RAM: get max speed mobo can support or one that matches the clock speed

[s.sivarajah]

my mobo has fsb 1066,
cpu will also have fsb 1066,
mobo support ram upto 800mhz,

do i get 800mhz ram or should i use this advice and get 667mhz ram

the advice:
"As far as matching FSB to DDR2 speed my recommendations are to skip
DDR2 400 and opt for going with the following:

800MHz FSB = DDR2 533MHz ( Ideal ) or DDR2 400MHz ( Matched but Slow. )
1066MHz FSB = DDR2 667 ( Good ) or DDR2 533MHz ( Matched )

Generally you want to keep the system clock of your memory matching
with the root clock of your memory or one step above. So the system
clock on a 800MHz FSB P4 is 200 (quad pumped) so that matches DDR2 400
(essentially 200 unimproved) or is good with 1 step up DDR2 533MHz
(essentially 266 unimproved). Note however that if you only had a
800MHz FSB processor then DDR2 667 really probably isn't going to help
much. Once you pass the 1 step above mark on the memory you have
diminishing returns unless you can get to double (DDR2 800MHz)."

source: http://www.directron.com/fsbguide.html

so will it be the 800mhz or 667mhz for my one gig of ram

 

[Mike T.]

my mobo has fsb 1066,
cpu will also have fsb 1066,
mobo support ram upto 800mhz,

do i get 800mhz ram or should i use this advice and get 667mhz ram

the advice:
"As far as matching FSB to DDR2 speed my recommendations are to skip
DDR2 400 and opt for going with the following:

800MHz FSB = DDR2 533MHz ( Ideal ) or DDR2 400MHz ( Matched but Slow. )
1066MHz FSB = DDR2 667 ( Good ) or DDR2 533MHz ( Matched )

Generally you want to keep the system clock of your memory matching
with the root clock of your memory or one step above. So the system
clock on a 800MHz FSB P4 is 200 (quad pumped) so that matches DDR2 400
(essentially 200 unimproved) or is good with 1 step up DDR2 533MHz
(essentially 266 unimproved). Note however that if you only had a
800MHz FSB processor then DDR2 667 really probably isn't going to help
much. Once you pass the 1 step above mark on the memory you have
diminishing returns unless you can get to double (DDR2 800MHz)."

source: http://www.directron.com/fsbguide.html

so will it be the 800mhz or 667mhz for my one gig of ram

No no no no NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

There are still many people confused about CPU and RAM and "matching" the
two. For many years now, RAM has been running asynchronous with CPU
timings. Thus, there is no longer any advantage at all in trying to "match"
RAM with your CPU.

To simplify:
1) Choose your CPU (specific model, not just AMD or Intel)
2) Choose your mainboard to match your CPU, and give you all other features
you want in a mainboard (price, expansion slots, peripheral connectors,
etc.)
3) Buy the fastest AND most RAM that you can afford, up to the limits of
the mainboard you chose in step 2.

For example, 2Gigs of DDR2 667 RAM would be much better than:
1Gig of DDR2 667 RAM OR
2Gigs of DDR2 533 RAM

But CPU speed has NOTHING to do with this!!! You need the best RAM
performance that you can get. This means more RAM and faster RAM. Relating
RAM speed in any fashion to CPU speed does you no good at all anymore, as
the northbridge (part of the mainboard chipset) is what directs traffic, and
it doesn't treat any speed of RAM any differently than any other speed of
RAM, as long as the RAM is supported. -Dave