Memory speeds and overall performance and standard settings vs OC

[alohascott]

I have read a few posts that say that people won't notice a difference when increasing the memory speed from 1066 to 1600.
That is over 50 percent increase in speed the memory is running at.
why won't I notice a difference?


I have also read some posts where people are changing the memory settings in the bios trying to get better performance.
is buying 1066 memory and then adjusting the settings going to give me better performance then buying 1600 and using stock settings?

IF the motherboard and cpu make a difference please share your knowledge on this subject for both amd phenom x4 955 based setups and intel i7-2600k setups.

if you would like a particular board to reference then use these.

BIOSTAR A870U3 AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard

BIOSTAR TZ68A+ LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel


I am asking because there is a difference in price for the different speeds, so if there is not any difference why pay more?

thanks

 

[chillin15]

The best setup is 8gb at 1600mhz for both price and performance.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4503/sandy-bridge-memory-scaling-choosing-the-best-ddr3

Summary: The sweet spot appears to be at DDR3-1600, where you will see a minor performance increase over DDR3-1333 with only a slight increase in cost. The performance increase gained by going up to DDR3-1866 or DDR3-2133 isn't nearly as pronounced.

 

[cadder]

Memory speed has a secondary affect on speed of your computer. The CPU doesn't spend all that much time accessing memory so slower memory doesn't hold it up that much. Most of what the cpu does in unaffected by memory but definitely affected by cpu speed. So get your cpu speed running at its fastest even if you have to downgrade your memory speed, then worry about tweaking your memory speed if you want.

 

[alohascott]

OK
so spend extra money on cpu and less on memory.
maybe take the extra money saved from expensive ram and buy better cpu cooler for better OC.

 

[alohascott]

what about using one 4gb module vs 2 2gb module.
how does that affect speed?

 

[jaquith]

You have to look at RAM as a whole Frequency {bandwidth} and CAS {pauses} with their combined transmission. Think of is this way a car can instantly go 100 MPH but the Stops are longer (9 sec) vs 75 MPH but the stops are shorter (7 sec) both with a 100 stops in a mile. Further, the CPU however says you can run only 85 MPH.

How long does the car take to drive a mile?

The 2GB vs 4GB vs 8GB and speed. Simply, the lower the 'available' RAM the OS instructs data to be stored on your HDD/SSD so with the lower 'available' RAM the HDD/SSD is v-e-r-y slow compared to RAM, but when you compare 4GB vs 8GB the advantages are more towards 'Shared' e.g. GPU or 'Temporary' e.g. Rendering. Further, it depends upon what you're trying to 'do' on your PC. Also, 64-bit OS really 'should' be run on >4GB to 'see' {addressing} and to compensate using the additional RAM {64-bit is somewhat slower but limited Page File accessing compensates}.

The 4x2GB vs 2x4GB - single Dual Channel {2x__GB} is slightly faster in that the IMC has to 'look' {switching} on less DIMM slots to access the data.

See -> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ram-memory-upgrade,2778-8.html

Bottom-Line, >4GB requires 64-bit OS and Higher Frequency with Low CAS is faster, and 4GB/stick density makes for the best investment today. On the Sandy Bridge the 'sweet spot' is 2x4GB DDR3 1600 CAS 8/9. See -> http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/memory/2011/01/11/the-best-memory-for-sandy-bridge/1

 

[alohascott]

sorry to go completly off topic
I am running and ssd and 16gb of ram.
windows had my virtual memory set at 16gb
thats insane and took up lots of valuble hard drive space.
I reduced it to 0 about a week ago.
I have not really noticed any problems.
is there any reason I should give it back a 1 gb or so?

 

[alohascott]

ok for sandybridge.
would the answer change for the amd cpu and board?

 

[jaquith]

First, don't set the Page File = Disabled/0, instead use 2GB on SSD; a friend of mine here wrote an SSD 'Tweaking' article that I don't agree with and on a HDD just leave it as default ie 16GB. Otherwise the risk of Critical & Errors goes unnecessarily up. It's like setting System Restore and all that other 'stuff' OFF; IMO bad ideas. Instead System Restore -> Reduce its' size. To conserve space move you email {e.g. PST}, Documents, etc off the SSD. I have a 120 and 240GB SSD and everything is Default except Page File = 2GB.

edit: the BIOS is AHCI In my case RAID which is still AHCI...

As far as what I posted above regarding RAM, the difference would be the 'CPU however says you can run only 85 MPH' and it might be 75~85 MPH. The SB's IMC is damn good. Also, it all depends on your AMD. Even the 6-core have a 'touchy' IMC.

 

[alohascott]

Are there any phenom 2 processors that don't have touch Internal Memory Controller?

what are the problems cause by "touchy" IMC

 

[chillin15]

First, don't set the Page File = Disabled/0, instead use 2GB on SSD; a friend of mine here wrote an SSD 'Tweaking' article that I don't agree with and on a HDD just leave it as default ie 16GB. Otherwise the risk of Critical & Errors goes unnecessarily up. It's like setting System Restore and all that other 'stuff' OFF; IMO bad ideas. Instead System Restore -> Reduce its' size. To conserve space move you email {e.g. PST}, Documents, etc off the SSD. I have a 120 and 240GB SSD and everything is Default except Page File = 2GB.

edit: the BIOS is AHCI In my case RAID which is still AHCI...

As far as what I posted above regarding RAM, the difference would be the 'CPU however says you can run only 85 MPH' and it might be 75~85 MPH. The SB's IMC is damn good. Also, it all depends on your AMD. Even the 6-core have a 'touchy' IMC.

Interesting, I've always heard the opposite about the ssd settings.

 

[alohascott]

can I have a link to the ssd tweaking article.


what do you mean opposite on the ssd settings?

I made a compromise and set my page file at 1gb instead of disabled. But seriously I have not noticed any difference with it disabled.

 

[jaquith]

Interesting, I've always heard the opposite about the ssd settings.

Define 'opposite'?

 

[jaquith]

can I have a link to the ssd tweaking article.
I made a compromise and set my page file at 1gb instead of disabled. But seriously I have not noticed any difference with it disabled.

Doug's -> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ssd-performance-tweak,2911.html note my comments.

edit: regarding the Page File - it has nothing to do with it being on or off for performance and sadly isn't really the issue, as I said ... "Otherwise the risk of Critical & Errors goes unnecessarily up." This has ALL to do with poorly written Apps the unfortunately 'do' rely on it being there. This a 'protection' against bad code.

 

[chillin15]

I mean the suggestions in most tutorials on the net. ie page file 0, system restore off, etc.

 

[jaquith]

Above I stated Page File on/off - in short bad code. System Restore - as I stated reduce it's size; re-installing Windows because of an 'oops' is a REAL PITA vs a few GB's. The etc needs to be explained.

Before Doug 'wrote' his SSD Article I told him all the pros & cons, faster or slower etc.

The comments in Doug's articles are as important as the Article itself.

 

[alohascott]

Best answer selected by alohascott.

 

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[nikorr]

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