RAM Timings vs. Frequencies

[blu3flannel]

Quick question: Should I have my memory set to 1600MHz at CL 7 or to 2000MHz at CL 10 and why? May as well make it a poll too.

 

[sneekypeet]

2000 CAS9 maybe, but at CAS10 you are loosing the gains that would be there for making the 400mhz jump in speed.

 

[Peter1986C]

I agree with sneekypeet, as I think that 42.8% decrease in latency is not sufficiently compensated by the 25% increase in clock frequency. 2000 MHz CL 8 should be considerable (though I doubt you will notice the speed bump).

 

[blu3flannel]

Alright, I'll see if I can get the timings lower. Be right back.

 

[mlee49]

I agree with sneekypeet, as I think that 42.8% decrease in latency is not sufficiently compensated by the 25% increase in clock frequency. 2000 MHz CL 8 should be considerable (though I doubt you will notice the speed bump).

Can you justify this? Or are you simply comparing numbers?

 

[JrRacinFan]

What QPI speed at each setting? Same on both?

 

[blu3flannel]

I agree with sneekypeet, as I think that 42.8% decrease in latency is not sufficiently compensated by the 25% increase in clock frequency. 2000 MHz CL 8 should be considerable (though I doubt you will notice the speed bump).

You mean increase in latency? Having that much of a decrease would be awesome. Well, I can't get it stable at anything less than CL 10, so I'll just keep it at 1600MHz CL 7. Thanks for the help though everyone.

EDIT: Maybe I'm not doing it properly...

 

[blu3flannel]

What QPI speed at each setting? Same on both?

Yeah, they're both the same.

 

[cadaveca]

No offense, but couldn't you just run benches and tell us yourself? I mean, even running a different bios can changes stuff like this, so it's best to test for yourself and decide.

 

[JrRacinFan]

Yeah, they're both the same.

Wouldn't matter then. I'm assuming 4Ghz QPI clock.

 

[qamulek]

anandtech latency vs freq

TBH as far as gaming is concerned take the extra $$$ and buy a better video card(or 2nd video card) or buy a better cpu. OHOHOO I like the reviewers conclusion: rather then buy an expensive memory kit it would be better to buy some cheap low speed ram at tight timings, then double up on the amount of ram. Double the ram for the OS combined with prefetch sounds a bit nicer then 5%(at best?) improvement in games. If it was 4Gb vs 8Gb I probably would go for a second set of ram, but if its 6Gb vs 12Gb I probably would rather go for 6Gb+upgrade to video card.

EDIT: I'm guessing you have a set of ram that can do either 1600Mhz@CL7 or 2000Mhz@CL10? I vote with with Cadaveca: Do a bench @1600 and @2000 using a video game benchmark as the benchmark and post results.

 

[LAN_deRf_HA]

I think the trick is to always find the best ratio of timings and speed. I don't think 200mhz cas 10 is a good ratio, and will probably "feel" sluggish on the desktop, as amd users who also run i7 can describe to you. If they didn't lock the uncore on 1156 then the sky would be the limit.

 

[HossHuge]

No offense, but couldn't you just run benches and tell us yourself? I mean, even running a different bios can changes stuff like this, so it's best to test for yourself and decide.

I agree. I just ran some ran some vantage benchies to see what effect the changing of speed and timings would have on my system.


Stock settings 1600mhz 9-9-9-24

1333mhz 8-12-12-24 (it defaulted to these timings)

1333mhz 8-8-8-24

1333mhz 7-7-7-22

Very little difference.

 

[Peter1986C]

You mean increase in latency? Having that much of a decrease would be awesome. Well, I can't get it stable at anything less than CL 10, so I'll just keep it at 1600MHz CL 7. Thanks for the help though everyone.

LOL yes you're right, that should be "increase". My bad, I accidentally wrote "decrease" because, say, it makes speed decrease. Hence the slip of the finger (finger, not tongue or pen, because I typed this instead of saying it or writing it down).

 

[Deleted member 67555]

I agree. I just ran some ran some vantage benchies to see what effect the changing of speed and timings would have on my system.


Stock settings 1600mhz 9-9-9-24
http://img.techpowerup.org/101111/vantage 700-1100.jpg

1333mhz 8-12-12-24 (it defaulted to these timings)
http://img.techpowerup.org/101111/vantage 700-1100 mem 667.jpg

1333mhz 8-8-8-24
http://img.techpowerup.org/101111/vantage 700-1100 mem 667 timings 8 - 8 - 8 -24.jpg

1333mhz 7-7-7-22
http://img.techpowerup.org/101112/vantage 700-1100 mem 667 timings 7 - 7 - 7 -22.jpg

Very little difference.

Could you run the high and low of latencies benchmarks at 1333 and 1600 with the CPU multi @ x16.5 and the NB/HT Link at 11.5 and post the results...just curious

 

[2DividedbyZero]

i wonder if my post will help you out some OK, need some tried and tested memory o/c figures

in short i found 1600MHz better than 2000MHz, have a read and decided for yourself (timings are dependant)

 

[RejZoR]

1600MHz CL7 is very good all around these days so don't bother wasting money on it. Invest in new graphic card. You'll see far bigger gains than with RAM. Only thing that really makes difference with RAM is capacity and nothing else. The more you have it, the better.

 

[Peter1986C]

Silly question maybe, but is it true that higher RAM clocks help a bit pushing your CPU further when OCing by increasing the base clock? Just asking.

 

[HossHuge]

Could you run the high and low of latencies benchmarks at 1333 and 1600 with the CPU multi @ x16.5 and the NB/HT Link at 11.5 and post the results...just curious

I couldn't get my ram to budge at 1600mhz.

CPU 3.3 Mem 667 7-7-7-22 NB2400

CPU 3.3 Mem 667 9-9-9-24 NB2400

CPU 3.3 Mem 800 9-9-9-24 NB2400

Is this what you asked for?