Choosing your Ram

[LexHou]

I'm having a problem upgrading the RAM in a friend's HP desktop. It has 128 MB of SDRAM which I replaced with a stick of 256MB from the same manufacturer (I pulled it from another HP workstation).

My friend's computer won't recognize the RAM (fails POST). Both RAMs are "PC133U-333-542" the only difference being that the RAM that works ends in "-A" and the RAM that's not recognized ends in "C2". What's the difference between "PC133U-333-543-A" and "PC133U-333-542-C2"? These part numbers appear on white labels on each stick.

 

[Kinesis]

Originally posted by:

The difference between CAS 3 and CAS 2 ram today is nearly trivial.

Okay, so what should I get?Well, that's pretty simple, you probably should get 1 Gigabyte of CAS 2.5 value PC3200. I'd get two stick of Corsair stuff. If you're overclocking, consider PC3500

Great Already ordered my OCZ PC3200 Dual Channel DDR CL2 thinking Latency would be worth the extra bucks. Nutz....should really try to visit here more than every other day....or is it week.

Oh well, such is life!

 

[Pollock]

Originally posted by: ksbong
another example:<BR> Your awesome $200.00 stick of PC4400 RAM can run at 240FSB.<BR> But your CPU maxes out at 230FSB.<BR> Cheaper $100 PC4000 RAM can reach 230.<BR> In this case you can save $100 by going with slower since your CPU can't reach your memory's speed anyway.<BR><BR><BR>As for your second question: I would go with 1Gig of Corsair Value PC3200. You're going to get much greater returns performance wise in games (in newest generation not something like pac-man) with 512 megs more of RAM than you will with -.5 CAS latency. Plus you save a bill.<BR><BR>A lot of people ask what is the "best" XXXXXX?<BR>What many of those people don't understand is the best XXXXXX depends on YYY, ZZZ, QQQ, etc. etc.<BR><BR>Cheers! &amp; have a great day!

But if you have an A64, you can lower the multiplier a bit and raise the FSB to make up the difference, resulting in more overall performance.

 

[MustISO]

Is it possible to buy 2 identical sticks of 512MB PC3200 sold individually and run them as dual channel? Is it really worth the money to buy the DC packages.

 

[Xernex]

Originally posted by: MustISO
Is it possible to buy 2 identical sticks of 512MB PC3200 sold individually and run them as dual channel? Is it really worth the money to buy the DC packages.

You certainly can.

 

[Laogeodritt]

I currently have 256 MB of RAM. Should I get a 512 MB stick and sell the old one, or get another 256 MB RAM to add to what I already have?

I don't have much to spend on it, considering I also need to get another HD and a video card (this intergrated one is horrible, or at least not as good as I would need), though a RAM upgrade would be needed.

 

[Zebo]

Crucial the most compatable (100%) RAM in the world, and is guanteed for life by a company that will be around forever. Nuff said.

I would'nt ever buy anything else.

 

[Kinesis]

With regards to RAM, what are these CAS Timings / RAM timings I hear about. How critical are they? I understand lower is better, but 2.5-3-3-7 means little to me right now, what do the numbers represent?

Anyone?

 

[MustISO]

With regards to RAM, what are these CAS Timings / RAM timings I hear about. How critical are they? I understand lower is better, but 2.5-3-3-7 means little to me right now, what do the numbers represent?

http://www.tomshardware.com/mo...20040119/index-02.html
http://www.anandtech.com/memory/showdoc.aspx?i=2223

 

[Gothgar]

Originally posted by: Kinesis
With regards to RAM, what are these CAS Timings / RAM timings I hear about. How critical are they? I understand lower is better, but 2.5-3-3-7 means little to me right now, what do the numbers represent?

Anyone?

did you read any of this thread at all?

 

[Kinesis]

Originally posted by: Gothgar

Originally posted by: Kinesis
With regards to RAM, what are these CAS Timings / RAM timings I hear about. How critical are they? I understand lower is better, but 2.5-3-3-7 means little to me right now, what do the numbers represent?

Anyone?

did you read any of this thread at all?

Ummm, yeah I did, thanks for the flame , but from what I recall (I did read this late night - and still recovering from my eye surgery - so I am a little blurry with some text) there was little explaination of what each value in the timings represents. ??

Thanks to mustISO I am far more aware of the numbers and their significance.

Sorry to ask the newbie type question, but I am still a newbie with regards to anything over a Pentium 3. But maybe if I get the chance I will re-read this thread.

 

[Boozer]

wow tons of useful info here ! thanks ya ll

 

[DJanish]

i wud like to know what memory wud b the best for me rite now. I hav enuf money to buy only around 160 dollars with of memory, and would like to overclcok my athlon 64 3200+. Im thinkin of an xms series 512mb.

 

[Generic Moniker]

Originally posted by: DJanish
i wud like to know what memory wud b the best for me rite now. I hav enuf money to buy only around 160 dollars with of memory, and would like to overclcok my athlon 64 3200+. Im thinkin of an xms series 512mb.

I'm building the same system. I went with Kingmax PC3700 from newegg (~$160 for a gig).

But, I interested in what others recommend for you.

 

[flexy]

Originally posted by: So
The ram market is fairly simple at the moment (much easier than the days when we had SDRAM, DDR, and RDRAM going at the same time)

i cannot really say that it is that 'simple'.

There are countless choices for PC3200 already (latencies etc.), PC3500 upto PC4400. If it were that simple i wouldn't sit here for days JUST finding out the right ram for my (soon to be) A64 PC.

I am talking OVERCLOCKING here - no question you dont need expensive low latency ram if you dont plan to overclock.

But the article is missing something, ie. how important is it REALLY to have memory capable of running at 1:1 divider (for an A64 system).....assuming that a CPU would be capable of running a HTT ("FSB") of 270 and (cheaper) memory, maybe only 215.

Its missing the information how important (performance wise) "faster" (well overclockable) ram is compared to pushing the CPU.

In other, real life terms:

Assuming my CPU COULD (proven) run 2.74 Ghz (eg. A64 3500+), 11 x 250 HTT. But the memory could NOT, meaning you cannot run at 1:1 divider but need 5:6 divider to run the ram at 205 instead because it does not go higher.

Would you get a noteable perofrmance gain in paying twice as much money (see main AT page memory reviews) for loq latency PQI, OCZ, Corsair etc. which *can* run up to 300 mhz ????
If the memory speed is proven totally neglectible (?) since ONLY the CPU mhz really matter in terms of total system perrormance then we could put the memory discussion to an end once and for all. We weould all know that its totally fine to use value ram, maybe use a lower divider and let the CPU run at its limit and the (cheaper) ram.

But..i still do NOT have this proof - i still dont know whether it is really worth spending a lot more money on low-latency ram or just get value ram.

(Eg. does a 1:1 divider really matter ?! I mean, the A64 boards all have the option to downclock the memory...and thats exactly what you do in case you get cheaper ram. Does it matter to have ram capable of 280 HTT/"FSB" or are you better off saving your money and be happy with the "CPU only" overclock.
Also, according to anandtech mainpage the high-end ram then would (probably) also need a extremely good PSU, they say they had problems with a well-known brand 430W PSU already.
This is an additional factor...you might easily spend $300++ or more for the high-end PSU and the high-end ram....and then you wonder if its really worth it ?

 

[imported_NoGodForMe]

I have 1 gig of the new Corsair 3200XLPro (2225) and my FX53 won't run stable at those timings. Then I read the Corsair forums and find others are having the same problems. Seems the timings must be relaxed to 2336. I still like Corsair memory, but think the 2225 stuff is pushing the limits. In other words, don't get caught up in the hype. The 3200LLPro is probably just as good. I'll have to pull the sticks out of my P4 rig and test.

 

[fustercluck]

Out of these 3 choices of ram, which should i get?:

Kingston HyperX PC 3200

Corsair XMS Extreme Memory Speed Series 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200C2PT

Corsair XMS Extreme Memory Speed Series 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200 (isn't the one above better for the same price? )

Which one's the winner? I'm going to get an Athlon 64 3000+ with an nForce3 250GB board, going to be overclocking.

That HyperX price is higher after shipping+tax. Newegg has cheap shipping and no tax.

 

[syconub]

MAKE SURE YOUR MOBO SUPPORTS YORU RAM i almost threw my comp out the window cause i couldnt get windows on it.


stupid kernal_data_inpage_error

 

[Blain]

 

[Mysteryozo]

So,

When shopping for DDRs how can I indentify single-sided from double-sided?

 

[Mykl]

What's the difference between running a 1:1 compared to 5:4 or whatever?

What are the consequences of not matching the FSB between memory and CPU?

I ask this because I just don't know, and I'm fairly certain that in stock configuration the parts I chose aren't running at 1:1. So I'm curious as to what benefits I may gain by doing a little tweaking to match things up.

 

[tabel]

Which of these 2 RAM brands is better and/or more stable etc...:

CORSAIR ValueSelect: VS1GBKIT400 --- for ($92)
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=80098-21&ps=ho1
Vs
KINGSTON ValueRam: KVR400X64C3AK2/1G --- for ($91)
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-141-423&depa=0
To be used in an MSI MoBo :RS480M2-IL

I really appreciate your input!
Thanks

PS: Does either one use Samsung ram?

 

[ribbon13]

why did you resurrect such an old thread?

Corsair should be fine.

 

[ajac]

what about us nforce users what ram specifcs do we need?

 

[Paintballfreak66]

Originally posted by: So
<BR><BR>Are you going to overclock?<BR>

• If you are, you may think that you need low latency ram. You don't. Most good quality, brand name ram today has a bit of headroom. If you are really concerned buy PC 3500. Once again, 'fast' PC3200 will be worse and cost more, and 'fast' PC3500 will, once again not give you much for your money.

Sorry if this is a dumb question but I'm sort of a noob hehe. But say my motherboard supports up to PC3200 but I want to oc and I buy PC3500 ram like you said. Before overclocking, does the ram just run at 400Mhz since that is the max the motherboard can handle? or does it not work at all? thanks.

EDIT: Nevermind, that was a dumb question. I figured it out. But really, how would I have a clue what the range of fsb I could get for a processor in order to know what ram I should get. I guess I could compare with other people that have done it but is there anywhere with like a list of processors and people's results? Thx.