3GB 667 or 2GB 800 ?

xtrive · #1 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 02:24 PM

Hello all,
I just bought a new ocz 2gb 800mhz 4-4-4-15 kit in addition to my corsair xms2 1gb 667mhz 4-4-4-12 kit, i was wondering what is best,
is it 3 GB with 667mhz or is it 2GB with 800Mhz running, and what about the latency.
Thanks in advance, Xtrive.

DesR85 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xtrive

Hello all,
I just bought a new ocz 2gb 800mhz 4-4-4-15 kit in addition to my corsair xms2 1gb 667mhz 4-4-4-12 kit, i was wondering what is best,
is it 3 GB with 667mhz or is it 2GB with 800Mhz running, and what about the latency.
Thanks in advance, Xtrive.

Hello and welcome to the forums, Xtrive.

I would go for the latter as it's faster and if you pair a faster RAM with a slower one, you will be running at the slower RAM's latency instead.

Hope this answers your question.

Siberys · #3 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 08:04 PM

The two gigabyte one with 800mhz, while I agree is slightly better, won't work with your current Ram. Most of the time, no matter the style of Ram, almost everything has to match (aside from the quantity of course).

So, the 3 Gig 667 MHZ is more than likely the only one you can use. Lest computer companies found a way around this problem and I just have yet to hear of it.

Xandax · #4 (**permalink**) 10-09-2007, 11:21 PM

RAM can be paired across speed without problem, but you'll not utilize the higher speed.
The question you need to answer yourself is what matters to you.

If you use application which takes up a lot of RAM and requires a number of shifting around (alt-tab and so on), I'd go for the higher volume over the speed, as the speed in itself is rather negligible.
If you go 100% for performance for some reason, and need the extra speed, then of course the 2gb is preferable.

If you simply are going to play games, and use it for everyday usage, I'd go for 3GB over 2.
Then if you find something doesn't work right, then yank the 1 module out of the machine.

The benefit is nothing next to a better graphic card for instance. So if worried about performance, I'd suggest finding more suitable and more beneficial places to focus on then a few percent from RAM.