If you cant afford the better RAM there is no reason to buy DDR3!

2x2GB DDR3 1600 @ 7-7-7-20

will work just fine

Aggressive uber memory would be DDR3 1800 @ 8-8-8-24



In DDR2

2x2GB DDR2 1066 @ 5-5-5-15


In both cases to use that ram speed correctly you must overclock. The ability in that clock depends on the memory stability and the CPU purchased. A decent but less aggressive clock for a Q9560 would be 400FSB x 9 (CPU Multiplier) = 3.6GHz with STRAP to 400 which should allow the memory speed of 1066 with DDR2 or 1600 with DDR3

Too keep costs low I would just stick with DDR2 for now

2x2GB DDR2 1066 @ 5-5-5-15  Corsair

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145197

Note: Those sticks will also do DDR2 1080 5-5-5-15 @ 450MHz FSB x9 (4050MHz CPU)

Q9650 = 9 multiplier

1.      Disable all the CPU crap under the Advanced  CPU Configuration menu… Speedstep CE1, Vanderpool,,. All of it DISABLED

2.      Under the Adavaced menu… Ai Overclock Tuner MANUAL, CPU speed is 9x, CPU STRAP is 400 (note, check memspeed @ 400 STRAP may need to be 333 for 1066), FSB is 400, PCIe is 100, memory settings are MANUAL, command is 2N DRAM Timing Control is 5-5-5-15, DRAM Frequency is 1066, all else auto,,, DRAM Static Read Control DISABLED..

3.      CPU Voltage 1.28v … (requires stability testing to get this right.. 1.36v MAX)  1.25 to 1.28v should be stable @ 3.6GHz May even do 4GHz @ 1.28v but may require increase to 1.32v for 4GHz


North Bridge Voltage 1.44 to 1.52 (requires stability testing to get this right.. 1.55v MAX) Typically 1.45 will work at 400FSB  however if unstable 1.52 usually does the job especially at higher FSB such as 450

4.      DRAM Voltage your max warrantee DDR2 voltage (2.1v is typical)

5.      Loadline Calibration ENABLED

6.      CPU Spread Spectrum PCIE Spread Spectrum DISABLED

7.      Northbridge Configuration menu… 4GB installed? Memory Remap Feature ENABLED

8.      PCI/PNP MENU … Plug and Play OS… YES


The rest is based on your installed hardware and a tech must make those decisions



You must have a proper CPU cooler to clock. The OCZ Vendetta2 would be the one I would use.

yes 333 should be 1080 for DDR2 at 450 with a 9650

the processor drives that math..

but I thought it needed to come up to 400 for 400FSB.. I may be thinking of the Q6600

It depends on the BIOS too... seen BIOS programers throw a curve in that area a few times