What is the best memory at the moment

A

aka.Goliath

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So I'm looking to upgrade my memory with my upgrade to Ivybridge.
The question is which memory manufacturer should I be looking at, Is 1600 really better than 1333, and to get 8GB are two 4GB modules better than four 2GB modules?

I currently have two 4GB Mushkin 1333 modules, should I just stick to this? OC'ing is not that important at the moment but I'd like delve into it a stage.
 
Well you should probably see a performance increase with 1600, since Ivy's memory bus is at 1600MHz (Sandy was at 1333).
 
I'd say stick with your current 2x 4GB DDR3 1333 modules, unless you're going to fork out a couple of grand (R4k+) on a new Ivy Bridge setup, in which case I'd recommend that you go for 2x 4GB DDR3 1600.
The performance increase from 1333 - 1600Mhz is rather small, unless you're running memory benchmarks ;) More memory is always more useful than faster memory!

I usually recommend going for G.Skill modules, since they are the cheapest DDR3 1600 1.5V modules that I know (~R500 for 2x 4GB) and they work very well.

Don't ever go for 4x 2GB.
 
That is a pretty good deal. You can get 16GB of DDR3 1600Mhz for R22 cheaper by buying a different model: http://www.rebeltech.co.za/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=5345 :D

Lastly, do you really need more than 8GB of RAM?

If you have 16GB of RAM, then there are pretty cool things that you can do to speed up things - like running a 2-4GB RAM drive that is used to store all your temporary files (incl. temp Internet files).

I recently (Thursday - Friday) moved my MySQL database from my HDD to a 2GB RAM drive and then my MySQL performance sky-rocketed! Previously I merged like 6,000 records per minute, and after I placed it in a RAM drive, it shot up to 90,000 per minute!
 
The system I'm busy slapping together will be doing quite a bit of virtualization labs, so I could do with as much as possible. Depending on how 16GB fare, I might even go as high as 32GB at some stage.
 
Pick one.
They probably came from the same factory but with different branding and labels.
 
Pada said:
I recently (Thursday - Friday) moved my MySQL database from my HDD to a 2GB RAM drive and then my MySQL performance sky-rocketed! Previously I merged like 6,000 records per minute, and after I placed it in a RAM drive, it shot up to 90,000 per minute!
Click to expand...
Nice! What do you do to save the data though if the PC bombs for whatever reason?
 
froot said:
It's RAM....
I haven't found a way out of that one when using RAM drives.
Click to expand...
That is why I just use it for temporary files or for things that I don't mind losing ;)
Like with my MySQL database, I was working off an exported data set that I got from another server, so losing it won't have caused much harm.

Secondly, I know that my PC won't lose power since its on a good APC online UPS.
 
Pada said:
If you have 16GB of RAM, then there are pretty cool things that you can do to speed up things - like running a 2-4GB RAM drive that is used to store all your temporary files (incl. temp Internet files).

I recently (Thursday - Friday) moved my MySQL database from my HDD to a 2GB RAM drive and then my MySQL performance sky-rocketed! Previously I merged like 6,000 records per minute, and after I placed it in a RAM drive, it shot up to 90,000 per minute!
Click to expand...


What software are you using to set up the ram drive?
 
I hear Ivy bridge is very sensitive to memory speed and you should have 1600 minimum. Im looking for 2400 mem for my 3570k
 
Reaper84 said:
I hear Ivy bridge is very sensitive to memory speed and you should have 1600 minimum. Im looking for 2400 mem for my 3570k
Click to expand...

Just as well go with a 2133mhz with a lower CL latency count.
 
Reaper84 said:
I hear Ivy bridge is very sensitive to memory speed and you should have 1600 minimum. Im looking for 2400 mem for my 3570k
Click to expand...
Where did you read that you should take a minimum of DDR3 1600 for Ivy Bridge?

Typically the new Ivy Bridge (Z77) motherboard RAM support looks like this:
DDR3 1066/1333/1600/1866*/2000*/2133*/2200*/2400*/2600*/2667*/2800*
Where * indicates overclocking is required.

And Sandy Bridge (+ Ivy Bridge) (Z68) motherboard RAM support looks like this:
DDR3 1066/1333/1600*/1866*/2133*
 
The memory bandwith comparison

Sandybridge 1333 Mhz controller 21Gb/s
Ivy Bridge 1600 Mhz controller 25.6Gb/s
 
Reaper84 said:
I hear Ivy bridge is very sensitive to memory speed and you should have 1600 minimum. Im looking for 2400 mem for my 3570k
Click to expand...

Memory speed barely makes a difference in 99% of real world tasks. Save your money and just get the amount you need, dont worry about speed
 
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