More RAM = Less Overclocking?

[TJS]

I have 2x1GB sticks of GSkill DDR2-800 (model -GBNQ) in my computer and got an overclock on my E6600 to 404FSB, was quite pleased. I bought a 1GB stick of GSkill DDR2-800 (model -GBNR), same latency ratings for a second pc, but since abandoned that project, and just bought another gig of the -GBNR to make four gigs total. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get past 360FSB with all four sticks, and also noticed that my RAM was only reading 3070MBs, when only three sticks would read the same thing. It also gets kinda funky when I played musical chairs with the RAM...

*-GBNQ x2 = 404FSB

*-GBNR x1 (new stick) = 360FSB

*-GBNR x1 (old stick) = 412FSB

*-ALL FOUR STICKS = 360FSB

*-GBNQ x2 + -GBNR x1 (old stick) = 360FSB (wth?)

...by this time I was tired and somewhat confused, didn't test both -GBNQ sticks together, but am confident I would have been stuck at 360FSB since that was as far as I could take the new stick.

I'm not well read on the differences of symmetric vs asymmetric dual-channel configurations and how well they operate and overclock. One thing I would really like to know is will overclocking be hindered the more memory the system has to work with, either in DIMM slots being populated or the sticks size (512MB, 1GB, 2GB, etc).

TJS:iamwithst

 

[Rastalovich]

With most boards I`ve always assumed, rightly or wrongly, that from an electronics pov pushing 2 slots to a higher frequency is alot easier to do than 3 or 4 slots. Purely on the basis that if u push 2 slots over their stock clock by 10%, the same 10% should be achievable over 4 - however as opposed to 5% per slot, u`ve only got 2.5% per slot.

Seems to work out for me in practice. Then again I`m nowhere near the extremes some of the guyz clock @.

But then I have heard of guyz chucking in 2 extra sticks and being able to maintain the same % increase - rarely tho I spect.

Ham`ll probably be more definative about it all.

 

[FarFarAway]

I would say yes as you're starting to saturate the bandwidth limits of Intels NorthBridge and the voltage regulation on the slots will become less stable as more RAM is needing it

 

[TJS]

um, what is the 'voltage resultaion' and the 'sltws':eh:

figured that somethin' was being overloaded, but the other thing I was wondering about was the amount of RAM being seen by the OS... 3070MB with 3x1GB sticks and 4x1GB sticks = a) i'm being shortchanged; c)the RAM is faulty; d) i'm retarded and this is normal.

TJS

 

[Ham]

Unfortunatly is b .

32bit OSs can't see more than 3GB. (or 32bit windows at least)

 

[TJS]

lol, forgot to put 'b' back...:damn: and thanks for not calling me on 'd'

TJS

 

[Nagaru]

I thought on Windows 1 gig was reserved for the kernel and the rest was available to the system. Am I wrong?

 

[TJS]

I'll be honest, I get 'lost' easily... and trying to find the definitive answer to my question on the net left me lost like never before. The best answer I think I found was that Windows Vista Home Premium uses 4GB of memory max, some of it for the 'kernel'. (Which means you're correct, Nagaru, just don't know exactly how much the 'kernel' uses.) So when I see '3070MB' of memory in Windows (with either 3 or 4 1GB sticks) I guessing that it can all be used, it just isn't 'seen' by the OS. (As you can read, I still don't know what the deal really is with the 'lost' RAM. )

Here's another question that I thought of: If I can overclock to 3.6GHz with 2GBs of RAM, would that be preferable to 3.2GHz with 4GBs of RAM? I can't see sacrificing the speed unless the extra RAM has some serious advantages.

Thanks,

TJS

 

[FarFarAway]

You are correct, 2gb and a muh higher OC has far more benefits