Question about RAM speed

[johnnyTheMac]

Hello everyone,

 

I am building an HTPC. I am going to be using this set up:

 

Kingston Value RAM 2x 4GB 1600MHz PC3-12800 DDR3 Non-ECC CL11 DIMM SR x8 Desktop Memory (KVR16N11S8/4)

 

AMD A6-6400K APU 3.9Ghz 

 

Antec Minuet 350 MicroATX Slim Case Computer Case 350 Watt 80 PLUS Power Supply

 

Gigabyte FM2+ AMD A78 HDMI Dual-Link DVI D-Sub UEFI BIOS mATX DDR3 2133

 

I have a SSD and an optical drive, so I won't be needing those.

 

My question is really about the RAM speed. For an HTPC, is 1600 going to be good enough, or would I benefit for upping the speed to 1866 or something. All that I will be using the HTPC for is XBMC, streaming video and music files (mvk, in particular) from the HTPC to other smart tvs in the house and to run an NES emulator. 

 

Thank you in advance for your help, suggestions and advice.

[Paralectic]

I would get a 2133/2400Mhz kit if it's reasonably priced, the APU benifits from high clocked RAM :-)

[shayned1997]

Definitely try for higher speed

[dragosudeki]

In your case, I don't think it really matters too much.

[johnnyTheMac]

In your case, I don't think it really matters too much.

Thank you replies!

 

Yeah, I don't know if it matters, either. I have a gaming rig. This is going to be a dedicated media center and if we do play games, it will be from an NES emulator. My wife likes to play Super Mario Bros and stuff from that system. I was just wondering if I will see an significant benefit from going to 1866 from 1600.

[Anthony10]

Get this RAM http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3oCv9

It's the same price as any other RAM and much faster. I would use it in my next build, but I want the dominators for light bar sexinesses.

It's 2400mhz cl11 2x8gb for $150 and it looks pretty cool too.

[johnnyTheMac]

Get this RAM http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3oCv9

It's the same price as any other RAM and much faster. I would use it in my next build, but I want the dominators for light bar sexinesses.

It's 2400mhz cl11 2x8gb for $150 and it looks pretty cool too.

Is that not a bit much for what I am doing?

[Anthony10]

Is that not a bit much for what I am doing?

yes :{ lol

[Mooshi]

Thank you replies!

 

Yeah, I don't know if it matters, either. I have a gaming rig. This is going to be a dedicated media center and if we do play games, it will be from an NES emulator. My wife likes to play Super Mario Bros and stuff from that system. I was just wondering if I will see an significant benefit from going to 1866 from 1600.

 

Yeah..you're fine.

 

A box from several years ago is more than capable of doing that with slow as dirt hardware, that set up isn't going to choke on NES roms. Unless the price of ram is the same, there is zero point in spending for more speed for your specific task.

 

It's freaking SMB, guys...seriously. The NES came out in 85. Yes, APUs benefit from fast ram, but I repeat, it's freaking Super Mario Bros. OP will see zero performance differences between 1600 and 1866. Stop recommending he spend more on 2000mhz+ ram when there is no justification in this usage case.

[flibberdipper]

For APU's, 1866MHz CL9 is really nice.

[Anthony10]

Yeah..you're fine.

 

A box from several years ago is more than capable of doing that with slow as dirt hardware, that set up isn't going to choke on NES roms. Unless the price of ram is the same, there is zero point in spending for more speed for your specific task.

 

It's freaking SMB, guys...seriously. The NES came out in 85. Yes, APUs benefit from fast ram, but I repeat, it's freaking Super Mario Bros. OP will see zero performance differences between 1600 and 1866. Stop recommending he spend more on 2000mhz+ ram when there is no justification in this usage case.

I recommended he purchase ram priced at the same price as most 1600mhz ram, but my recommendation was 16gb which is way too much.

justsayan

[johnnyTheMac]

Yeah..you're fine.

 

A box from several years ago is more than capable of doing that with slow as dirt hardware, that set up isn't going to choke on NES roms. Unless the price of ram is the same, there is zero point in spending for more speed for your specific task.

 

It's freaking SMB, guys...seriously. The NES came out in 85. Yes, APUs benefit from fast ram, but I repeat, it's freaking Super Mario Bros. OP will see zero performance differences between 1600 and 1866. Stop recommending he spend more on 2000mhz+ ram when there is no justification in this usage case.

Thank you very much!

 

Do you think that the CPU stock cooler will be too noisy for an HTPC? What do you think about that case? It has a PSU included. And, finally, the motherboard. I cannot find any reviews on it anywhere. I went with it because it was cheap and I have owned many Gigabyte mobos and they have not given me any problems. 

[Mooshi]

I recommended he purchase ram priced at the same price as most 1600mhz ram, but my recommendation was 16gb which is way too much.

justsayan

 

It's all usage with speed and capacity. My own system uses 16GB of ram @ 2133mhz, but this might be too little or too much for someone else. :V

 

Thank you very much!

 

Do you think that the CPU stock cooler will be too noisy for an HTPC? What do you think about that case? It has a PSU included. And, finally, the motherboard. I cannot find any reviews on it anywhere. I went with it because it was cheap and I have owned many Gigabyte mobos and they have not given me any problems. 

 

 

From what I've heard reading around, AMD stock coolers are loud. I don't have an AMD system running a stock cooler to give a real world perspective. Maybe an AMD user who uses their stock cooler will give some insight. Gigabyte is a solid brand so the board should be fine so long as all the parts are compatible. As for the case and PSU combo, they are a bit dated judging off a review I found from 2009. Cases are a personal thing, but if you are open to suggestions and wanting something that isn't uber expensive, you can opt for the Silverstone PS07. It's not a horizontal case, but it's sleek with a more modern layout.

 

 

 

[johnnyTheMac]

It's all usage with speed and capacity. My own system uses 16GB of ram @ 2133mhz, but this might be too little or too much for someone else. :V

 

 

 

From what I've heard reading around, AMD stock coolers are loud. I don't have an AMD system running a stock cooler to give a real world perspective. Maybe an AMD user who uses their stock cooler will give some insight. Gigabyte is a solid brand so the board should be fine so long as all the parts are compatible. As for the case and PSU combo, they are a bit dated judging off a review I found from 2009. Cases are a personal thing, but if you are open to suggestions and wanting something that isn't uber expensive, you can opt for the Silverstone PS07. It's not a horizontal case, but it's sleek with a more modern layout.

 

 

 

Thank you for your response and suggestion!

 

Yeah, I was looking at some towers, but I wanted to go for something small enough to fit in the cupboard under my TV. I wanted something like the size of a cable box or DVR. It may be a bit dated, but the reviews are not that bad. I think that I am more worries about the quality of the PSU. I don't need anything big or expensive, just something to run what is basically an XBMC box. 

[Mooshi]

Thank you for your response and suggestion!

 

Yeah, I was looking at some towers, but I wanted to go for something small enough to fit in the cupboard under my TV. I wanted something like the size of a cable box or DVR. It may be a bit dated, but the reviews are not that bad. I think that I am more worries about the quality of the PSU. I don't need anything big or expensive, just something to run what is basically an XBMC box. 

 

Like I said, cases are kind of a personal preference. From a review I was reading, that PSU is fine, but it doesn't exactly have lots of connectors. Judging by the review mentioning lack of PCI-E connectors, i assume they mean 6/8pin connectors are not on that psu. Since you are going to be using an APU anyway, this might not be an issue. When in doubt, though. Silverstone has some nice SFX PSUs.

[snoopybellwood]

I think the highest it supports is1866