Advice On Upgrades Please

[Zayla74]

Hello All. I need some advice on upgrades Im about to do, or second opions rather.
this may be a bit lengthy but bare with me please.

For reference my OC is sitting at a 1:1 ratio 3.6Ghz Vcore 1.24V.
Ram is Corsair DHX PC 6400 2X2GB kit. (rated 4-4-4-12 / 2.1V)

I posted about an issue a while back, where I have never been able to pass Prime 95 64bit OR getting my RAM to run at advertised timings of 2.1V 4-4-4-12.
Even tho It would pass at these timings on MEMTEST 86+ for hours.

I did however get it Intel Burn test stable at 5-5-5-15 2.0V however (800Mhz) and where its been running. I was thinking there may be a CPU issue or MOBO issue.

Out of boredom, I took out 1 stick, set it at 1:1 ratio / 4-4-4-12 (2.1V) 800Mhz.
It failed 1st pass. Took that stick out and replaced with other, and low and behold, it ran 30 tests no issues. Even at 5-5-5-18 2.1V and 1066 speeds. (tho its 800 RAM)

SOOOOO Im guessing even though the 1 will run stable at 5-5-5-15 800mhz, its bad as it will not run at advertised, or at speeds much faster.

So im thinking about replacing the RAm.


Question 1:

Get a 2x2GB kit at 800 4-4-4-12 timings OR will I see any benifit from moving to a 1066 kits 2x2gb which are at 5-5-5-15 (18)? Beyond simple stuff, I game mostly with the rare video encoding.
(and I do mean rarely once or twice a month)


I thought about the 800 kit only switch to OCZ like these :
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227267

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145194 <which are what I have currently>

Or the 1066 Kits Im looking at are these:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227289

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145197

TBH, My OC will like stay as is at 400 FSB (3.6) or possibly a bit higher (3.8ghz).
I can pull these off at fairly low Vcore so I wont go higher as my gets hot summer and heat becomes a issue if much higher Either way, even at 3.8 were only looking at 840 ish RAm speeds at 1:1

So, will the 1066 actually benifit me?
i know Ill have to run at higher than 1:1 ratio OR will the ddr 800 at 4-4-4-12 timings acutally be the same?



Question 2 is about my GPU. I have a 3870 now.

Im really interested in the Sapphire 4870 Toxic 512.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102796

Im guess this will be enough as I play at 1440x900 res with no immediate plans for upgrading monitor.

OR dual 4850's in crossfire?
ATM 4850 Crossfire will run about $50 more. Thoughts?


Sorry so lengthy. And Advice appreciated. Thanks!

 

[sirmonkey1985]

question 1: id say go with the corsair dominator 2x2GB ddr2-1066 if your using a 64bit OS already.. relisticly 5-5-5-15 isnt that much slower then 4-4-4-12.. if you can get the cas down to 4 (4-5-5-15) then you will pretty much get the same real world speeds.. with ddr2 thats all that really matters.. in gaming you wont see all that much of a difference between them..

btw you could always bump the voltage up on your memory a little and see if you can get the 4-4-4-12 timing.. try 2.2v or 2.3v if it wont work at 2.3v then just stick with the 5-5-5-15 timing at 2.1v.. <-- try this at the rated 800mhz not 1066.. if its at 1066 then 5-5-5-15 is the fastest timing you will be able to get..

question 2: and if your only playing at 1440x900.. then id just go with a single 4850.. theres no reason to go with crossfire with a resolution that low..

 

[Zayla74]

Thanks for the response. I have tried DRAM voltages up 2.3 already
the one stick is perfectlyu happy and content at 800 4-4-4-12/2.1 OR 1066 5-5-5-18
The other gets very moody beyond 800 5-5-5-15.

Ok, so as far as GPU, the 4870 wont help much over the 4850 at 1440x900?

And also, will there be much differnce from the 3870 -- > 4850 at this res?

Thanks again.

 

[sirmonkey1985]

over the long term the 4870 could be a better choice.. but price to performance the 4850 is the best bang for the buck.. between the 3870 and 4850 you should see a much more consistant frame rate with the ability to turn your graphics up.. while even possibly using higher AA settings.. not to mention its a nice overclocking card which will get you even closer to 4870 level performance..

as for the memory.. sounds like you have a bad stick on your hands.. though im not sure how long it will last.. could quite possibly last for ever at 5-5-5-15 timing.. but if anything id just upgrade now if you have the money instead of waiting to see if that stick eventually dies before upgrading..

 

[chuckd007]

For the reso. you are playing at the HD4870 is the best choice. DDR2 1066 at looser timings is a better choice then ddr2 800.