Desktop Memory: 8GB (2x4GB) Kingston HyperX Blu DDR3 1600 $30, 8GB (2x4GB) Patriot Viper 3 DDR3 1600 $25 after $10 Rebate + Free Shipping

The Patriot Intel Extreme 8gb (2x4) 1600 kit is also on sale at Newegg
Basically the same as the $24.99 Patriot Viper but it does have slightly better specs. Intel Extreme 9-9-9-24 vs Viper 9-9-9-27
$42.99
$38.69 after promo code EMCJJJG35
$28.69 after MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Pro...6820220705

anyone know why RAM has such high timings these days? the mushkin DDR3 ram i bought 3 years ago was a 16000 kit with 7 CL. nowadays all the ram i see on sale is like 9 CL

Probably because it reduces costs, and doesn't matter. As far as I remember, CL is the number of clocks between a data request and the first available memory. Since your clockrates are in the GHz range, the access time difference for that first memory is in the nanosecond range, and subsequent chunks are limited more by the data bus rate than by CL rate, so it isn't worth keeping the tolerance for CL low.

Quote from alany611 : anyone know why RAM has such high timings these days? the mushkin DDR3 ram i bought 3 years ago was a 16000 kit with 7 CL. nowadays all the ram i see on sale is like 9 CL

Because they're measured in clock cycles and memory is much higher frequency. Even with the higher numbers the speed is much faster.

Quote from alany611 : anyone know why RAM has such high timings these days? the mushkin DDR3 ram i bought 3 years ago was a 16000 kit with 7 CL. nowadays all the ram i see on sale is like 9 CL

Intel has stated that their max safe voltage for RAM is 1.5v. Yours is likely a 1.65v kit, which can run at higher speeds due to the higher voltage.

The current Corsair Dominators run at 1.5v, with the fastest one topping out at 2133 mhz at CAS9.

Quote from Tsumi : Intel has stated that their max safe voltage for RAM is 1.5v. Yours is likely a 1.65v kit, which can run at higher speeds due to the higher voltage. The current Corsair Dominators run at 1.5v, with the fastest one topping out at 2133 mhz at CAS9.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Pro...6820146777

.........it's 1.8v kit LOOOOL

....will i need to get a new set since im upgrading to a Z77 board soon....lol....790i liked the high voltage :x

Quote from alany611 : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Pro...6820146777 .........it's 1.8v kit LOOOOL ....will i need to get a new set since im upgrading to a Z77 board soon....lol....790i liked the high voltage :x

1.8v... holy crap that's high. Intel recommends 1.5v or less. I see many people running 1.65v RAM, but I don't think I would go any higher.

You always have the option of lowering voltage by increasing timings or lowering frequency.

Your RAM is 1600 mhz RAM @ CAS 7. If it requires 1.8v to run at that speed, then it should be replaced if you plan on moving to a current gen Intel system. 1.5v 1600 mhz CAS 9 RAM is dirt cheap nowadays.

Quote from Tsumi : 1.8v... holy crap that's high. Intel recommends 1.5v or less. I see many people running 1.65v RAM, but I don't think I would go any higher. You always have the option of lowering voltage by increasing timings or lowering frequency. Your RAM is 1600 mhz RAM @ CAS 7. If it requires 1.8v to run at that speed, then it should be replaced if you plan on moving to a current gen Intel system. 1.5v 1600 mhz CAS 9 RAM is dirt cheap nowadays.

yeah i guess ram has higher cas these days cause of lower volts.... x.x

Quote from alany611 : yeah i guess ram has higher cas these days cause of lower volts.... x.x

As I pointed out, the Corsair Dominator RAM runs 1.5v at 2133 mhz CAS 9. That is going to at least be equal to, or faster than 1600 mhz CAS 7.

Point is, budget value RAM is going to be 1.5v 1600 mhz CAS 9. If you want faster RAM, you're going to pay more for it, and most real world applications are not going to benefit from faster RAM.

Looking on Newegg, there's 14 RAM kits that run 1600 mhz CAS 7. Out of all of those, 6 are 1.65v kits, the rest are 1.5v.