Is it better to buy higher speed than required and adjust timings?

[HecklerUK]

As per the subject title... If I get some DDR3 1600 (PC312800) to go with a Phenom II X2 555 BE which only needs DDR3 1333... Will that allow me greater headroom for any overclocking I want to do, or if I ran it at stock tighten the timings?

It's been a few years since I messed with over clocking... but reducing the multiplier and running a higher FSB should get me better results than just raising the multiplier... at least that's how I remember doing it on my old Athlon 2500 Barton, which I got from 1.8ghz up to almost 2.5ghz.

[Broadsword1976]

I've got into the habit of overspecing RAM just for giving me the added headroom when OCing...But most will agree these days that frequency and timings on RAM make negligible difference to a PCs day to day operation.

Edit: ahhh Bartons... I had a 3200+ and it clocked sooo nicely, happy days.

[Bigian88]

I tend to go with high frequency RAM as when i overclock my CPU i have to underclock my RAM anyway so the underclocking leaves me with space to tighten the timings if needed without over-doing it :)

[AmdOverclocker]

If you have the money I would get the 1800mhz g.skill flare since you have a c3 stepping your ram should run nicely at 1800 and if it can't it will be very future proof anyway if you think about getting a 1055t or something later :)

[Zaim]

I tend to go with high frequency RAM as when i overclock my CPU i have to underclock my RAM anyway so the underclocking leaves me with space to tighten the timings if needed without over-doing it :)

+1, I'd go with 1600 over 1333, it provides better oc headroom.

[AmdOverclocker]

+1, I'd go with 1600 over 1333, it provides better oc headroom.

or you could read my post, 1800 is definitely the way to go as that ram is optimized for AMD.

[ZodiarK]

or maybe zaim does not agree with you?!

broad is right wont really effect anything unless your benching?