This is a question with some background thrown in so you get where im coming from.
I remember back when I first started building systems (the P3 / Athlon were battling it out) memory ratios were supposed to be synched with the FSB to achieve best performance. For example if you had a 100fsb but ran your memory at 133 you would often achieve LOWER performance due to the system not communicating effectively. With the Athlon I remember it was often better to LOWER your CPU overclock to allow this 1:1 ratio to occur (a Athlon 1400 with fsb/memory of 333/333 was faster than a Athlon 1500 with fsb/mem of 333/400 or 333/266). I have always held this belief with me through modern systems and I just realized I still do this.
For instance, my motherboard currently defaults the FSB/Mem ratio to be 1:1.25. I have never changed this ratio as I simply assumed it allowed for optimal performance. I am wondering if this is still the case. Would a I7 at 3ghz and 1:1 memory be any slower/faster than a I7 at 3ghz with 1:1.25 memory ratio? I *BELIEVE* that today it simply goes faster memory is better and you dont need to worry about any ratio, but I am curious to hear from someone who knows a definitive answer.
I remember back when I first started building systems (the P3 / Athlon were battling it out) memory ratios were supposed to be synched with the FSB to achieve best performance. For example if you had a 100fsb but ran your memory at 133 you would often achieve LOWER performance due to the system not communicating effectively. With the Athlon I remember it was often better to LOWER your CPU overclock to allow this 1:1 ratio to occur (a Athlon 1400 with fsb/memory of 333/333 was faster than a Athlon 1500 with fsb/mem of 333/400 or 333/266). I have always held this belief with me through modern systems and I just realized I still do this.
For instance, my motherboard currently defaults the FSB/Mem ratio to be 1:1.25. I have never changed this ratio as I simply assumed it allowed for optimal performance. I am wondering if this is still the case. Would a I7 at 3ghz and 1:1 memory be any slower/faster than a I7 at 3ghz with 1:1.25 memory ratio? I *BELIEVE* that today it simply goes faster memory is better and you dont need to worry about any ratio, but I am curious to hear from someone who knows a definitive answer.