My new game machine...

[ctal]

Originally Posted by TQ

Here's what the boys at OCZ recommended... I think I may have my RAM. Stunningly inexpensive for 4GB.

Now, it's down to the motherboard. The reviews for the ASUS Rampage X48 on NewEgg are glowing but I need manufacturer's information, like do we have any PCI slots for my X-Fi and any standard IDE connectors for my old-but-still-good optical drives?
It's down to the ASUS Rampage X48 and the Gigabyte X48.

Looks like a somewhat reasonable choice, but note that several people at NewEgg reported two of them can't be fit into adjacent slots (if that is necessary, depending on the mobo and on whether you may eventually want to go to 8gB); the timings are not particularly great; and you can't raise the voltage significantly (nominal = 2.1; evp (sort of like vmax) = 2.15).

-- Al

[CrowdAds]

[TQ]

Originally Posted by k0NG0

Intel's datasheets are fairly easy to parse, so one should always consult the applicable one if a motherboard manual is iffy (and from what I've seen, if you're completely coherent and fluent in English you're overqualified for writing the manuals).

Just try reading some of the stuff out of Taiwan. Yikes. The one thing I know I will miss by going with an ASUS or Gigabyte 'board is Intel's website.

I'm still scratching my head over why I can't find a product page on the Rampage X48's at asus-usa.com.

[TQ]

Originally Posted by ctal

Looks like a somewhat reasonable choice, but note that several people at NewEgg reported two of them can't be fit into adjacent slots (if that is necessary, depending on the mobo and on whether you may eventually want to go to 8gB); the timings are not particularly great; and you can't raise the voltage significantly (nominal = 2.1; evp (sort of like vmax) = 2.15).

I'll go back and read that. Going to 8GB was something I was thinking of doing anyway, based on the incredibly cheap price.
If the Reaper stuff isn't the best OCZ's got I wonder why they suggested it?

There's also this item of concern at the bottom of the page...

[TQ]

You're right, Al. Looks like the size of the Reaper stuff would be problematic. I've requested a second option from OCZ via their forum and also asked why the 1000 and not 1066?

[ctal]

Originally Posted by traveler

If you read the review dated 4-18-08, in the "Con" section, the reviewer mentions the motherboard will only function in single channel mode if you insert higher speed RAM modules. He also says that this is stated in the motherboard manual. Click on the link. You will see it immediately.

What link, what motherboard, and what review? I think you must be referring to a user comment at NewEgg, based on your reference to "con," but if so I still don't know what mobo or what link you are referring to.

Regards,
-- Al

[TQ]

What about this little item from OCZ?

[TQ]

Or this one?

[ctal]

They look like reasonable choices. For easy comparison (including prices) here's a link to all of the OCZ DDR2-1066's at NewEgg:

Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, Digital Cameras and more!

-- Al

[TQ]

Yes, I've been abusing that link lately.
I've just been reading anandtech's review of the Rampage X48 and trying to wrap my mind around the attached chart.

[TQ]

I guess the question I can't answer for myself is: will DDR2-1066 good choice for the initial setup/post and once that is accomplished where do I go from there?
It's this divider/strap stuff that I'm not getting. I understand the 1:1 ratio but how does memory speed (800/1000/1066) play into it?

[TQ]

This is a pretty good primer page on dividers and straps. I might even begin to understand it. Of course I'm an optimist.

[ctal]

Originally Posted by TQ

I guess the question I can't answer for myself is: will DDR2-1066 good choice for the initial setup/post and once that is accomplished where do I go from there?
It's this divider/strap stuff that I'm not getting. I understand the 1:1 ratio but how does memory speed (800/1000/1066) play into it?

Study the formula I provided in post 36 of this thread. When you overclock, you do that by raising the fsb frequency, which would also raise the memory speed if you left the ratio alone (for instance, a 25% overclock would raise it from DDR2-1066 to an actual rate of DDR2-1333 (= 1066 x 1.25). Which the memory wouldn't be able to handle. So you lower the ratio to keep the memory running at or near its rated speed of 1066.

-- Al

[TQ]

Understood.
How concerned should I be that if I install 1066 memory with an E8400 that the motherboard - upon initial post/boot - will let out all the magic smoke?

[ctal]

Originally Posted by TQ

Understood.
How concerned should I be that if I install 1066 memory with an E8400 that the motherboard - upon initial post/boot - will let out all the magic smoke?

It will set everything to stock speeds & conservative defaults for timings, voltages, etc. I don't see any concern at all.

-- Al

[TQ]

Originally Posted by ctal

Also, I should clarify that my comments above about memory:fsb ratios refer to the fsb speed based on non-quad pumped terminology, e.g., a "1333 MHz fsb" has frequencies of 333 MHz for each clock of the two-phase clock arrangement.

The memory speed expressed in DDR2 or DDR3 terms (e.g., DDR2-1066), for a "1333 MHz" cpu and mobo is:

(1333/4) * 2 * (overclock factor) * (memory-to-fsb ratio).

Sorry. Flunked advanced overclocking in the 9th grade. I'm not even sure what you mean by the asterisks.

My main concern is what happens when you install a 1333Mhz CPU with DDR2-1066 and you push the power button for the first time.
What does the system default to? If I can get past post to the BIOS that would be wonderful. I can then see how everything's running and at what speeds. If that's all good then I can begin to install the OS.