Turning point? when to sacrifice memory timings for fsb/clockspeed or vice versa?

[klepp1214]

Just curious, as in the near future I hope to/plan to go back to vista 64 bit, which means filling 4 dimms back up with ram to compensate for the beast of a memory whore it is.

On my setup having 4 dimms full really puts an hamper on my Overclock. Im gonna try to up the memory voltage to 2.3-2.4 and loosin up the timings a bit to get the fsb up to where it was/is with 2 dimms full.

At what point is the tradeoff worth it? always go for fsb over timings or? General performance standpoint such as game framerates or 3dmark etc, which will fair better?

thoughts?

[davexl]

It depends... each game or application will have different bottlenecks. The things that matter to me, like 3D rendering, favour CPU speed over memory bandwidth, and I prefer not to be on the bleeding edge of memory overclocking as I value stability as well as speed.

A lot of folks get a bit too excited about memory timings IMHO, and spend a lot of time and money that really does not boost performance significantly. But each to his own.

The only way to know for sure is to benchmark and try yourself the things that actually matter to you.

[nn_step]

1) depends on the processor
2) depends on if your concern is latency or Bandwidth

if you run prescott or similar uber bandwidth hungry Processors, screw timings and just crank for Bandwidth.
If you are running AMD for example, you need to analyze alot more. Using the basic fact that DDR-400 @ 2-2-2-5, has approximately equal latency to DDR2-800 @ 4-4-4-12. From that you can calculate the ratio for you that would provide the best latency

[klepp1214]

well for example.

I'm running an e6300 w/ 4 1gb sticks of 6400. the default on the sticks is 5 5 5 15 i believe. Ive had them run as low as 4 4 4 12 but obviously with a drastic drop on the fsb. Ive also set the timing to auto.. and after an fsb OC the computer sets it to 5 7 7 19. I have no clue in hell what each of those numbers mean, nor which ones to keep low over others for more gains but Im certain loosening them too much can hinder performance no matter how far your OC is right?

I'm honestly hoping to hit 500fsb rock stable once my water setup gets here, but not sure how far i should loosen the timings to achieve that goal.

[nn_step]

you need very specific numbers to actually do the math, generalities are not the best method for making the choices

[ziddey]

i guess either 400fsb or 466fsb

[nn_step]

Originally Posted by ziddey

i guess either 400fsb or 466fsb

congrats that means exactly nothing.
It is kinda like saying you plug in a RJ-45 by 16
you need to put it into context

[ziddey]

Assuming OP's 400fsb runs off 1066strap, once at 466fsb, in new strap, performance should be similar / the same. 400 with tight timings vs 466 with looser timings but better bandwidth.. plus the possible cpu clock since we're dealing with e6300 iirc so 466*7=3266. performance there too.

[klepp1214]

so keep timings tight unless I can surpass 466 fsb? (which i can) then its ok to loosen em a bit?

I'm hoping to hit 500fsb stable but I'm not sure how far to loosen my memory timings to obtain it.

5 7 7 19 is what the bios sets it to when i OC if i leave it on auto. Post 466 fsb is that too loose or not so bad?

[ziddey]

honestly, first 2 settings are what affect your clocks the most, with not as much gain with 6 or 7 vs going from 4 to 5. so try 55 for top two to boot. last two settings have even less of an impact. so try 5 on that too. and last one, try for now to keep it the sum of first three, so 15. some say first two + 2, so it'd be 12, but i think that formula eventually pushes things with weaker ram.

what ic's are your chips? try 2.1v if you have decent cooling, although some chips you shouldn't exceed 2.0v.

maybe 5-5-5-15 would work or 5-6-6-18

[klepp1214]

its the gskill bnq stuff. pc 6400. Been running @ 5 5 5 15 OC'd @ 2.1-2.2v It kinda buckles anything lower.

[Magnj]

In my experience FSB/Ram speed > tight timings.

If you can get another 10+ Mhz out of your ram by going a little loser...your gonna want to do that.

[adamsleath]

i reckon max cpu clock and looser timings...i also "auto" the 2nd two timings for ram...doest seem to affect the bandwidth...but i never do latency speed tests either.

i have recently found with my sig. settings that 1t at lower speed ram = more stability at higher cpu speed.
in medieval 2 total war my little 3d armies dont give a fig for ram timings...just cpu speed

i spose whatever seems to work best for what you are doing...

as i approach cpu limit, i have to lower and loosen ram settings to maintain stability...as to whether i should lower cpu slightly to gain more ram speed...i dont know.

higher ramspeed = higher bandwidth
tighter timings = lower latency?

i look at bandwidth scores; not latency times...isnt more bandwidth better then tight timings? i dont really know.