800 v 1000 v 1066????

So, I'm trying to build a new computer, and one of the final things that I've got to decide on is what kind of RAM to get. The setup (as it stands now) is:

AMD Phenom 9950 - CPU
Asus M3A78-T AM2+/AM2 AMD 790GX
Sapphire Radeon HD 3450 512MB
2 x Seagate Barracuda 250GB HD (I may get more Internal, or a LaCie External)

Okay, so. I originally had 2x2GB Corsair XMS DDR2 800, but then I heard that 1066 would make it faster, and now, I also hear that 1000 is a good way to go too... !!??! Which one should I get? Is there really that much difference between them? Is the 1000 even compatible with my mobo (I just found out about it today... but I'm a noob so I'm not really in the know)

Here they are down here from newegg:

OCZ 1066: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820227289

G. Skill 1000: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231145

G. Skill 800: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231122

Help me decide!

Also, I forgot to mention, that the entire set-up is going to be dropped into an Antec Nine Hundred case, with and Antec Earthwatts 650W PSU... As the Antec has a bunch of fans already, will I need to get a CPU cooler? I'm still really new at this stuff, and I don't really foresee myself attempting any over-clocking right now, so is it even necessary?

System Uses: Light gaming, Music recording/editing/rendering, Work (word processing, research blah boring blah), and Media Entertainment...

Thanks for your input!

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The only reason you would possibly buy anything faster than DDR2 800 is for overclocking.

Reply to faster3200

Not true. Your motherboard and the Phenom processor you're considering both support 1066. Your processor is unlocked. You don't need higher speed RAM to overclock. You just adjust the multiplier. Go with the fastest memory. Buy the 1066.

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Reply to iggybeans

iggybeans wrote :

Not true. Your motherboard and the Phenom processor you're considering both support 1066. Your processor is unlocked. You don't need higher speed RAM to overclock. You just adjust the multiplier. Go with the fastest memory. Buy the 1066.

Adjusting the multiplier is overclocking. If you mean divider than that is also OCing, even if it is to manufacturer specs. Although it is very safe easy OCing.

I would also question how much you will get out of the faster ram. I am not versed in Phenom but on the Intel side it makes zero difference in terms of actual performance in anything other than benchmarks. The reason most people buy the faster ram is because it allows them to increase their fsb without running into mem speed limits.

Reply to faster3200

That isn't 100% true either. Faster RAM on a Intel board helps with load times. When you OC your RAM from 800 to 1000 or 1066 you will notice quicker load times.

If anything, I would make more sense that AMD will not have as much of an issue because their bus speed is so much faster... I'm sorry, their hyper transport (it runs much faster than the RAM).

Intel is found to me more FSB limited currently than AMD.

Message quoted 1 times

------------------------------ And on the third day, God created the Remington bolt-action rifle, so that Man could fight the dinosaurs. And the homosexuals.
Reply to spaztic7

I never understood the insane obsession with ram speed. It literally contributes maybe 1% increase in your system speed. THe price difference however could be used to get a better video card or CPU that could increase your computer's speed by 20-40%.

I'm in the same situation as the original poster. I'm building a Q6600 machine and couldn't decide between the 1066 Corsair Dominator 2 x 2 GB for $105 after rebate or the 1000 OCZ 2 x 2GB for $48 after rebate. After reading Tom's article on DDR2 1066 memory, it seems like the differences are almost negligible. I'm going to keep the OCZ and return the Corsair.

The problem is when you buy memory rated at a certain speed but you can't get that mem speed on your PC no matter how you tweak the voltage. That really pisses me off. False advertising.

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to JWL3

spaztic7 wrote :

That isn't 100% true either. Faster RAM on a Intel board helps with load times. When you OC your RAM from 800 to 1000 or 1066 you will notice quicker load times.

I think jwl3 answered that well. What I should have said to be more clear is it makes zero noticeable difference. Also, newer Intel procs has been found to not be FSB bound so that isn't an issue.

JWL3 wrote :

The problem is when you buy memory rated at a certain speed but you can't get that mem speed on your PC no matter how you tweak the voltage. That really pisses me off. False advertising.

If it doesn't run at what it says it will than you should take it back. All ram is guaranteed to run at the speed they say with the voltage and timings they specify.

Reply to faster3200

So far, most of this discussion relates to Intel processors. Phenoms have native support for 1066 MHz memory. Given reasonably good memory timings (Cas values, etc) 1066 memory is going to be faster than 800. The only advantage to 800 MHz memory is lower pricing.

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Reply to iggybeans

So barring the 800, between the 1000 and the 1066, should I just settle for pricing then? or should I just shell out the extra cash for the 1066?

Reply to jukedyoass

If you can afford it just get the 1066 RAM. Since the Phenoms have their memory controller clocked independently it shouldn't limit your ability to raise the multiplier. Previous AMD chips got their RAM speed by using a divider on the CPU speed.

iggybeans wrote :

So far, most of this discussion relates to Intel processors. Phenoms have native support for 1066 MHz memory. Given reasonably good memory timings (Cas values, etc) 1066 memory is going to be faster than 800. The only advantage to 800 MHz memory is lower pricing.

Another advantage of the 800Mhz memory is, that most am2+ boards can handle 4 dimms while with 1066, there can only be used 2.

Reply to Slobogob

I have had great luck with GSkill ram, With an unlocked AMD CPU I might go with this.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231209
Relax the timings a bit bump up the voltage and see if it will do 1066.
Like These.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231184

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Reply to bobbknight

I notice a difference between 800 and 1000, but that may just be me.

For the price.... thats up to you. They are both really cheap. I would alway say go with the higher RAM for your budget.

------------------------------ And on the third day, God created the Remington bolt-action rifle, so that Man could fight the dinosaurs. And the homosexuals.
Reply to spaztic7

bobbknight wrote :

I have had great luck with GSkill ram, With an unlocked AMD CPU I might go with this.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231209
Relax the timings a bit bump up the voltage and see if it will do 1066.
Like These.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231184

I completely agree with you, I've been using GSkill for a couple of years OCed in my system and its great ram.

I purchased http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231192
which is the 800, I have it OCed to 1066 running 5-5-5-15 at the stock voltage (2.1), I absolutely love this memory!

Reply to wonderingwhatis

Hi there folks.

Quick question:

If I have 1066 RAM but my MoBo only supports up to 800 RAM can I still use it?

Thanks,

...J...

Reply to Burtolio

yeah.... the mobo should run it at 800. Worst case, it doesnt work.

------------------------------ And on the third day, God created the Remington bolt-action rifle, so that Man could fight the dinosaurs. And the homosexuals.
Reply to spaztic7

Alrighty folks, so thank you all for your input before... I have since bought and pieced together the system and got it up and running...

The specs:

AMD Phenom 9950 Quadcore Black Edition
Asus M3A78-T with 790GX on-board graphics
Radeon ATI HD3450
2x 2GB G.Skill DDR2 1000 RAM
250GB Seagate Barracuda SATA
640GB Seagate Barracuda SATA
Samsung DVD-writer with LightScribe
22" Asus Monitor

I don't know how to set my RAM to run at 1000, it's currently at 800... How do I set this in the BIOS? Last time I tried to tweak by myself, I ended up having to reset the CMOS... :pfff: still a noob...

Also, I have a second problem... I just got my computer to recognize the second SATA HDD which is 640GB (the OS XP Pro SP2 64-bit is installed on the 250GB) but when I went to disk management, labelled it, and then let it do a complete format, it's only showing that it's 575GB... where's the other 65 GB?

Thanks again for all your help... I'm starting to get the hang of this stuff!

Reply to jukedyoass

Forum Motherboard & Memory : Memory - 800 v 1000 v 1066????

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