Look for IMCs with low weight on the IMCA.
Look for IMCs with low weight on the IMCA.
My PSCs are really lacking but I managed 3200 with my best stick using the i7 930 at 1.6v VTT. Trying Samsung Gdie caps at 3000 with 1.6v VTT and 3100 at 1.7v VTT didn’t go past 3000 either. With CFRS it’s still not great, and my highest post was 3100 at 2.5v—just barely making it to the splash screen. It looks like PSCs are generally light on the IMC. I’m wondering which other drives are known for being light on the IMC, especially since I’m planning to buy some Hynix models, particularly 1/2Gb and DDR3, which seem to handle decent speeds and later up to 4Gb.
The major effect seems to come from timing differences. Trying to relax them might improve stability with Samsung sticks. Another factor is using fewer and smaller chips. They're also being tested at 2.2 V, which isn't ideal for all models. For instance, a pair of DDR2 sticks can't exceed 946 even with higher voltage, whereas at 2.1 V they work fine. That's why it makes sense to stick to lower voltages. These are budget options, but they're still decent since they're limited to around 800 V and not meant for higher speeds. You might find a DDR3-2400 CL11 kit more suitable than older models like CL9, which are easier to reach above 3000. As a note: on my i5, I needed 1.62V VTT to make my 1600 series sticks run at 2133.
I work with standard OEM components because I select my parts myself. Paying for branded ones usually means extra costs and inconsistent quality unless I opt for premium options or specific categories. What really counts is the component itself; even with a higher tier, if the part is flawed it won’t perform well. These sticks are around 3400, but they need about 2 volts for 10-15-15 at 3100. It’s not the part but the board that truly matters. If the IC were bad, I wouldn’t be able to use Windows without issues—like with the PSC stick shown in the photo, it crashed after just a few moments. For Windows, I’d probably get around 3000 in Windows and still face crashes. The GDs seem reliable even when errors occur, though they don’t handle very high voltages well. Setting them to auto might help a bit, but pushing beyond 2.2 volts risks damage. I’ve tried 2.6 volts and it worked for my garbage chip, but it’s still a weak IC. The Westmere 1156 has poor performance, while the i5 750 can handle up to 2000, though it stalls above 1.5 volts. The i7 models are fine, but I’ve already surpassed their speed records thanks to better cooling. Running at 3 volts is risky and could break things. I’d prefer something more stable for everyday use.