Question re: DDR3

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Cram3601

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Jan 23, 2008
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Hi.

I use Windows XP Home Edition and I've just bought an Intel i7-920 processor and I'm planning on buying either an Asus P6T SE or an MSI X58 Pro-E motherboard. My question is in regard to DDR3 memory.

It's my understanding, and I could be incorrect, that the maximum memory XP can hold is 3 or 4 GBs. I've been told by a friend of mine that I should probably by 4 GB of DDR3 memory. But I see, for example, on newegg, that there's DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) and DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) [there may be others, I don't know]. I also see that memory can differ by "Cas Latency," and I don't know what this means.

I want to buy the "fastest memory." Can anyone make any suggestions?
[By the way, I'm planning on changing to Windows 7 in the future but not right now]

Thanks again.
 
32 bit can only use 4 gb of ram per system, this includs any ram your video cards may use.

If you have 2gb of video ram then you can only have 2 gb of system ram.

go 64 bit right meow, its 2010 for gods sake
 
If you are buying an X58 you should get a kit of either 3 modules or 6 modules. 9** series CPUs have 3 channel memory controllers so 4GB is not a good choice.If you want "fastest" and you are buying a 920, DDR2000 is plenty fast for you especially with the motherboard choices you have listed.
 
For maxmium performance you'll want to buy DDR3 in triple channel setup, that means either go 1gbx3 sticks=3gb; or 2gbx3 sticks=6gb of ram.

If you have 3gb ddr3 then you can go with Windows 7 32bit, if you have 6gb of ram (ie. more than 3.2gb) you need to use windows 7 64bit to be able to use rams above 3.2gb limit posted by 32bit operating system.

Don't ever consider or get windows xp 64bit version because it have serious compatibility issues regard to driver and program support...

I regret getting X58 pro-e because north bridge temp is really really hot on stock heatsink (75 c. degree idle), I don't know about p6t se maybe you can ask other forum members in the motherboard forum about northbridge temp on that mobo.
 
If you don't plan on breaking any OC'ing records, anything higher than DDR3-1600 would be a waste of money, IMO. DDR3-1600 will allow you to OC your i7.920 to 4Ghz (bclk of 200). There are few performance gains when running your RAM faster than the stock speeds. For i7 920, stock RAM speed is DDR3-1066. However, current RAM pricing puts DDR3-1600 as the best bang for buck (higher speed rated RAM can downclock to slower speeds).

You won't notice a difference between the higher and lower latencies, unless you're running benchmarks (and even then, the difference is negligible), so don't pay a huge price premium for lower latency. CL9 DDR3-1600 is the typical rating.

Another main issue with Intel Core i3/5/7 chips is the RAM voltage. Since the memory controller is now integrated into the CPU, you want to use low voltage sticks. The standard DDR3 voltage, according to JEDEC specs, is 1.5v. Intel's specified maximum is 1.65v (any higher may damage the CPU).

Having said all that, I'd recommend these sticks:
$170 - G.SKILL 6GB (3x2GB) DDR3-1600 F3-12800CL9T-6GBNQ 9-9-9-24 1.5V – 1.6V

Oh, and I also agree with the Win7 64bit recommendation... get it now. If you're a college student, it's only $65 via the Ultimate Steal, and sometimes free from your university.
 
I made the original post from my PC at my office.

Thanks for all your responses but I'm a bit confused. Does it much matter if buy DDR3 1gbx3or say 2gbx2? Again, I'm currently using Windows XP Home Edition.

enginurd suggests 6GB (3x2GB) DDR3-1600, but isn't this too much for XP Home to handle? One more question: am I correct when you state that with Windows 7 that 64bit is recommended? What difference does it matter if it's 64 bit or 32 bit (I feel like I should know the answer but I don't).

Thanks again.
 
The reason winXP can't use more than 4gb or ram is because its 32bit. Win7 64bit allows you to use more ram. Win7 32bit would not. WinXP 64 bit would allow more ram, but you should still avoid it. Everyone is saying you should upgrade to win7 64bit and get with the times. Then that one guy recommended a 3x2gb kit.

My opinion:
If you are dead stuck on winXP forever and ever what you should do is get a 3x1 kit. That will give you triple channel, and allow you room for a vidcard with 1gb of vram. If you are going to upgrade some point in the future to win7 64bit, I'd get the 2x2gb kit, which will only give you dual channel memory now, and waste 1gb of it, but will let you add another 2gb and jump to 6gb triple channel after you've upgraded to win7 64bit.

I'd find a way to jump to win7, even if you have to live with a single 2gb in single channel, live with a smaller HD, or lesser vidcard for a while to come up with the cash. Its easier to upgrade hardware than to reformat and start over.
 
I agree with 3x2GB. RAM is going to start going up more in price and 6GB should be standard on a system like that. You don't want to go 2x2GB now because you can't guarantee that the 1x2GB you add later will play nice with the other 2.

Windows 7 x64 is a very good and stable platform that has good driver support. Windows XP x64 doesn't have that same support and isn't very stable. Also Windows 7 is a more secure OS. I've been using it since the beta and it is rock solid. If I were you, I'd wait until I could get the new OS before building the system so that everything is installed at once. You can't upgrade from XP to 7 without a complete reinstall anyway and upgrading to new motherboard should have a reinstall of your OS as well, so you might as well do it all at one time.
 
If your afraid of jumping to Windows 7. You can still use XP in Windows 7. You can either buy W7 Pro, which comes with XP mode or buy Home edition and use the XP you already have. XP mode is WIndows XP run in an emulator, so you have support for the stuff you that might not work in W7, even though I haven't come across anything. You can download a copy of XP for free for XP modee straight from Microsoft's website. Otherwise you have to use your edition of XP for W7 Home.

I would get 3x2GB. It will just save you time.

The cheapest I found one 2GB stick of DDR3 1600, was $58.99 on newegg.

The cheapest I found a 4GB Kit (2x2GB) was $109.99.

The cheapest I found a 6GB Kit (3x2GB) was $169.99.

I'm not sure about mixing different type of RAM sticks, probably isn't the best of ideas (the 2GB and 4GB were different brands). So I guess it's up to you. Easiest to get them all in swoop, and who knows what the prices will be in the future.
 
Thanks again for your responses. I think I'll probably get 1x3 for now and when I get Windows 7 I'll get it in 64 bit with different memory.

Thanks again.
 
You may as well buy a 3 x 2GB kit now even if your system can't use it all. 3 x 1GB is a bad option IMO.
 
Mike Clements said:
You may as well buy a 3 x 2GB kit now even if your system can't use it all. 3 x 1GB is a bad option IMO.
Click to expand...

I agree, and I don't work for Corsair. :p 3x1GB just seems like a waste to me. At least with 3x2GB, it'll drive you to upgrade to Win7 64 bit faster, lol. Then again, RAM prices are ridiculous right now, so buy what you can afford.
 
enginurd said:
I agree, and I don't work for Corsair. :p
Click to expand...
LOL...yeah, I mean that regardless of brand. 3 x 1GB limits your future options. $120 for 3 x 1GB vs $175 or so for 3 x 2GB is easy math in my book. Then you don't have to worrry with buying memory later, memory conflicts, etc. It's really 6GB (3 x 2GB) for $175 and less headaches vs 6 x 1GB for $240.
 
You're really limiting yourself sticking with XP. Considering the money you're dropping on CPU/MB/RAM it doesn't seem like too much of a stretch to pick up a copy of W7. Anyway go with 3x2GB 1600 if you can and try to stick to RAM running at 1.5v, it'll give you more headroom later if you decide to OC.
 
Memory question aside, I agree with the above comments: Get into this decade and pick up Win7 x64. You've spent a bunch of money on the hardware, now get an OS that can utilize it. You will not be sorry. Best OS Microsoft has released in a looooong time.
 
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