What DDR2 RAM to match up with Intel Core 2 Duo?

[Xpyrofuryx]

Okay, I am hearing many of different things. I am hearing its better to match up DDR2-667 with it, I am also hearing it is better to match up DDR2-800, I am hearing 667 is good unless you want to overclock, and I am hearing that 667 isnt a sgood as 800, but with the C2D 667 will do just as good. Which one is right?

 

[dasickninja]

First off, do you plan to overclock?

 

[chuckshissle]

533 for 1:1 ratio for stock or get the best modules you can afford for overclocking. 2Gb needed for gaming.

 

[Grimmy]

Agreed, if your planning to OC, faster ram is best to get.

Also from what I understand, depending on the type of CPU you get, like for example an E4xxx (800 FSB) or E6xxx (1064 FSB):

DDR2/667 would be better for E4xxx to get an easy 1:1 ratio

DDR2/800 would be better for E6xxx to get an easy 1:1 ratio

DDR2/533 is good for no over clocking but will work with any C2D CPU.

Math is easy to determine quad pumped frequency (x4) FSB:

DDR2 533 - (266 x 4 = 1064mhz)
DDR2 667 - (333 x 4 = 1333mhz)
DDR2 800 - (400 x 4 = 1600mhz)

E6300 is 266 x 7 = 1.8 Ghz
E6400 is 266 x 8 = 2.13 Ghz
E4300 is 200 x 9 = 1.8 Ghz
E4400 is 200 x 10 = 2.0 Ghz

With DDR2 533 you can OC some with the E4xxx since it needs 200, but pushing it to 266 for 1:1 ratio, which would be:

E4300 @ 266 x 9 = 2.394 Ghz
E4400 @ 266 x 10 = 2.66 Ghz

With the E6xxx CPU you wouldn't be able to reach 3 Ghz with just DDR2 533 memory.

Hope that gives you a better understanding.

 

[djgandy]

I'd say DDR2-800 simply because the stuff is so cheap at the moment.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010170147+1052108080+1052307858&name=1GB

Cheapest generic modules are $34.

2GB G.Skill...$89
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231098

I know which I'd pick.

 

[Wisecracker]

We will let you decide . . .

Okay, I am hearing many of different things. I am hearing its better to match up DDR2-667 with it, I am also hearing it is better to match up DDR2-800, I am hearing 667 is good unless you want to overclock, and I am hearing that 667 isnt a sgood as 800, but with the C2D 667 will do just as good. Which one is right?

What she said . . .

Id suggest you read some of the thousands of articles on this site about this very subject. :idea:

See Grimmy's math on the FSB. Some folks believe (and some mobo FSB spreeds require!) *syncronicity* BUT some folks believe that to compensate for DDR2 slower timings you need to go at least one speed grade higher . . . .

 

[Xpyrofuryx]

Alright, thank you all very much for your help! I think i am going to go with DDR2-667 because I plan to OC, but not drastically, and I am getting a E4300

 

[dragonsprayer]

you really shoud get the e6600 or the e6420 you only save $80-$100 - its a big mistake to skip out on the most impotant part - the e4000 chips reall suck for the price difference. its not that the 4000's suck so much as the e6600 is just so sweeeet! spend the extra you see!

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super tallent 4-4-3-8 or skill 4-4-3-5 ddr 800
e6600 at 1.42 true voltage from bios on the desk top under full load

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820231114

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820609026

cpu speed 1500fsb (e6600 3.37ghz) match the ram to 750fsb

currently getting 7100-7300mhz sandra bandwith 2.1-2.15v


why waste your money these ram's run $120-$150 and perform almost or as well as the $400 over priced junk!


the "need4speed" warpedsystems!

 

[Grimmy]

you really shoud get the e6600 or the e6420 you only save $80-$100 - its a big mistake to skip out on the most impotant part - the e4000 chips reall suck for the price difference. its not that the 4000's suck so much as the e6600 is just so sweeeet! spend the extra you see!

Errr.... and why does the E4xxx suck? That CPU can fly on stock speeds compared to my old P4 3.0 HT system, and I have it OC to 2.4 (E6600 speed).

Hell.. The E4300 even runs CellFactor better then my system, with a 7300GT. :lol:

But then my system suffers because it only has 1gig of ram, and that game is causing more memory swapping going on the HD. Not to mention the lack of physx card.

Also, not that SuperPI is that important, from stock speed it did 1MB in 30 secs. When it was OC, it drop the time to 23 secs. And I know it can go faster then 2.4, but for my dads uses... it just doesn't need to be pushed any harder. And as far as the temps are concerned, it runs about the same temp idle, just a tad higher on load temps.

The only thing it lacks is perhaps the additional 2mb of L2 cach, and VT. So what soooo sucky about it?