Which CAS latency for AM3 board

[Yugo]

I plan to buy a Phenom II X3 7200 CPU with a Gigabyte GA-MA770T-UD3P
motherboard. Of course, this is not an i7 board and it offers dual
channel instead of triple channel memory, even if memory is DDR3.

So, is it worth paying more for lower CAS latency.

Kingston KVR 1333 DDR3 with CAS 9 would cost $85 (CAN), OCZ Reaper
1333 DDR3 with CAS 6 would be $125.

Is the OCZ worth the difference on this board?

 

[Pen]

Oops! On its site, OCZ says:

"Important Note: Due to the size and orientation of the heatsink,
Reaper X memory cannot be installed on motherboards that require the
modules to be inserted in sockets side by side."

<http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/memory/
ocz_pc3_10666_reaperx_hpc_enhanced_bandwidth>

As far as I know, memory must be paired on dual channel architectures
and the banks are side by side.

What does OCZ mean exactly?

They're saying the modules are too thick to allow 2 of them side by side
in normally spaced memory sockets.

 

[~misfit~]

Impossible question to answer without knowing exactly what you intend to use
the machine for, how much money you have and how much your time is worth. Is
it worth me going to get my tyres filled with nitrogen rather than
compressed air?

Oops! On its site, OCZ says:

"Important Note: Due to the size and orientation of the heatsink,
Reaper X memory cannot be installed on motherboards that require the
modules to be inserted in sockets side by side."

<http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/memory/
ocz_pc3_10666_reaperx_hpc_enhanced_bandwidth>

As far as I know, memory must be paired on dual channel architectures
Incorrect.

and the banks are side by side.

Usually if there are two channels then there will be two pairs of slots,
with each pair close together and being one channel. (In the case of the
GA-MA770T-UD3P one channel has white slots and one has blue.) Therefore two
modules being used in dual-channel configuration will have quite a gap
between them. i.e. Slots 1 and 3.

What does OCZ mean exactly?

They mean that, in your case, if you're intending to use *four* modules in
dual channel mode then their modules will not fit as the slots are too close
together for their bulky schmaltzy RAM coolers. I mean, it's not rocket
science, there's a picture on the OCZ page you referenced that shows a pair
of modules installed in dual channel. I don't get why you need to even ask
here. If I didn't have a few minutes to spare while I'm waiting for my
clothes to wash.....

In your case, as you seem unable to use Google (other than for posting
through) you can see on this page:

http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/Motherboard/Products_Overview.aspx?ProductID=3096

If you click the pic to enlarge, for running two modules in dual channel
you'd use slots 1 and 3, (as shown on the OCZ page) or slots 2 and 4. (One
blue, one white.) What OCZ are saying is that you wouldn't be able to fit
four of their poorly designed modules in this motherboard, or in fact two in
some other boards that have the channels closer together.

There is no earthly reason why a well-designed RAM module running within
(chip manufacturers) specs would need dual heatpipes other than to part
fools from their money, something that OCZ has been dong rather well for a
while now.

 

[Yugo]

Impossible question to answer without knowing exactly what you intend to use
the machine for, how much money you have and how much your time is worth.Is
it worth me going to get my tyres filled with nitrogen rather than
compressed air?

I'm not an extreme overclocker, but I might OC a bit if I decide to go
for video editing (720 p). It won't be professional activity, just to
see what it feels like.

Incorrect.

and correct. If you want to benefit from the dual channel
architecture, you need to fill 2 memory banks. Says Wkipedia:

Dual-channel architecture describes a technology that theoretically
doubles data throughput from the memory to the memory controller. Dual-
channel-enabled memory controllers utilize two 64-bit data channels,
resulting in a 128-bit data path.

Dual-channel architecture requires a dual-channel-capable motherboard
and two or more DDR, DDR2 SDRAM, or DDR3 SDRAM memory modules. The
memory modules are installed into matching banks, which are usually
color coded on the motherboard.

Usually if there are two channels then there will be two pairs of slots,
with each pair close together and being one channel. (In the case of the
GA-MA770T-UD3P one channel has white slots and one has blue.) Therefore two
modules being used in dual-channel configuration will have quite a gap
between them. i.e. Slots 1 and 3.


They mean that, in your case, if you're intending to use *four* modules in
dual channel mode then their modules will not fit as the slots are too close
together for their bulky schmaltzy RAM coolers. I mean, it's not rocket
science, there's a picture on the OCZ page you referenced that shows a pair
of modules installed in dual channel.

On this pictue:

<http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/FileList/Image/mb_productimage_ga-ma770t-
ud3p_big.jpg>

the paired colored slots are side by side. It doesn't seem filling
slots 1 and 3 is an option... if you want double channel.

­> I don't get why you need to even ask

here. If I didn't have a few minutes to spare while I'm waiting for my
clothes to wash.....

You do have a gift for uttering nonsense, I agree.

In your case, as you seem unable to use Google (other than for posting
through) you can see on this page:

http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/Motherboard/Products_Overview.asp...

The paired colored slots are side by side. It doesn't seem filling
slots 1 and 3 is an option... if you want double channel.

If you click the pic to enlarge

If I click to enlarge the third small picture on the right on page:

http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/memory/ocz_pc3_10666_reaperx_hpc_enhanced_bandwidth

it does seem the slots 1 and 3 are filled. Notice the slots are not
color coded. We might be talking about some special board. I have no
idea.

­>, for running two modules in dual channel

you'd use slots 1 and 3, (as shown on the OCZ page) or slots 2 and 4. (One
blue, one white.)

And get the benefit of dual channel with slots of different color on
all boards? You'll have to rewrite the Wikipedia page

There is no earthly reason why a well-designed RAM module running within
(chip manufacturers) specs would need dual heatpipes other than to part
fools from their money, something that OCZ has been dong rather well for a
while now.

Really? The Reaper 1333 CL6 is $125 (CAN) and the Kingston 1375 CL7
is $115. Even if you don't consider the CL discrepancy, the Reaper is
only $10 more expensive. For people who really are into overclocking,
I suppose having a heat dissipator away from the chip instead of on
its side, like other chips, /might/ be an advantage. But that's not
why I would buy it.

Shaun.

"Build a man a fire, and he`ll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and
he`ll be warm for the rest of his life." Terry Pratchett, Jingo.

If I were you, I would take care not getting on fire, though. I'm
afraid it wouldn't turn you into an instant Django of the computer
world. Downclocking your ego would prove better for your health.

 

[Priam]

Check on Newegg. You can get an OCZ non-reaper with a single heat
pipe that will fit into standard dual channel config AND is CAS 7
for .....53 USD. It may be 1066 rather than 1333; - if you want to OC,
read the reviews and see how fast people have had them running.
IIRC 16-1700. Canadian and US are still close to par now, I think.

Because I'm old fashioned, I prefer to buy over the counter. It wasn't
the best solution, it seems.

I bought the whole system at Microbytes and there was a sleuth of memory
on their site. Now they tell me all they have in store is 2 different
makes of CL9. The rest -- amongst which Kingston HyperX 10375 MHz CL7
that I was looking for -- they apparently have to order from British
Columbia.

And that's not all. The board I chose is supposed to accepts RAM up to
1333 MHz. I don't believe it's a problem, the board would probably
downclock it, but they tell me that, if there's any problem with it,
it's my problem, not theirs.

Now, suppose there's an instability problem, how do you determine with
the stock you usually have at home, that the problem doesn't come from
the CPU or the mobo instead of the memory? In other words, ordering
memory that's listed as available on their site voids the guarantee.

So, I'm pretty much stuck with CL9. which shouldn't be so bad, mainly if
I OC it a little bit. But I can't say I'm satistied with the way
Microbytes deals with its customers. I might get more modern next time.

 

[Priam]

Well, it's been a learning experience. :|

Well, I thoght I had learned quite a lot. I don't mind paying a few more
dollars for encouraging local business and having over the counter
support for one year.

I don't think you'll be losing

­> all that much noticeable performance with the memory you got, unless

you are an extreme gamer or a copmpetitive benchmarker.

Or unless I do video editing?

However, I do recommend buying online. More selection - as you have
discovered - and lower prices

And pretty soon we might end up with only one computer seller worldwide.
I will certainly try over-the-counter first and only switch if I find it
inconvenient.

- which you will discover if you do it. I have had good service from

newegg.com, amazon.com, buy.com, and frys. com.

Right now, due to the lowest price on a 500 gig HD

Seagate? I went for a WD. I had a bad experience with a WD that failed
after about 4 years. My Quantum Fireball lasted 10 Salesmen told me
they were as reliable and maybe more quiet than Seagate. And I get an
ectra 140 GB for $4. So, I went for it. It seems the Seagate 500 GB
didn't gain much speed from having only one platter. After all, even
though the density is greater, doesn't a dual platter operate a bit like
a raid?

Stay away from tigerdirect.

Bad experience?

 

[Priam]

Board design can play a role in memory stability, but you
are not buying memory to run it at that speed, you are
buying it to support the FSB speed and memory:FSB ratio you
want to set in the bios... the CPU itself has the memory
controller now so board differences are not so much as they
used to be, unless it's bios disallows changing memory
timings or setting all common ratios.

I do believe there's a lot of tweaking possible in the BIOS. There's
even an option for extra settings. (CTRL + F1). I'll see to this later,
but I must say I'm quite suprized this is all now considered stnadard.
There a time when OC was considered a sin!

Personally I recommend that if you want to support a local
shop, you do so by paying them for their services like
stability testing, virus removal, etc... they have no real
hope of surviving against online merchants when it comes to
selling one low cost part at a time.

One way they can survice is, if they have the part you need, you can go
get it. You don't have to wait. This is worth a few dollars more.

Platter density and rotational speed matter more than # of
platters by far. Further, with fewer platters you have a
faster spin-up time,

Single platters are 7200 rpm just the same.

Each brand will occasionally have a glitch in their quality
control, design or bios, but this effects all brands from
time to time so as always all you can do is research the
specific model you're considering purchasing (rather than
rely on a specific brand recommendation by one or a handful
of people), and make timely backups. Towards that end, at
http://www.newegg.com there are hundreds of user reviews
that may indicate relative problem rates, though some of
those problems may come from poor packing which can be
either warehouse, shipping, or receiver error so it can't
necessarily be directly applied in consideration of specific
models.

It's kinda hard to make an opinion with reviews. They vary quite a lot.
But, for my intended use, the little difference that there is betweeen
the WD and the Seagate won't make much diffrence. In a review I looked
at, the WD was better here, not quite as good there, but overall, it
seemed better.

Go figure!

P.s.: I'll be offline for a few days.