PC3-8500 vs PC3-10666 and latency?

I bought the base Dell M4500 with 2gb RAM and am looking to upgrade to 8gb. I found two options, one is Hynix PC3-8500 1066 mhz DDR3 with 7-7-7-20 latency, and the other is Corsair PC3-10666 1333mhz DDR3 with 9-9-9-20 latency. They are roughly the same price, but I am confused. I heard that 1066mhz<1333mhz, but the lower latency numbers are better? So which should I go for?
Thanks guys,
Jesse

 

Honestly, you will notice no difference with either kit. Just remember that if you have a dual core, it won't support more than 1066MHz, so if you get a 1333MHz kit, it will downclock to 1066MHz. Also, unless you have specific purposes for upgrading to 8GB, you will not notice a difference from 4GB (though if you don't care for the money, then it never hurts to have more memory).

 

Yes, if you are running on 2GB, chances are upgrading to 4GB is going to be more than enough unless you are doing something that necessitates more. As far as latency, higher speeds usually outweigh looser timings, but again, like sgogeta4 said, there is no practical difference. Also when the 1333Mhz ram downclocks, its timings will tighten automatically so that running at the same speeds, both types of ram will most likely run the same timings anyway. I would get the faster memory because it has better resale value and future usability, but that is extremely minor and only worth it if all else is equal.

 

I made a sig, but it doesn't show. It's an i7 620m, I think it's a dual core, running win 7 x64 being used for CAD and engineering image-rendering software. Of course while streaming music in the background Will I then notice 2x2gb vs 2x4gb RAM?
Jesse
EDIT: Ah, there it is, I thought the sig would backdate but apparently it only shows from the date it was created.

 

And about the downclocking of the 1333 on a dual core, if that were true, then why is Dell shipping it with 1333?
Jesse

 

Marketing purposes. Especially if you're on a budget, 4GB should still be enough for your purposes.

 

For CAD (I'm assuming AutoCAD here...) you won't notice 8GB vs. 4GB RAM for most 'normal' projects. Even my clients who are immersed in AutoCAD find no difference between 4GB and 8GB RAM with their biggest files/projects.

For the engineering image rendering software though, you may very well be limited by the 4GB RAM - especially when running multiple background programs.

My advice: buy the 8GB RAM with the knowledge you can return it for a full refund with no penalties and proceed to fully test it in your system/configuration/usage pattern. Only you will be able to say if it is beneficial for the amount of money you have to spend.

PS. for me, 8GB is the 'sweet spot' for over 3 years now on my desktop and for almost (over?) a year on my notebooks too. I convert/edit RAW images to jpegs/tiffs/psd files almost everyday. The 4GB 'extra' RAM gives me at least 30% more productivity in my workflow.

See:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/har...ades/441911-8gb-vs-4gb-ram-faster-system.html


Good luck.

 

Excellent comparison!

 

Thank you.

But the most important part: if you can try/use it (8GB RAM) with no return penalty in your own system is the most important part, imo.

 

You only really need 8GB of ram if you intend to do high level multi tasking. For a lot of people it is not needed.

 

Multi tasking is not the only condition where a lot of RAM is desirable.

Video and/or Audio editing is also helped with huge RAM availability as are many other apps/programs/uses that I will never use myself, but have heard about.

Although RAM helps multi tasking situations, a faster cpu and/or faster memory subsystem will also help multi tasking scenarios more if the data sets of each app used concurrently is smaller than the available RAM (whether it is 4, 8 or more GB's in size).

 

But let's be honest, the people who need it will know they need it.

 

Heh QFT...

 

Meaker,

If that were true, I would not have some of my clients then. They depend on my experience (and my ability to extrapolate that experience to their needs) to maximize and optimize their hardware/software to its optimum state.

Don't think of the younger generation who more readily think in terms of Ghz, GB's and MultiCore - think of yesteryear's minds that see a computer as a black box still - even though they may know to throw around names like RAM and HD's with apparent expertise.