it is copper (I'm sure, It's not aluminum anyway!)

 

[seekermeister]

I have this CPU and I can tell you the stock fan is quite good as far as stock fans go =)!

I'm trying to decide whether to buy a lapping kit for it, do you know just how true the flatness of the heatsink contact is? Is it the typical dull aluminum, or a brightly polished surface...perhaps copper?

If you are talking about the bottom of it that goes onto the chip? then yes it is copper (I'm sure, It's not aluminum anyway!)

Yes, my processor arrived today, and while I won't know anything about it's performance for a while, it does have a copper base and heat tubes, which puts it much ahead of what AMD hs/fans have been. However, the surface is far from smooth, so I will probably lap it before installing it.

EDIT: On second glance, maybe I won't, because I didn't see a means to detach the contact plate from the rest of the assembly, and it would be somewhat clumsy trying to handle the whole thing while lapping.