Memory Doesn't Matter!

[ctal]

I realize that Tom's Hardware Guide is not exactly the most elite provider of guidance about computer-related matters, but they've done an interesting set of tests concerning memory:

Tom's Ultimate RAM Speed Tests | Tom's Hardware

The bottom line would seem to be, as many of us have generally believed, that speed and timings of DDR2 and DDR3 memory have very little impact on overall system performance, and memory speed and latency are not worth spending a lot of money on. The most important selection criterion would simply seem to be that the memory parameters are consistent with optimization of fsb and cpu overclocking.

Regards,
-- Al

[k0NG0]

Great link, thanks!

Confirms what I've suspected for a long time. Even the pure memory benchmarks don't show that much of a difference; a span of ca. 10% in terms of performance increases for products that cost probably 50-200% more than the cheapest kind is quite pathetic.

4GB of DDR2-800 (2x2GB) can be had for under $150 even in Sweden, which is just nuts.

[Brian]

I went straight to the Conclusion page!

Great article!

[SpeedDMN]

Only problem is that new platforms are going to require DDR3 even if it isn't much of a performance boost. So if you are going to want that new Nehalem chip etc. You are probably going to have to upgrade whether you want to or not.

[fvbounty]

The best way to save on memory is not to use Vista!!!!!!LOL

[jaketerminate]

Originally Posted by fvbounty

The best way to save on memory is not to use Vista!!!!!!LOL

Vista does save you money in this way. Instead of upgrading your RAM you can use a cheap flash drive and Vistas ReadyBoost feature to help increase system performance. Other than that Im lost.

[fvbounty]

Originally Posted by jaketerminate

Vista does save you money in this way. Instead of upgrading your RAM you can use a cheap flash drive and Vistas ReadyBoost feature to help increase system performance. Other than that Im lost.

I tried ready boost on my friends Vista machine with 4gigs and didn't notice any difference but I guess with less ram there might be a difference!

[TQ]

Originally Posted by Brian

I went straight to the Conclusion page!

Heh...

[TQ]

Originally Posted by fvbounty

The best way to save on memory is not to use Vista!

That's pretty funny...

[TQ]

Well...maybe there's little to no performance delta...then again it may not necessarily about sheer performance.
Right now I'm reading as much as I can on DDR3 in preparation for my X48 system build which is planned to happen in about a month.

I'd love to use DDR2, but technically it's a dead end. And it's doubtful I can get reliable performance (or any performance for that matter) trying to run DDR2 at 1333MHz in one of those ASUS Rampage X38 boards while using an E8400.
Even then the Rampage formula strikes me as a kludge because Intel's spec for the X38/X48's is based on DDR3.

Yes, it pains me to spend as much as I'll have to for DDR3 and even then 2X2GB DDR3 dual kits are rarer than oxygen at high corporate levels.
But, for that premium - and buying at least PC312800 - I'll get a board/memory combo with an upgrade path.
Since I plan to use XP until Windows7 is released, losing nearly a 1.2 GB of usable RAM (XP 32-bit "sees" only 3.2GB) when I drop in a 2x1GB kit of whatever doesn't strike me as a critical loss.
I can always add more when the price comes down.

[ctal]

TQ -- Aside from your (valid) points about future-proofing and upgrade paths, I don't quite follow your post. The Asus X48 Rampage Formula, Newegg.com - ASUS RAMPAGE FORMULA LGA 775 Intel X48 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards is designed for DDR2, and looks like it will run fine with DD2-800 or DDR2-1066. The bios would set up an appropriate FSB-to-memory ratio, which you could manually lower if you wanted to overclock. The lower memory latencies would compensate for their slower clock speed, relative to say DDR3-1333 or 1600.

Regards,

-- Al

[TQ]

True, but Intel didn't design it for DDR2. The X38/X48's were/are supposed the usher in DDR3 support. In other words, DDR2 support in the X38/X48 chipset isn't native. I really don't feel good about that and the reviews I've scanned regarding this state that you'll get better performance when combining an X38/X48 with DDR3.

[TQ]

From a marketing standpoint it makes sense (I guess) to release and X38 with DDR2 support but the board really has no place to go. If one must upgrade now - to me - it makes more sense to go with DDR3 PC312800 (I'm still getting used to the nomenclature) and spend more than to buy a new board that's essentially already EOL, in a weird kind of way.
With a native DDR3 solution you have the current, brand new 1333MHz CPU's and a path to the 1600MHz processors when they're released.

[ctal]

Yes, I see your points now, and you make some good ones.

Obviously the best approach will depend on how frequently each individual plans to upgrade or replace equipment. I tend to be a less frequent upgrader/replacer than average, in part because I'm not a gamer.

BTW, you'll recall my recent thread describing my new build, based on a Gigabyte GA-EX38-DQ6 mobo, in which I'll be putting an E8500 when they become available. I'm temporarily using an E6300, and the build went well; I'm now in the midst of installing s/w. But the reason I mention it is that Sharky Extreme recently had a review of the E8500, using the predecessor of that mobo (the GA-X38-DQ6), and they "easily" got the cpu above 4.4 gHz (even, I think they said, using the stock Intel cooler). Amazing, and even more so when you consider how much better the Penryn's are clock-for-clock compared to P4's, etc. Here's a link to the review:

Sharky Extreme

Regards,
-- Al

[k0NG0]

Originally Posted by TQ

But, for that premium - and buying at least PC312800 - I'll get a board/memory combo with an upgrade path.

That depends. Let me remind you that for Nehalem, Intel is bringing out new sockets across the board. You'll be able to use the DDR3 for that, of course, but the upgrade path for the rest may not be as great as one could wish.

There may be some version of Nehalem that is packaged for 775, I don't know, but it probably won't be anything besides what will then be "budget" processors. If I know you, sir, you'll want the integrated memory controller. Meaning new CPU+board.

DDR3-1600 should be good enough for Nehalem, at least. I think that's the intended memory speed for them, though the "yippee ki-ay"-version will be triple-channel. (Meaning matching could be tricky, but probably not.)