Advice on ram for an AM3 build

[Rusty1230]

I needs some advice on what ram I should buy for my new AM3 build. Here are my specs so far:

Case: Antec Nine Hundred Two
Mobo: ASUS M4A78T-E AM3 AMD 790GX
CPU: AMD Phenom II X3 720
PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W


I plan on using this computer for pretty much everything from gaming to digital video editing, so I will eventually be getting a couple HD4770s running in CrossFire. The hard drive and optical drives I already have from a previous build.

This is the ram I was thinking of buying:

RAM: OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600

OCZ Reaper HPC 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 1333
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227293


also I was think about getting OCZ Platinum 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227381 with timings 7-7-7-24. Right now its only $99.99 with free shipping, and for three 2gb sticks, thats not bad! I realize that this is a triple channel kit, and the mobo only supports dual channel, but I would just hold on to one stick and run two sticks in dual channel until I can buy another stick of the same stuff, and have 4 x 2gb ( I like to do it overkill style haha)

Is it better to go with the DDR3 1333 with lower timings of 6-6-6-20, or should I go with the three sticks of DDR3 1600 with timings of 7-7-7-24, am I being to picky here?

Keep in mind I will be overclocking, so which RAM would be my best choice for stabilty and speed with the components I have?

 

[Gin Fushicho]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226060

DDR31600 6-6-5-18 1.65V Mushkin Redline.


"Tri-Channel Kit for Core i7/X58 featuring incredible 6-6-5-18 timings at DDR3-1600 speeds. Subject the rigorous product testing that has made Mushkin legendary, these modules offer the most extreme performance available without sacrificing reliability."

 

[kg4icg]

you better look at the memory specs for recommended mem for AMD or else you might have problems. And don't forget you don't need a tri channel kit because the am3 systems with ddr3 only run in dual channel mode.

 

[Gin Fushicho]

you better look at the memory specs for recommended mem for AMD or else you might have problems. And don't forget you don't need a tri channel kit because the am3 systems with ddr3 only run in dual channel mode.

Oh yeah... thats what I was forgetting. ^^; I was thinking that they only ran DDR2 but was all like "nah they run DDR3" but it was dual channel thing I was thinking about. >.<


How bout these? OCZ runs on just about anything. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227293 6-6-6-20 timings 1.75V with 1.8V over protection. they had some really nice ones that ran at 6-5-5-18 but they were sold out.

 

[Gryphyn]

Rusty, I have a similar system, though I have a Gigabyte MB. Check out the link below for a good discussion on different memory timings vs clock speed.

http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=55369

I personally bought OCZ Reaper DDR3 1800 in the hopes of being able to run them at 1600 with tighter timings.

If I remember correctly, the post says that it is better to run at DDR3 1333 with tighter timings than DDR3 1600, performance wise.

 

[Gin Fushicho]

And I agree with you , since the only way you can truly get RAM above 1333 right now is by OC'ing it.

 

[ssguy24]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220331

Recently purchased that, havent had any problems

MSI 790FX GD 70
AM3 955 BE

 

[Gin Fushicho]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220331

Recently purchased that, havent had any problems

MSI 790FX GD 70
AM3 955 BE

I'm still iffy about Patriot RAM but if you havnt had any problems I dont see any reason not to get it.

 

[Rusty1230]

Rusty, I have a similar system, though I have a Gigabyte MB. Check out the link below for a good discussion on different memory timings vs clock speed.

http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=55369

I personally bought OCZ Reaper DDR3 1800 in the hopes of being able to run them at 1600 with tighter timings.

If I remember correctly, the post says that it is better to run at DDR3 1333 with tighter timings than DDR3 1600, performance wise.

The only issue I have with the OCZ reaper is they look to be fairly large with those heat pipes. I want to eventually get a good after market heatsink/fan for my CPU. Im worried that with those heat pipes and the lay out of Asus M4A78T-E, there may not be enough clearance for larger heatisinks. Otherwise I would buy it in a heart beat.

 

[Gin Fushicho]

Look t the ones I suggested. ^^;

 

[Rusty1230]

Look t the ones I suggested. ^^;

You sugessted the same thing, the OCZ Reapers. Same heatpipes, same clearance issue with an after market cooler.

 

[Gin Fushicho]

You sugessted the same thing, the OCZ Reapers. Same heatpipes, same clearance issue with an after market cooler.

My bad. ^^; I thought you were talking about the 6-5-5-18 ones. >.< with teh UBER bulky heatsinks.

 

[ssguy24]

I'm still iffy about Patriot RAM but if you havnt had any problems I dont see any reason not to get it.

No problems and the can be oc'd to 2000, though i must admit im a novice overclocker and am a little intimidated by the ram oc process bc t involves voltages :/

 

[Gin Fushicho]

No problems and the can be oc'd to 2000, though i must admit im a novice overclocker and am a little intimidated by the ram oc process bc t involves voltages :/

Well then there's weird advanced settings like the "RAM drive" and stuff liek that. My mentor knows about that stuff but I have no idea how to adjust that safely. >.<

 

[ssguy24]

Neither do I, so I stay in the realm of my own knowledge, bc I don't have the kind of money to replace blown out mobos and ram simply for a lack of understanding and carelessness.

 

[jitpublisher]

AMD AM3 CPU's only support up to 1333mhz ram. And remember, there is not much difference at all in performance between 1066 and 1600, you can only see the small difference in benchmarks, you'll never notice it using the system. Buy 1333mhz memory with good fast timings and you will be just fine.

 

[Rusty1230]

AMD AM3 CPU's only support up to 1333mhz ram. And remember, there is not much difference at all in performance between 1066 and 1600, you can only see the small difference in benchmarks, you'll never notice it using the system. Buy 1333mhz memory with good fast timings and you will be just fine.

Thank you! The first helpful post! Im planning on going with OCZ Reaper 2 x 2gb. But as always I change my mind constantly, but at least I know what to look for now. THANKS!

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=n82e16820227293&guid=b15f82fc85d945c19c07d10dbab68c68

 

[Gin Fushicho]

YAY! He's gonna get the ones I suggested! ^_^