Cheap or Expensive RAM?

[Emultra]

So do I need the HyperX feature on the RAM? I read that other post at the top of the forum about fancy brand RAM not being necessary, and there's a $75 deal for 512Mb no-name unbuffered (whatever that is) PC 3200 RAM, which is good for Swedish prices.

I could go for that, or the 2-3x as expensive fancy stuff. Your opinion?

A64 3200+
Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe
6600GT

 

[Sabbathian]

Yesterday I got 2x512 GEIL Value DDR400 RAM for 83$ a piece and it works great, even up to 510MHz, so i definately recomend it !

 

[Emultra]

So you don't see any risks about buying no-name, including but not limited to less performance and causing bottlenecks?

Will it work with dual memory channeling?

Also, do I need higher than PC3200?

 

[globalcitizen]

I would not recommend no name brand simply because of the crap warranty. Memory is the thing that will cause the most problems if it starts failing and usually it is without warning. Most of the brands like Corsair, Kingston etc have lifetime warranty on the memory and are usually much better quality. You do not need HyperX unless there is insane o/c involved. I got a 450 mhz o/c out of my athlon 64 with corsair valueram which is a 25% o/c on my chip.

 

[Emultra]

What, exactly, is HyperX?

How will dual memory channel work if I have 3 sticks of 512 RAM? Or 1 stick of 512 + 1 stick of 1024 or any other setup?

And what is unbuffered RAM?

 

[Wicked2010]

HyperX is just a branding name I believe.

Dual channel won't work with 3 sticks on most mobos I believe... you need 2 or 4.

unbuffered RAM has no buffer... haha.

 

[globalcitizen]

with the athlon 64 do not get 3 sticks of RAM if it fills up all your slots. You will have to run your memory at 2T and that slows it down a lot.

 

[Emultra]

It has 4 slots.

 

[harrkev]

In general, if you are running at stock speeds, you are far better off getting cheap memory, and spending the extra money on a faster processor. I would still stick to a name brand, though. Just get the name brand "value" ram, instead of spending twice as much just to get 2-2-2 timings. The extra money will bump up you processor quite nicely.

If you are overclocking, the above advice is generally true, but it is possible that a cheap processor is more overclockable than an expensive one.

BTW: Buffered RAM is usually confined to servers. This is entirely determined by your mobo. If your mobo takes unbuffered, then buffered will not work.

 

[slurmsmackenzie]

zebo posted an interesting link as far as AMD's onboard memory controller and the rationale of using expensive memory.

Zebo's rant

hope this helps.

 

[CaBoOse999]

Value ram is fine with an A64. Buy 2 sticks not 3, running at 2T will hurt your performance.

 

[Cheesetogo]

Originally posted by: Emultra
What, exactly, is HyperX?

How will dual memory channel work if I have 3 sticks of 512 RAM? Or 1 stick of 512 + 1 stick of 1024 or any other setup?

And what is unbuffered RAM?

I think hyperx is Kingstons performance ram.

 

[Emultra]

What does "running at 2T" mean?

And if 2 is okay, and 3 is not, is 4 then okay too?