I am fumbling my way forward. I built a new machine with an i7-860. I have 2 X 2GB of ddr3-2000 ripjaws installed. I want to go to 2 X 4GB. I thought 4GB sticks were available at the same speed as the 2GB I have. I think I got confused between DR3 and PC3 numbers. I wish everyone would agree on using just one of those.
My plan was this: Build a new P55 ATX system for me. I am the heavy user. Replace the micro ATX MB in my wife's machine so I can get us on the same 64 bit operating system. I sort of thought that I would like the second machine to be a P or H55 and someday I would upgrade my processor and give it to her. Otherwise I would maybe buy an AMD MB for her (much cheaper). I am kind of questioning if I would ever actually upgrade my CPU. The only time I have actually done that in 20 years is adding a second processor to a dual socket AMD board when the CPU prices went to a bit more than free. So an additional factor is how would my existing Ripjaws work in an AMD MB.
Anyway. I want to overclock to a stable point. I am not trying to eke out every single ounce of performance. I just want to get a reasonably optimal bang for my buck.
The basic question. What speed 4GB DIMMs are a reasonable choice for me. I am only interested in overall performance with general applications, a little CAD, and maybe some gaming. My assumption was that faster is better. But the impact of various parameters of the RAM system to overall performance is confusing me. I get the impression that increasing RAM clock speed is not the overriding goal. That a slower RAM may provide essentially the same or better overall application performance than a faster set, and at a lower price.
Can anyone provide me with some explanation or some understandable recommendations?
My plan was this: Build a new P55 ATX system for me. I am the heavy user. Replace the micro ATX MB in my wife's machine so I can get us on the same 64 bit operating system. I sort of thought that I would like the second machine to be a P or H55 and someday I would upgrade my processor and give it to her. Otherwise I would maybe buy an AMD MB for her (much cheaper). I am kind of questioning if I would ever actually upgrade my CPU. The only time I have actually done that in 20 years is adding a second processor to a dual socket AMD board when the CPU prices went to a bit more than free. So an additional factor is how would my existing Ripjaws work in an AMD MB.
Anyway. I want to overclock to a stable point. I am not trying to eke out every single ounce of performance. I just want to get a reasonably optimal bang for my buck.
The basic question. What speed 4GB DIMMs are a reasonable choice for me. I am only interested in overall performance with general applications, a little CAD, and maybe some gaming. My assumption was that faster is better. But the impact of various parameters of the RAM system to overall performance is confusing me. I get the impression that increasing RAM clock speed is not the overriding goal. That a slower RAM may provide essentially the same or better overall application performance than a faster set, and at a lower price.
Can anyone provide me with some explanation or some understandable recommendations?
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