not sure how to pick out the correct memory

[acerts4]

hey everyone, i am a bit confused on how to pick out the correct memory for my motherboard. i will be running an fx 8320 with either an asus m5a97 r2 or gigabye 970 ud3p, havent decided yet. since this is my first build i have done a lot of reading and from what i understand i just have to choose memory that is supported by the motherboard? both motherboards are 240 pin ddr3. where i get confused is mhz. on newegg they have a bunch of different numbers listed under memory standard, which do i choose? i wanted to just get 8gb kit of memory 1600 mhz. is that good and all there is to see if the motherboard supports it? or is there more to it?

thanks all

 

[swifty_morgan]

if you want 8gigs get 2x4gig sticks. speed, 1600 is plenty. voltage.... if what you look at is 1.65volts, then that's okay. you could go less but on amd builds that's what i usually buy.

 

[Supahos]

Pretty easy then... if you want some good kits then here you go...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231546 Cheap entry level enthusiast memory

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231538 Slightly more expensive, higher end memory will run 1600 CL7 or can leave them at 1866 CL8. Your comp/processor should be able to handle this.

 

[Supahos]

if you want 8gigs get 2x4gig sticks. speed, 1600 is plenty. voltage.... if what you look at is 1.65volts, then that's okay. you could go less but on amd builds that's what i usually buy.

There is nothing inherently wrong with 1.65v memory, but there is no reason to run that voltage for any kit under 2133 mhz. The only reason they might need that much voltage is they are lesser quality chips and need the voltage to remain stable. You can always find memory that is 1.5v for the same price/speed/latency up to 1866 mhz.

 

[swifty_morgan]

you do realize since i can remember 1.65v memory was a staple for amd? nothing wrong with. i also stated it's not necessary but I guess you missed that? and if I plan on over clocking I usually always buy ram that can handle the extra voltage...............

and if you want to talk about voltages.......... I try to find the least voltage my cpu will run "stock" or "normal" at regardless of tasks being performed before I even try an over clock.......... I do the same for my ram. .......... even if I never plan on over clocking......... how many people do that? or even think of it? bet 99-44/100% of people just jump and and start cranking instead of going in the opposite direction first............. you should try that.

 

[Supahos]

No my point is all ram can handle 1.65v (well decent ram with a heatspreader) The fact it need 1.65v to run at 1600 CL9 tells me that its not going to go much above that, typically the best OCing sticks you can find are the 1.35v eco sticks. The rated voltage isn't how much they can take before they melt, its how much is required to run at their rated specs. The less voltage it takes to get a stick stable at a given cl and speed, the less voltage it is likely to require in order to run the same stick at a higher speed/lower timing. So typically a 1600 MHz 1.5v stick will OC better than a 1.65v stick with same timings.


I didn't say less than 1.65v was good b/c it was better on the computer or that 1.65v would damage anything I think it makes them better sticks to not NEED 1.65v to attain their advertised settings.

 

[Tradesman1]

No my point is all ram can handle 1.65v (well decent ram with a heatspreader) The fact it need 1.65v to run at 1600 CL9 tells me that its not going to go much above that, typically the best OCing sticks you can find are the 1.35v eco sticks. The rated voltage isn't how much they can take before they melt, its how much is required to run at their rated specs. The less voltage it takes to get a stick stable at a given cl and speed, the less voltage it is likely to require in order to run the same stick at a higher speed/lower timing. So typically a 1600 MHz 1.5v stick will OC better than a 1.65v stick with same timings.


I didn't say less than 1.65v was good b/c it was better on the computer or that 1.65v would damage anything I think it makes them better sticks to not NEED 1.65v to attain their advertised settings.

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+1

The 1.65 was common with the early sticks, though JEDEC (the standards authority) calls for 1.5 (and has an addendum for LV or Low Voltage DRAM), what I find funny is that some of these entry level 1600/9 sticks at 1.65 are advertised as 'high performance',,,and for 1600 go against Intel's recommendations (as well as JEDECs for 1600) of 1.5 - 1.55 max voltage...