Timings vs clock speed - what's more important?

[elenius]

I'm trying to figure out what type of DDR3 2x2 gb ram to buy for my new system. The CPU is a Phenom II X2 550 BE, and the motherboard is this one:

GIGABYTE GA-MA770T-UD3P
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128392

It has a memory compatibility list here:
http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/FileList/MemorySupport/mb_memory_ga-ma770t-ud3p.pdf

Now, for about the same price, I can get:

G.SKILL DDR3 1600, cas latency 9, timings 9-9-9-24, 1.8V -- $65
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231193

or e.g.

G.SKILL DDR3 1333, cas latency 8, timings 8-8-8-21, 1.65V -- $65
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231189


Which one should I get? Is there a rule of thumb here to go for the higher clock? Or for the lowest latency? Other concerns?

 

[hundredislandsboy]

Higher clock usually wins over lower latency. Lots of stuff on Google about it. BTW, I get no cash from Google everytime I mention Google.

 

[elenius]

Higher clock usually wins over lower latency. Lots of stuff on Google about it. BTW, I get no cash from Google everytime I mention Google.

Hmm, one of the reviews on newegg on the 1600 memory says that you can't use 4 of them in 1600 mode, only 1333. So if I want to upgrade my memory later to 8gb, maybe I would be better of getting low-latency 1333 memory, since that is all I'll be able to use anyway?

Is this limitation particular to this memory? Only for certain motherboards?

 

[hundredislandsboy]

There's also lots of stuff on Google regards benchmaks between 1333 and 1600 RAM. The difference is negligible - meaning it's so small like you get less than .3 (point three) percent difference in framerates.