Advice me on GA-880GM-UD2H & amd 955 & Vengence CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9

[new_Kid]

I am going to build a new PC for the first time in my life, I need some advice to prevent any major problems. I have looked a many forums and reviews to select the components for my PC. The ram is the thing that concerns me the most which I have not bought yet. I do not want overclock - but may do so later, I want use this PC for making slide shows,edit vidoes and less game playing.

My spec for my new PC, is to use  gigabyte GA-880GM-UD2H motherboard, corsair ddr3 CMZ8GX3M2A1600C (1.5v 2x4gb), AMD 955 phenom II and graghic card SAPPHIRE 4650 1GB. I have also bought a good psu ie XFX PRO 650W.

I have seen many forums and found that there are lots problems with ram and some specifically with using CMZ8GX3M2A1600C  9-9-9-24 which maybe more dedicated for Intel CPUs.  I appreciate that AMD 955 CPU will only support 1333 officially. I cant find any one with the same setup I am proposing to put my mind at rest that the ram will work fine.

1) To use this ram with no cpu/ram overclocking will I have to change the settings for this in Bios ie  T-X-Y-Z instead of 9-9-9-24  or ram voltage ?

2) This memory is not listed as one compatible on the Gigabyte list (http://download.gigabyte.eu/FileList/Memory/mb_memory_ga-880gm-ud2h.pdf), will this be a problem ?

3) if at a later date I want to use the ram at 1600 I realize I will have to overclock the cpu, what settig will I need to change from 9-9-9-24 if at all  or  ram voltage ?

Have I chosen the wrong ram for my new PC, I chose this ram because it was of price, 1.5v and 1600 which I could reuse again after a few more years.

[absic]

Hi there,

I don't have knowledge of your particular choice of RAM but I don't think you will have too many problems. By default the RAM will be downclocked to 1333MHz and the default voltage for RAM is 1.5V so it should work OK. The timings might default to something like 9,9,9,27 (my 1600MHz Corsair modules have done this) but, being honest, it is not a major issue.

I would advise you to only install one of the RAM Modules, when you first put your PC together and install the OS. Install the drivers for your system and also download and install updates for your OS before you add the 2nd stick of RAM as this can help prevent problems.

When it comes to getting the rated 1600MHz from your RAM you shouldn't have to do anything, other than set the RAM speed in the BIOS. You do not need to overclock your CPU and you shouldn't really have to increase the voltage to the RAM either. Just remember that running at 1600MHz can cause problems with the memory controller on the CPU. If you find that you start getting BSOD's or system instability this is the most likely reason. Also, running at 1600MHz can result in the Memory Controller on the CPU failing altogether resulting in a dead processor.

[Dark Mantis]

Just to add to what Absic has just said the Corsair Vengance Memory modules are designed for the Intel Sandy Bridge boards as far as I know but that is not to say they won't work with the AMD boards also.

[new_Kid]

Thanks guys for your advice, I will take a chance and order the Vengence ram once I see the right price.

I will post the feedback how the system works for the benefit of others - this maybe be after 7 days or so.

[absic]

Just to clarify what DM has said a little.

The Corsair Dominator RAM I am using in my system is 2 kits of 2x4 gig sticks (8 gig in total) It doesn't appear on the QVL from Gigabyte and was also sold with the Intel platform in mind. In fact, the boxes had an Intel Sticker on them! So don't worry too much about them being designed for Intel.

They have worked OK for me, despite the fact that their voltage is rated at 1.64 and they are 1600MHz modules. I did have problems in the early days but this was more due to the fact that I didn't know, at that time, about the problems with the Phenom ii's memory controller and also I was running an early version of the 965 BE.

I have been able to run my RAM quite happily at both the default settings of 1333MHz, 1.5V and timings of 9,9,9,27 and at their rated settings of 1600MHz, 1.64V, 8,8,8,24. I currently have them set at the default ratings.  They also performed flawlessly when I downclocked them to 1066MHz when testing a Sempron and Athlon CPU's.

[new_Kid]

Ok point noted, I noticed you mentioned you hchanged the rem voltage  to overclock it and changed the timing to 8,8,8,24. I guess as mentioned I wont have to change the timing from 9,9,9,24 if ever I do decide to overclock at my peril.

[absic]

The only reason I had to increase the voltage is because that is what my RAM modules are rated at 1600MHz @ 1.64V. Lowering the speed to 1333MHz means that they will run at 1.5V which keeps them a bit cooler too!

You could well find that the RAM Modules you are looking at getting will run OK at 1333MHz with less voltage as the 1.5V is for 1600MHz.

[new_Kid]

Thanks

[trublubiker]

I've just done a very similar build using the GA-880GM-USB3 and the 955 BE.

After using Corsair in my last build I switched to G.Skill Ripjaws (F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL) because of the very competitive pricing at present.

They slotted straight in and run @1333 unganged on the mobo's auto setting.

Maybe worth thinking about.