[Solved] Core i3 530 memory controller is rated at 1,333MHz

[sanchaz]

Hi,

What exactly does this mean?
I ve read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory_controller about memory controller
abnd here http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=3724&p=6 that the Core i3 has a memory controller rated at 1,333MHz.

So does this mean that if i install it
on this board
http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=9i872VNaAILRp8bS
with there memory sticks
http://www.gskill.com/products.php?index=221
i will not get their full speed of 1600mhz and would instead be stuck with underclocked memory sticks running at 1,333Mhz?

 

[ekoostik]

Correct. You will only be able to run at 1600 MHz if you overclock your CPU.

There is very little difference between 1333 RAM and 1600 RAM. Tom's has an article on the P55 that does a comparison at different speeds and timings: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/core-i7-870-1156,2482.html

Do you plan on overclocking your CPU? Do you like to mess with the various RAM timing settings? If the answer to both of those questions is No, then I would recommend 1333 speed RAM with the lowest CAS rating you can afford. Also the lower the rated V, the better. It must be 1.65V or less, and 1.5V or less indicates higher quality RAM.

The reason I asked if you like to tweak the timings of your RAM is that in theory if you buy RAM rated at 1600 but only run it at 1333 you should be able to tighten the timings. But it certainly would be easier to just get 1333 RAM spec'd with a lower CAS latency.

It's worth pointing out that 1600 RAM is nothing but 1333 RAM that the manufacturer has guaranteed to run at 1600. There's nothing to say that you can't try to run 1333 RAM OC'ed to 1600 - if you do decide to OC your CPU.

Tom's did a review of value RAM and put this to the test: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ddr3-4gb-p55,2462.html

All that being said, if you are comparing two sets of RAM that are identical other than the fact that one is 1333 and the other is 1600 - and the 1600 happens to be cheaper by all means pick that up. Just be prepared to run at 1333 MHz.

 

[sanchaz]

Ok thank you.
Yes i am thinking in overclocking, but certain i will be overclocking it.

Gskill DDR3 PC10666 Ripjaws 4GB
9-9-9-24-2N
http://pcdiga.com/pcdiga/Produto.asp?Familia=Hardware&Artigo=6632

Gskill DDR3 PC12800 Ripjaws 4GB
8-8-8-24-2N
http://pcdiga.com/pcdiga/Produto.asp?Familia=Hardware&Artigo=6447

Gskill DDR3 PC12800 Ripjaws 4GB
7-8-7-24-2N
http://pcdiga.com/pcdiga/Produto.asp?Familia=Hardware&Artigo=6522

Gskill DDR3 PC-12800 ECO 4GB
7-8-7-24-2N
http://pcdiga.com/pcdiga/Produto.asp?Familia=Hardware&Artigo=6799

I guess i should go for one of those last two even if i end up running them at 1333mhz i still get better timmings.
Just one doubt which one of those two would be better? Gskill DDR3 PC12800 Ripjaws 4GB or Gskill DDR3 PC-12800 ECO 4GB?
with the Gskill DDR3 PC-12800 ECO 4GB in theory they should also oc better due to the lower voltage?

 

[ekoostik]

with the Gskill DDR3 PC-12800 ECO 4GB in theory they should also oc better due to the lower voltage?

Correct, the eco should be better as they require much less power - and so should produce less heat - to run at the same specs. The other sticks push you to the max supported V (1.65) to get the rated timings & speed.

 

[sanchaz]

thank you.