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Can The Bad Axe 2 Run PC2-8500 1066MHz RAM

Technobob
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Technobob
Technobob
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I just ordered this board and I'm confused about the RAM because on Intel's site it says PC2-6400 800MHz is the top supported RAM. When I was reviewing this board I found posts with people running PC2-8500 1066MHz RAM. Will the board take advantage of the 1066MHz or is it a waste of money. Another reason I ask is because I can buy 2x2GB of PC2-6400 from OCZ for $30 more then what it would cost me for 2x1GB of PC2-8500.

Technobob
Technobob
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Thanks for the advice hackintom but I have no interest in overclocking I would rather pay for the rated speed and have a very stable system.

 

So if the board is able to run 1066 then why does Intel not include that in the specs because 1066 has been out longer then this board has been around.

hackintom
hackintom
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Thanks for the advice hackintom but I have no interest in overclocking I would rather pay for the rated speed and have a very stable system.

 

So if the board is able to run 1066 then why does Intel not include that in the specs because 1066 has been out longer then this board has been around.

 

The specs are made when the product is released.

When the Bad Axe II was realeased, there were no PC2-8500 yet.

 

About the fact that you are not going to overclock: your PC2-8500 will be underclocked. Do you understand it ?

Fast ram won't make your system more stable.

If you don't OC, you should buy PC2-5300: it will be no more, no less what you need.

 

Now, if you'd rather throw you money through the windows by buying PC2-8500 without planning on OC... be my guest :-)

Technobob
Technobob
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There was PC2-8500 available for 6 months before the bad axe 2 was released in October 06

 

Can you explain how the 1066 RAM would be underclocked if I did not overclock

 

I have read the horror stories of overclocking from melt downs to corrupt data, I say no thanks it's not worth the risk

 

How would buying PC2-5300 help me I want speed.

 

When I build a new system I max out everything that I can except video card as I'm not a gamer but I still buy a good card, for this system I bought a XFX 7600GT 256mb XXX edition

hackintom
hackintom
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There was PC2-8500 available for 6 months before the bad axe 2 was released in October 06

 

Can you explain how the 1066 RAM would be underclocked if I did not overclock

 

I have read the horror stories of overclocking from melt downs to corrupt data, I say no thanks it's not worth the risk

 

How would buying PC2-5300 help me I want speed.

 

When I build a new system I max out everything that I can except video card as I'm not a gamer but I still buy a good card, for this system I bought a XFX 7600GT 256mb XXX edition

 

Okay, okay, I get it...

Let me explain you about the DDR2.

If you use a new CPU like one of the new C2D, like the E6850 for an example, it runs at FSB 333 MHz, right ?

So, your DDR2 will run at... 666MHz, right ?

But if your DDR2 can run at 1066, there is 400Mhz wasted, right ? So your sticks will be underclocked.

So if you wanna max out everything, buy [4Gb] of PC2-5300 from Crucial Ballistix, the Cas3 one.

That's the best DDR2 sticks ever... the chips are D9GMH, the best. Works at any speed, because the sticks you were planning to buy use D9GMH.

Send me your email or msn adress by private message, It will be easier for your upcoming questions :-)

justvisiting
justvisiting
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Okay, okay, I get it...

Let me explain you about the DDR2.

If you use a new CPU like one of the new C2D, like the E6850 for an example, it runs at FSB 333 MHz, right ?

So, your DDR2 will run at... 666MHz, right ?

But if your DDR2 can run at 1066, there is 400Mhz wasted, right ? So your sticks will be underclocked.

So if you wanna max out everything, buy [4Gb] of PC2-5300 from Crucial Ballistix, the Cas3 one.

That's the best DDR2 sticks ever... the chips are D9GMH, the best. Works at any speed, because the sticks you were planning to buy use D9GMH.

Send me your email or msn adress by private message, It will be easier for your upcoming questions :-)

 

 

eeenteresting.. but i'm a wee bit confused.

 

 

my D975XBX2 will have a E6400 on which has a FSB of 1066. that implies my DDR2 @800Mhz will be a bottleneck unless i overclock it or buy the correct memory clock speed.

OMX-Knuckles
OMX-Knuckles
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i975 Chipset supports asynchronous memory speeds :) So you should be fine. Don't see any reason at all to get PC-8500. Intel procs tend to work best with memory speeds that's an exact multiple of the FSB- so the next best thing to 1066mhz RAM would be 533mhz. The slower memory will cost MUCH less and you won't see a noticeable performance decrease. Maybe if you gamed a lot and were running an 8800GTX or SLI'd cards the game would be bandwidth-bound, but unlikely. Folding might see a benefit from faster RAM as well but it's really not worth in in your situation.

hackintom
hackintom
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my D975XBX2 will have a E6400 on which has a FSB of 1066. that implies my DDR2 @800Mhz will be a bottleneck unless i overclock it or buy the correct memory clock speed.

 

No !

 

1066 FSB= 266MHz (4*266=1066)

DDR2 1066= 533Mhz (2*533=1066)

DDR2 533= 266Mhz (2*266=533)

 

So your DDR2 won't be a bottleneck, it just goes too fast for nothing.

 

FAST RAM ARE MADE FOR OVERCLOCKING, IT WON'T IMPROVE ANYTHING ELSE !

 

By the way, my advise would be to wait for a X38 based bad axe, or buy a P35 now.

I'm not sure buying a bad axe now would be wise.

Technobob
Technobob
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I have already ordered the board it will be in my hands by Monday or Tuesday. I bought this board for OSX compatibility. The P35 has ICH9 chipset and I'm not sure if that is supported in OSX, I'm not sure what the X38 chipset is but I'm sure it will be a nightmare to get working in OSX. I will only be using this system for a year before it's replaced with a Mac Pro. This new system will be turned into a headless file server thats why I ordered a Antec P182 case so I can fit 12 hard drives in it. So I don't care about it running future CPU's as long as it runs the Q6600 Quad-Core I'm happy.

 

I think I'm going to buy the OCZ 2x2GB PC2-6400 800MHz for $240CAD for 4GB it's a good deal plus I don't need to worry about underclocking or overclocking.

 

Thanks everyone for the advice

justvisiting
justvisiting
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No !

 

1066 FSB= 266MHz (4*266=1066)

DDR2 1066= 533Mhz (2*533=1066)

DDR2 533= 266Mhz (2*266=533)

 

So your DDR2 won't be a bottleneck, it just goes too fast for nothing.

 

FAST RAM ARE MADE FOR OVERCLOCKING, IT WON'T IMPROVE ANYTHING ELSE !

 

By the way, my advise would be to wait for a X38 based bad axe, or buy a P35 now.

I'm not sure buying a bad axe now would be wise.

 

already have the board, but thanks for the info, helpful.

omfg
omfg
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I have already ordered the board it will be in my hands by Monday or Tuesday. I bought this board for OSX compatibility. The P35 has ICH9 chipset and I'm not sure if that is supported in OSX, I'm not sure what the X38 chipset is but I'm sure it will be a nightmare to get working in OSX. I will only be using this system for a year before it's replaced with a Mac Pro. This new system will be turned into a headless file server thats why I ordered a Antec P182 case so I can fit 12 hard drives in it. So I don't care about it running future CPU's as long as it runs the Q6600 Quad-Core I'm happy.

 

I think I'm going to buy the OCZ 2x2GB PC2-6400 800MHz for $240CAD for 4GB it's a good deal plus I don't need to worry about underclocking or overclocking.

 

Thanks everyone for the advice

 

I built my machine almost exactly the same a couple of months ago:

 

Q6600, D975BX2, 4GB of OCZ 6400 and an NVIDIA 7600GT (and a Corsair 620W for power).

 

It's a great box, and I'm really happy with it. Sound is the only bugger to get going, but there's threads to tell you what to do there.

 

 

I have to say though, that I don't follow you with regards to overclocking. The cores on the Q6600 run at 2.4ghz default. Now it's definately not a slow CPU, but a common OC of 2.7 and even 3.0 is fairly mild and runs perfectly stable at the lowest voltage that the BadAxe2 will supply (under-volting).

 

Heat is the biggest problem with these quad-core chips. With insane cooling, people are taking these chips up to 3.6-4.2ghz per core with apparent ease.

 

By all means, avoid overclocking if you're not comfortable with it but please keep in mind that your new CPU will have a lot of headroom to move in, and if you only wanted stock speeds, you could probably have cheaped-out on some of the components.

 

 

Either way, enjoy your new 'pooter and let us know how it goes, and if you've got any questions.

Technobob
Technobob
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Update: Well I just ordered the last 2 parts CPU & RAM. I decided to go with Ocz Platinum Xtc REV.2 PC2-6400 800MHz because the OCZ 2x2GB PC2-6400 800MHz voltage rating was 2.1V and Intel specs the voltage for this board at 1.8 to 1.9V. Plus these are cheaper $190CAD for 4GB the only downside is it will fill all my RAM slots but I don't see a need for more then 4GB of RAM.

 

So here is my final build, can't wait to get this running and get back to running OSX because for the last 6 weeks I have been in Windows hell on a Dell Optiplex 745 that I bought well 6 weeks ago, god I miss OSX

 

Antec P182 case

Antec Neo HE 500W Power Supply

Intel Bad Axe 2 Motherboard

Intel Core 2 Duo Q6600 Quad Core

Ocz Platinum Xtc REV.2 PC2-6400 4GB

Scythe Ninja Plus CPU Cooler

XFX Nvidia 7600GT 256mb XXX Edition

Cool Master 4-in-3 Drive Cage

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