Memory Performance

[duffyone]

I’m not sure I have enough knowledge on the subject to even ask a question; nevertheless, here it is:

I’m looking at memory for an Asus P4C800 and I’m wondering what memory provides the best performance… PC-3200 with low latency 2-3-2-6 or PC-3700 with relaxed timing of 3-4-4-8.

Seems that memory with higher freq. also has high latency... still better to go faster

[jmichna]

The lowest (stable) latency settings at a given bus speed will give better performance, but the real performance gains will only show up in benchmarking tests... you or I wouldn't see the difference in normal use.

Having said this, in your particular case, it's tough to say because of the two different speed categories (PC3200 vs PC3700) the latency settings are based on. The PC3200 "may" be capable of running at the given PC3700 latency settings, at PC3700 bus speed... but there's no way to know for sure from the specs you've been given.

Does the manufracturer of the PC3200 memory claim any latency settings at PC3700? Or, conversely, does the PC3700 manufacturer claim any certain latency capability for their ram at PC3200 speed?

[jmichna]

After re-reading your post, I had another thought: Just what bus speed do you intend to run at? The minor loss of more relaxed latency settings would almost certainly be made up for, by running all the other hardware system/devices at a higher bus speed.