DDR3 for new build

[richardd43]

I am considering a new Intel build. Have been doing AMD so long I am not real sure which memory is the best.

Am going with an X58 board and the I7 920.

The primary use for the puter will be video processing but will not rule out gaming.

I know Nick posted about DDR3 but I can not find the post.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

[NickN]

It depends on if you intend to clock.

If you do not intend to clock then DDR3 1333 is fine

If you do intend to clock with any i7 processor which is not the extreme version you must have DDR3 1600 or better. 1600 will do the job just fine

All i7 use SPECIAL DDR3. You can not use 1st generation DDR3 with i7. It must be rated for 1.65-1.70v, no more

DDR3 use for Intel Quickpath requires 3 sticks and you need a 64bit OS to use it.

You can review clocking i7 starting with this post

http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb2 ... 8145/19#19

and read the 3-4 posts following it as they discuss load and temp checking.. use REALTEMP v3.0 to monitor the proc as most of the motherboard monitors and other software out there does not read Bloomfield 100% correct.




DDR3 1600:

Fastest: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820226050

Best value for speed: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820227381


Both of which are excellent choices



Now, I do wish to point out that the next gen of i7s will be hitting the market soon. They have been updated and will allow even higher clocks on less heat and voltage. The 920 has also been re-released in the D0 stepping model which corrects a issue they with them and clocking above 3.8GHz. I have been suggesting the 940 over the 920 to avoid the original release 920 high clocking issues. Its hit and miss if you get a 920 that will do over 3.8GHz however the new 920 D0 stepping procs are doing 4.4GHz on the same voltage and heat

If you intend to clock and wish to run higher than 3-3.2GHz with a 920 you must have a heatsink other than the supplied Intel box unit. The best is the Thermalright 120 Extreme 1366 edition listed in the link below which will have no problem running 4GHz assuming the 920 you get will do it..

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php? ... ERMALRIGHT


Other high clock contenders are

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php? ... ure=Noctua

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6835103057



These are OK for a clock up to perhaps 3.5/3.6 max:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6835118046

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6835233029

[richardd43]

Hi Nick.

Thanks for the reply.

I am going to wait for the next generation chip to hit the market before I make the plunge.

As far as cooling goes, I have talked to Coolit and we are going to build a custom water chiller system for the new build.

In the summer the apartment gets very warm so I decided to go with an upgraded cooler.

As soon as I decide which video cards I am going to use they will order the parts for me.

I have not decided if I want to buy another GTX 295 or go with a 4870X2 with my 2 current 4870s

Any thoughts on the video cards will be appreciated also.

I know this is the Flight Sim forum but FSX will be a minor player on this computer.

Have FSX on my AMD machine and it is working great so........

And yes.. I do plan on playing with overclocking. Would hate to have the option and not use it.

[NickN]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but FSX is not accessing the FULL ability of both cores and memory.. in DX9 mode the truth is seen through software.. in DX10 mode the drivers and the DX10 API allows what is known as SHARED which will display both cores in operation but you must not be fooled. This means in FSX you get a MAX of 50% of core1 and its memory and 50% of core2 and its memory = 100% of ONE CORE and 512MB of memory

Now, not to add insult to injury but the ATi system is geared for SHADER CODE RENDERING ENGINES. FSX is not shader driver.. it is a old year 2000 triangle rendering engine which Nvidia still caters too... The advanced ATI card rule in Crysis and can not get out of 2nd gear in FSX, and you will see that in heavy weather especially in DX9 mode


The GTX 285 is the winner..



If you do not care about that.. then either of the other cards is up to you


I would not install more than one card in the system and leave that other slot clear unless absolutely necessary


If you are going to wait for the new i7s.. I would go with the 950 and use DDR3 2000 memory if you are really looking to rock the house. The new i7s will run DDR3 2000 without overvolting QPI

but it does cost

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDe ... st=froogle

http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku= ... Technology

[richardd43]

The GTX 285 is the winner..

I already own a 295 so will stick with that.

Discounting FSX and the video card, my main concern is video processing.

Right now it pegs my memory to the max and the CPU, although not maxed out, is working fairly hard.

Was hopeing the I7 with more, and faster, memory might help the cause. (cause mine is bloody slow)

[NickN]

no doubt about that... You will be in video processing heaven with i7 on a 64bit OS

[richardd43]

Well, I purchased/assembled the following Parts:

ASUS P6T Deluxe V2
I7 920 (CO) w/Coolit Domino ALC Liquid CPU Cooler
6G OCZ3P1600LV2G PC3-8500F
Corsair TX750 Power Supply
Cooler Master HAF 932 Case

With the Domino cooler I am idleing at 34-38 Deg
After an hour of OCCT my highest temperature was 70 deg so am satisfied with that.

The 920 DO was not available here when I made the purchase nor was the 950 but will be upgrading in the near future.

This was my first Intel build and so far am very happy with the results.

I had planned on putting my water chiller on the CPU but am not sure that is necessary with the current temperatures.

As soon as Coolit gets their water blocks for the 295 I plan on switching to water there also.

[NickN]

70c on stock CPU speed under full load?

or is that clocked?

You should be able to get a 920 to 3.8-4Ghz @ right around 80c on the right air cooler. At the same time HYPERTHREAD will heat up that proc and that will limit the clock.. typically HT is shut down when clocking however for video encoding you would not want to do that as it will make use of the HT support

[richardd43]

I believe that was done at 2.8G. Not sure how it got there... all settings are on auto.

The test was done after about 5 minutes of run time total.

will try to clock it up tomorrow and see what happens then.

[NickN]

That was turbo mode.. that must be disabled to clock along with HT if high clocking is desired

[richardd43]

Well, I tried the overclocking bit but can not get the memory to the right setting.

After any type of overclock and the memory speed selection is higher than the memory specs.

If there is a memory multiplier to change I have not been able to locate it.

I followed the instructions you have posted and could get everything but the memory set.

[NickN]

Check the BIOS version on that board..

[richardd43]

Hi Nick

I have the V2 board with the latest BIOS installed.

The max CPU multiplier when you overclock is 20 for this board.

I can get it to run at 3.6G with no problem which puts the memory at 540 which is no problem.

Anything higher that that and it quits as soon as I start OCCT.

With the CPU running at 3.6 the NB is at 2.8. Do they have to be the same or is that not a problem.

I can not find a multiplier for memory but it does have a speed select that does not go as low as I need when overclocked above 3.6G

Any thoughts on that would be very much appreciated.

[richardd43]

I found the problem, I had 1 stick of bad memory.

Replaced that and hit an easy 4G

Temperatures hit 82 so have to work on that a little bit.

And I really appreciate the help..........

[NickN]

That is strange Richard.. you should have below 1600 available in the dropdown


2.8 NB? Where are you getting that?

The northbridge is IN the CPU. Where do you see that listed?

Lets run down the list..

Disabled these features

Intel SpeedStep Tech Disabled
Intel Turbo Mode Tech Disabled
CPU Spread Spectrum Disabled
PCI Spread Spectrum Disabled
C1E Support Disabled
Intel Virtualization Tech Disabled
CPU TM Function Disabled
Intel HT Technology Disabled <--- Hyperthreading (Note: Enabled for video encoding., disabled for coolest temp in clock as FSX has no i7 type HT support)
Intel C-State Technology: Disable


Set Ai Overclock Tuner to Manual mode

Set QPI/DRAM to 1.35-1.37

Set DRAM to 1.65-1.67

LOAD LINE CALIBRATION = ENABLED


memory is is the orange slots (I think they are orage.. I use the RampageII and do not have the P6T board in front of me)

Bring BCLOCK up to 180

Vcore will probably be somewhere around 1.32-1.35


check and see if your memory speed of 1440 is available


You may wish to review this Video

http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/asus-p...cing/12157000/

OCCT v3 or higher. http://www.ocbase.com/perestroika_en/index.php?Download Set the temp limit in the properties of the program to 80c so the test will FAIL and shut down automatically if you hit that value

USE the software REALTEMP v3 http://www.techpowerup.com/realtemp/ or higher to monitor temps on i7 correctly. Set the TJMAX to 100c in REALTEMP so it will tell you where you stand.









EDIT:

WAIT A MINUTE

OCZ3V1600LV2G is their CHEAP'O modules rated @ CAS 8

http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/m ... age_module


Is that what you are using? Because the modules you listed are:


OCZ3P1600LV2G <---