Focus on RAM timings or GPU?

[corridor]

Here's my question. I can EITHER afford;


Cas 7 RAM: ($159.99)
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231431

AND

Radeon 6870 GPU: ($239.99)
XFX HD-687A-ZNFC Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150506


OR

Cas 9 RAM: ($109.99)
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428&cm_re=ripjaws-_-20-231-428-_-Product&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID=

AND

Radeon 6950 GPU: ($299.99)
XFX HD-695A-CNFC Radeon HD 6950 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150518


Tighter timings and lesser GPU or Less tight timings and better GPU?

I've got a thread going in the New Build section about the rest of the system, but I thought I'd ask the memory experts this specific question.

 

[Motopsychojdn]

You can tweak the ram timings yourself so I'd go for the 6950,
I see your opting for 8Gb, do you do things apart from game on the rig?
4 is plenty for gaming,
excepting triple channel intels ofc (6Gb then)
ofc it depends what gfx your stepping up from, $240 for a small step would be painful for me to consider
Moto

 

[corridor]

You can tweak the ram timings yourself so I'd go for the 6950,
I see your opting for 8Gb, do you do things apart from game on the rig?
4 is plenty for gaming,
excepting triple channel intels ofc (6Gb then)
ofc it depends what gfx your stepping up from, $240 for a small step would be painful for me to consider
Moto

I do actually. I do a fair bit of virtualization for school. During this semester I'll be virtualizing as much as a Windows 2008 Server RC2 with 5 or 6 Win 7 Enterprise clients also virtualized and running concurrently. I could probably shoe horn all that in on 4GB, but I'd rather not try. I'd like everything to run smoothly.

I'm building the whole thing. TOTAL new Sandy Bridge build. I'm currently using a 9yr old PC with a Geforce 7600 so... Here is the build thread. http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/303162-31-1600-sandy-bridge-build-feedback-appreciated

 

[corridor]

I know. That's why I asked "Tighter timings and lesser GPU or Less tight timings and better GPU? " and not about speed.

 

[suddenstop]

No brainer! GPU all the way.

RAM timing differences on current memory are basically undetectable outside a benchmark. Toms usually says enthusthiast which is a code word for wadte of money except to be cool and feel good about some setting that makes no real world difference.

GPU on the other hand is all bang for the buck.

 

[corridor]

Excellent! Thanks for the input gang!

No worries [b}malmantal[/b].

 

[corridor]

Best answer selected by corridor.

 

[Motopsychojdn]

Thank you for B.a. ,hope you got sorted ok,
Moto