DDR3 1333? I'm confused.

[marstyn]

Been reading thru your forum and picked up a lot. Just got my "Current System" up and running, great, but you know greed & toys. Proposed "New System" by Xmas:
On order:
AMD Phenom II X4 945 Deneb 3.0GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache 95W Quad-Core Processor
ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 64 Pro 92mm Ceramic CPU Cooler
Proposed:
GIGABYTE GA-890GPA-UD3H AM3 AMD 890GX HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Motherboard
GIGABYTE GV-R577SO-1GD Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16
Optional:
COOLER MASTER Silent Pro 700W ATX12V V2.3 80 PLUS Certified Modular Power Supply

Due to my success with G. Skills I am proposing to use G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC2 10600) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL8D-4GBHK in this build.

A couple small problems have risen while reading your forum and searching the markets. In one thread I recall a SKILL technician stating that 1066 was the best AMD could handle due to their controllers' not being as well engineered as Intel's.
Grant it back in the old days of the Intel Pentiums a system builder had to 'think out' the components for a system prior to the build so that the finished system would be "balanced" (CPU, FSB, RAM,etc...). AMD's 'simplified' engineering & the introduction of other technologies have made building a system easier for some.

Also in shopping around I've noticed a PC3 10600 1333 And a PC3 10666 1333. In comparison I can see no difference in Latency or timing. What is the difference?

[wevsspot]

This is only a problem with rounding and has to do with bandwidth. DDR3 1333 speed RAM has a peak bandwidth of 10666Mhz.

So technically regardless of whether the RAM is marketed as PC3 10600 memory or PC3 10666 memory, the peak bandwidth should be 10666Mhz.

The only other difference I've ever noticed is that all of G.Skills PC3 10600 memory is always two modules or one module. Never more than two though.

Once you get into three or more modules it appears that they are always PC3 10666.

[marstyn]

In reading, it seems as though most of the trouble AMD builders are having with 10666 are either in the BIOS or bad sticks. Also a lot of them are trying to overclock and their system can't take it (voltage or timing).
I apologize, as technical as my knowledge has gone, I've never truly understood the balancing factors of RAM (timing, freq. etc.) so I've tried to build my systems as powerful as I can keeping the technology as simple as possible. Been pretty successful so far. Only tried OC'ing once but didn't have the guts to push it as far as some of the others have done.

[GSKILL TECH]

marstyn,

Your CPU, for example, is capable of DDR3-1333 without a problem. I believe AMD states DDR3-1066 max. But, if you tweak CPU-NB voltage a notch, it would be capable of DDR3-1600.

The memory selected should work fine, although you will need to set timings in BIOS.

10600 and 10666 simply use different type of chips, there is essentially no other difference.

Thank you
GSKILL TECH

[marstyn]

Now for the BIG question.
If DDR2 & DDR3 Memory sticks are same size and will fit interchangingly, MOBO has same/similar Socket (AM2, AM2+, AM3) and all other board hardware is the same why can't the BIOS just be reprogrammed to support the different memory & CPU's??? (AM3 in AM2+, etc.)

[wevsspot]

While DDR2 and DDR3 modules appear to be the same size, the slot configuration is different to prevent people from accidently attempting to install DDR3 into a DDR2 board or visa-versa

[marstyn]

Ahh! The question is answered. I've never seen a DDR3 stick. Now I feel so dumb. Forgive me for not researching further before asking. I guess that's one of the reasons I'm not in the field. I've never liked to study theories. I'm more of a 'hands on' learner. Seems I can grasp it faster, and with a greater understanding, if I see it in operation rather than on a book page.
Anyway, I want to thank every one on the forum for their patience with me, who's offered a bit of information. It has helped me enormously in putting together the more up-to-date system plan to build. I'll definitely be back.

THX
marstyn

[wevsspot]

You're welcome. Have a great day.