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    Does the RAM mhz have a major affect on performance?

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by Nailjohnj, Aug 28, 2011.

  1. Nailjohnj

    Nailjohnj Notebook Enthusiast

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    the title pretty much covers my question. I have a t420 that came with 4 GB on 1333 mhz ram (single stick). I was rushing through newegg trying to find an upgrade and bought a g skill 1067 mhz 4 gb stick. Both are ddr3. I have read that the system slows down to the lowest speed, so my question is is this causing my system to run noticeably slower than it could with 8 GB 1333 mhz. I have noticed what I think is a difference in speed, but that might just be imagined.

    thanks for the help
     
    Nailjohnj, Aug 28, 2011
    #1
  2. kirayamato26

    kirayamato26 Notebook Deity

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    In theory the 1333 MHz RAM has 25% more bandwidth than the 1066 MHz RAM. In practice? The speed difference isn't great at all if any in most applications.
     
    kirayamato26, Aug 28, 2011
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  3. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

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    More RAM > faster RAM. Faster RAM no real world benefits, only synthetic benchmarks and encoding maybe.
     
    Tsunade_Hime, Aug 28, 2011
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  4. lead_org

    lead_org Purveyor of Truth

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    faster ram will play a role if you have the Intel integrated GPU.
     
    lead_org, Aug 29, 2011
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  5. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

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    Faster RAM does provide a measurable FPS boost to SandyBridge's integrated graphics because the memory controller is not longer the main bottleneck.

    John
     
    John Ratsey, Aug 29, 2011
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  6. Kaso

    Kaso Notebook Virtuoso

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    Your second stick will bring total RAM to 8GB, but cause both modules to clock at 1067MHz and disable dual-channel (interleaved) memory access.

    The system performs better if you install two sticks of the same characteristics. In reality, it is safer to get them as a pair (around $50) from the same manufacturer.
     
    Kaso, Aug 29, 2011
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  7. richan90

    richan90 Notebook Consultant

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    richan90, Aug 29, 2011
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  8. Bioniker

    Bioniker Notebook Enthusiast

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    A little more exhaustive, it may not be that simple.

    http://forum.notebookreview.com/len...ston-1866mhz-amazing-results.html#post7537429

    In this thread, users seem to find noticable differences. This is just for a game.

    4 GB -> 8 GB - apprx 60 % faster
    1333 MHz -> 1866 MHz - apprx 10 % difference

    This does confirm Tsunade Hime's first statement (more RAM > faster RAM), but does not confirm the second statement (faster RAM = no noticable results, with the possible exception of encoding).

    As far as I know, this is not true. Both sticks should run at the lower frequency as dual-channel.
     
    Bioniker, Aug 29, 2011
    #8