EVGA

Question about RAM for my X58 SLI Classified

Author
draconis2525
New Member
  • Total Posts : 5
  • Reward points : 0
  • Joined: 2014/11/20 20:38:42
  • Status: offline
  • Ribbons : 0
2014/11/20 21:07:11 (permalink)
I'm trying to breath some new life into my computer which I built about 5-6 years ago; I think its in need of some new ram; I'm looking to add at least another 6 gb.  Now its been a while since I actually did any hardware myself, so I'm a bit rusty and looking for some advice.  I currently have the Corsair Dominator 3x2GB 1866 MHz DDR3 installed - I was hoping to get more of the same as its worked well for me, but I can't seem to find it anywhere (at least not for a reasonable price).  Any suggestions for another type that I could put in addition to what's already in there?  Or is it better to replace it all with something new rather than have two types of ram in there?
 
Heres a quick run down of my set up:
 
Corsair Core i7 Dominator 6GB DDR3 RAM - Tri Channel
Intel Core i7 920 Processor BX80601920 - 2.66GHz
EVGA X58 SLI Classified Motherboard - LGA 1366, Intel X58
 
Thanks!
#1

9 Replies Related Threads

    dave851
    FTW Member
    • Total Posts : 1696
    • Reward points : 0
    • Joined: 2009/02/16 13:13:58
    • Status: offline
    • Ribbons : 5
    Re: Question about RAM for my X58 SLI Classified 2014/11/21 00:28:42 (permalink)
    Mixing ram can cause problems, if I were you I would get all new memory. That being said, you can still actually buy a triple channel Dominator in 12gig. Also, if you ever overclock having all six slots full as oppose to only three puts more stress on the memory controller which normally makes you need more vtt.
     
    Linky to the egg
    #2
    bob16314
    Omnipotent Enthusiast
    • Total Posts : 8048
    • Reward points : 0
    • Joined: 2008/11/07 22:33:22
    • Location: Planet of the Babes
    • Status: offline
    • Ribbons : 761
    Re: Question about RAM for my X58 SLI Classified 2014/11/21 01:23:03 (permalink)
    Welcome to the forums..You can use AIDA64 Extreme Edition (free trial version, or pay) if you want to and set it up to log min/max/avg Memory, Used Memory, Free Memory, Video Memory Utilization and whatever else you want to log..Run AIDA64 anytime or set it to run at startup..Then do what you normally do on your PC, maybe run some benchmarks/stress tests too and then check the log file..I'd say that if you're utilizing within 10% of your memory that more memory may be beneficial..If you're not utilizing all/nearly all your memory, adding more memory will do nothing except cost you money and "breathing some new life" into your rig would be better served in other ways..I venture to say that few systems even utilize 6GB memory..It's better to know that you need more RAM than to think you need more RAM..As far as speed goes, I very extremely super highly doubt that RAM faster than your 1866MHz stuff would produce any noticeable results..Mixing different RAM can cause complications like Dave851 said, but not always.

    * Corsair Obsidian 450D Mid-Tower - Airflow Edition * ASUS ROG Maximus X Hero (Wi-Fi AC) * Intel i7-8700K @ 5.0 GHz * 16GB G.SKILL Trident Z 4133MHz * Sabrent Rocket 1TB M.2 SSD * WD Black 500 GB HDD * Seasonic M12 II 750W * Corsair H115i Elite Capellix 280mm * EVGA GTX 760 SC * Win7 Home/Win10 Home * 
     
    "Whatever it takes, as long as it works" - Me
     
     
     
    #3
    Henninges
    New Member
    • Total Posts : 20
    • Reward points : 0
    • Joined: 2009/10/25 13:12:48
    • Location: Germany
    • Status: offline
    • Ribbons : 0
    Re: Question about RAM for my X58 SLI Classified 2014/11/21 08:48:28 (permalink)
    soon, i have to offer a 6 x 2gig dominator kit...can you post a picture of yours, so i check mine, maybe its the same type and you can get 3 x 2gig for a good price...

    EVGA X58 SLI Classified, Xeon X5670, 12GB Corsair Dominator, GTX680, 240GB Intel 340 SSD, 2000GB WD HDD, 1000GB WD HDD, Win7Pro_x64 
    #4
    dingo_boy99
    Superclocked Member
    • Total Posts : 124
    • Reward points : 0
    • Joined: 2004/12/09 18:08:06
    • Status: offline
    • Ribbons : 1
    Re: Question about RAM for my X58 SLI Classified 2014/11/22 02:41:12 (permalink)
    Just bought a 2nd set of this for my other X58 to replace some kingston hyperX (6GB) memory:
    G.Skill Ripjaws 12GB (3 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9T-12GBRL
     
    This memory runs at 1.5VDC, the hyperX ran at 1.65VDC (as do many other DDR3 sticks).  JEDEC (the organization which standardizes things like memory, such as DDR3, DDR4, etc.) lists the standard voltage for DDR3 at 1.5VDC, not 1.65VDC (or anything between), which played into my decision to go with the ripjaws.
    post edited by dingo_boy99 - 2014/11/22 02:47:41

    i7-960 LGA1366  / MSI X58A-GD45 / 6GB RAM / SLI evga 560 Ti Crysis 2 Maximum Graphics Edition / 750W PSU / Viewsonic 27" VX2739WM @ 1920x1080 / 3TB across 2 spinning WDCblack drives / some 140mm fans, a couple 200mm / all stuffed in a CM HAF 912 chassis.  And chicken.
    #5
    VIPERIXIX
    New Member
    • Total Posts : 54
    • Reward points : 0
    • Joined: 2010/10/16 07:09:42
    • Location: X
    • Status: offline
    • Ribbons : 0
    Re: Question about RAM for my X58 SLI Classified 2014/11/23 14:11:43 (permalink)
    if I remember correctly the maximum cpu fsb on the x58 was 1066. your 1866mhz is over kill and you already have unused bandwidth. I used the 990x cpu and any memory over 1600mhz actually was less stable and hindered the performance more than improved it. your 920 cpu cant keep up with your memory as it is, so unless your memory is bad I wouldn't  worry bout your memory. adding more memory probably wont help. maybe consider a faster cpu.

    i7 4960X
    X79 Dark (EVGA)
    G.Skill 64GB 2400mhz
    Intel 520 SSD (4) Raid 0
    1000W PSU (EVGA)
    W7 Pro 64 bit
     
    #6
    VIPERIXIX
    New Member
    • Total Posts : 54
    • Reward points : 0
    • Joined: 2010/10/16 07:09:42
    • Location: X
    • Status: offline
    • Ribbons : 0
    Re: Question about RAM for my X58 SLI Classified 2014/11/23 14:18:51 (permalink)
    their are some 1366 cpu online available. you put a gulftown cpu in that board and I guarantee you'll notice a difference in performance.

    i7 4960X
    X79 Dark (EVGA)
    G.Skill 64GB 2400mhz
    Intel 520 SSD (4) Raid 0
    1000W PSU (EVGA)
    W7 Pro 64 bit
     
    #7
    dave851
    FTW Member
    • Total Posts : 1696
    • Reward points : 0
    • Joined: 2009/02/16 13:13:58
    • Status: offline
    • Ribbons : 5
    Re: Question about RAM for my X58 SLI Classified 2014/11/23 19:57:05 (permalink)
    VIPERIXIX
    if I remember correctly the maximum cpu fsb on the x58 was 1066. your 1866mhz is over kill and you already have unused bandwidth. I used the 990x cpu and any memory over 1600mhz actually was less stable and hindered the performance more than improved it. your 920 cpu cant keep up with your memory as it is, so unless your memory is bad I wouldn't  worry bout your memory. adding more memory probably wont help. maybe consider a faster cpu.



    This isn't entirely correct, it does depend somewhat on who made the motherboard but I know my x58 evga lets me use up to a x12 memory multiplier and can get you near 1600mhz with stock base clocks. As far as memory being less stable at over 1600mhz, either your memory not capable of it or you are not overclocking the cpu correctly. I know the reason I just got more memory was because 6gig was no longer enough for me. I was finding myself sitting at 5.7gig or more used memory more and more often which did impair performance because it began using more paging files and accessing the hard drive more often. All that being said, above ~1600mhz the performance boost due to the higher frequency isn't really noticeable unless you do a lot of heavy computing. I have a 2000mhz kit just to give me room to play when overclocking, normally its running in the 1500-1700mhz range with tighter timings. 
    #8
    VIPERIXIX
    New Member
    • Total Posts : 54
    • Reward points : 0
    • Joined: 2010/10/16 07:09:42
    • Location: X
    • Status: offline
    • Ribbons : 0
    Re: Question about RAM for my X58 SLI Classified 2014/11/26 07:11:08 (permalink)
    you must have misread my post....the memory bus on the 920 cpu is the issue.....my 4 way sli board bios clocks up to 4000 MHz and I have run2400mhz on that board stable but the memory clock maxes out at 1866 on the cpu memory bus on the board. the max on the oc. on the cpu memory bus past 1600mhz is where it becomes unstable. and your qpi is 4.8 and what I was trying to suggest to you was the higher cpu will increase your performance and stability with a higher qpi and an unlocked cpu and higher bandwidth 10 fold compared to adding memory past 6 gb. and filling all 6 dims also reduces oc stability. If you been able to clock that 920 memory bus at 1866 please share those settings.
    I just wanted to clarify.
    post edited by VIPERIXIX - 2014/11/26 07:40:51

    i7 4960X
    X79 Dark (EVGA)
    G.Skill 64GB 2400mhz
    Intel 520 SSD (4) Raid 0
    1000W PSU (EVGA)
    W7 Pro 64 bit
     
    #9
    dave851
    FTW Member
    • Total Posts : 1696
    • Reward points : 0
    • Joined: 2009/02/16 13:13:58
    • Status: offline
    • Ribbons : 5
    Re: Question about RAM for my X58 SLI Classified 2014/11/27 05:15:24 (permalink)
    VIPERIXIX
    you must have misread my post....the memory bus on the 920 cpu is the issue.....my 4 way sli board bios clocks up to 4000 MHz and I have run2400mhz on that board stable but the memory clock maxes out at 1866 on the cpu memory bus on the board. the max on the oc. on the cpu memory bus past 1600mhz is where it becomes unstable. and your qpi is 4.8 and what I was trying to suggest to you was the higher cpu will increase your performance and stability with a higher qpi and an unlocked cpu and higher bandwidth 10 fold compared to adding memory past 6 gb. and filling all 6 dims also reduces oc stability. If you been able to clock that 920 memory bus at 1866 please share those settings.
    I just wanted to clarify.



    It is possible to get over 1866 for your memory speed, as that is a high speed silicon lottery will affect if the voltage needed to get there will be too high for 24/7 use. The memory speed is directly linked the base clock though a multiplier that can be set up to 12 on most evga boards. So even a modest overclock of 3.4ghz on the cpu using 165 as the base clock will give you the option to go up to 1980mhz on memory because 165 with the multiplier of 12 is 1980mhz. Now that being said to get that stable you may need something like +150mv or more vtt. But its possible. Also simple because a processor is unlock does not mean that it will always overclock better. Locked xeon x5650 tend to get the same overclocks as the unlocked 980x and use less voltage in doing so(on water and air). Unlocked cpu's are simpler to overclock because you don't have to worry about memory speeds changing with your base clock. I do agree having 6 dimms will make it much harder if not impossible to run above ~1600mhz because of the extra load. Which is why I suggested a 3*4gig kit. Also no idea why having a "higher cpu" would be more stable. Stability can be achieved in any case as long as you overclock properly. 
     
    There is more then one reason why more memory can help out. If he does video editing the extra memory will help out, if the computer has to keep accessing the hard drive because its memory is full it will not matter how fast his cpu is the hard drive will just bottleneck everything. 
    #10
    Jump to:
  • Back to Mobile