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Motherboards and Ram

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TJB21

Registered
Joined
Jun 14, 2010
When a motherboard says 1600(O.C.) in the RAM compatibility specs I understand it means it needs to be overclocked. However, is it the RAM or RAM settings that need to be overclocked? Also, do you need RAM to overclock to this speed or can you do this without RAM, meaning getting 1333 DDR3 to be able to then overclock it to 1600; then install your 1600 speed RAM or just setting it to 1600? Sorry for the stupidity of the question, but I am just getting really into computers on a more technical level and have not read on this specifically and getting ready to do my 1st build.
 
To reach the 1600 speed you need to OC the processor. Take my I5 750 for example. The fastest the RAM can run at stock is 1333 (133 bclk with a 2:10 mem divider) I'd have to raise the bclk to 160 with the 2:10 to reach 1600 on the RAM.
 
Maybe I am not understanding sorry, but the i7 920 which I am looking to buy is what needs to be overclocked and not some RAM feature in the bios when the motherboard specs says 1066,1333,1600(O.C.), 1800(O.C.), 2000(O.C.) to get the RAM to 1600. Does this mean I don't need to get any 1333RAM to set it up for 1600RAM, just going ahead and buying the 1600 or 1800 or 2000 depending on the decided speed and not buy any 1333.
 
If you want 1600, 1800, or 2000, then you should buy that speed.

What jay was saying is that you will have to OC the i7 920 to get to those higher speeds, that's why (O.C.) is beside the RAM speeds.

The reason the i7 920 needs to be OCed for you to get those higher RAM speeds is b/c the RAM speed is based on the CPU's bclk speed multiplied by a RAM multiplier. The CPU's default bclk is 133.3 and default RAM multiplier is 10, which would give to a RAM speed of 1333.
 
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