RAM: 4 GB 1600Mhz or 6 GB 1333Mhz?

[SkytTe]

This is my system (or soon to be):

 

Case: Cooler Master Elite 430

Power: Corsair Enthusiast Series TX650 V2

Mobo: ASRock 870 Extreme3

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 955 BE

Graphic: ASUS EAH6850 DirectCU 2DIS GD5 (1 GB)

OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

 

I've read that Win7 64-bit needs at least 4 GB ram, but would 4 GB 1600 Mhz or 6 GB 1333 Mhz be the best choice?

 

I've found the cheapest:

- Corsair 4GB DDR3 1600MHz (2x2) 55$

- Kingston 6 GB DDR3 1333MHz (3x2) 70$

[potatochobit]

if you just plan to play video games and surf the web 4GB is plenty

use the extra money to buy an aftermarket heatsink so you can overclock a little

[zackhaf]

If you are going for real life performance, I suggest 6GB. I don't think there is a noticeable difference between 1600 and 1333 beside benchmarking, but you will notice a difference with 6GB over 4GB.

[Owenisbad]

The 6gb is probably triple channel which your motherboard doesn't support, get the 4gb kit.

[Ts631]

The 6gb is probably triple channel which your motherboard doesn't support, get the 4gb kit.

 

 

I would go with more capacity before faster speed, plus Ive read the phenom memory controller doesn't handle speeds above 1333 very well sometimes and can be very hard on it and reduce life. Your better off tightening timings with 1333 over OCing to higher speeds. With 8gb kits being on sale for around 70-80$ that's what I would go with. (2x4gb sticks)

Edited June 17, 2011 by Ts631

[zackhaf]

The 6gb is probably triple channel which your motherboard doesn't support, get the 4gb kit.

he says in his post, its 2 3GB modules, not 3 2GB, so its still dual channel

 

edit-i misread, my bad. dang my random bouts of dyslexia

Edited June 17, 2011 by zackhaf

[IVIYTH0S]

http://www.edbpriser.dk/Product/Details.aspx?pid=4428349

[AquaLab]

he says in his post, its 2 3GB modules, not 3 2GB, so its still dual channel

 

are they 3 GB modules on the market ?.... I have not seen yet

[ir_cow]

i wouldn't settle for anything less than 8gb these days considering most of the time it's the same price.

 

I say always quantity over speed. 8gb of 1066 is going to benefit you more than 4gb of 1600.

[wevsspot]

Sky - for your setup you should be considering (2) 4Gb sticks of DDR3 1333 or DDR3 1600

 

or

 

Two kits of the Corsair 2x2 that you mentioned in your first post.

[rocketeer55]

Do not get the 3x2GB kit, as it would not work with your computer! That is a triple channel kit-while your motherboard only supports dual-channel. so either a 2x2GB kit or 2x4GB kit would be best.

[zackhaf]

are they 3 GB modules on the market ?.... I have not seen yet

 

I dont think so. I think each module has to be a 1 or a multiple of 2, (ie 2,4,8,16). i think its due to how the ram is made? not too sure.