DDR2 RAM experts

[Bootstrap]

I'm looking to upgrade the RAM in my system... currently I have 512MB of DDR PC-2700, I'd like to upgrade to 2GB of DDR2 (yes, my motherboard actually has slots for both DDR and DDR2, although obviously both can't be used at the same time).

I've been looking around newegg, and I've come across some fairly cheap PQI RAM -- I'm looking at this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820141211

and this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820141199 .

They're both basically the same price; the difference is that one is PC2-5400 (667), with CAS latency 4, and the other is PC2-4200 (533) with CAS latency 3. Here are my questions:

1) Does anyone have any experience with this brand? Are there other brands you'd recommend instead?

2) Of the two I've linked above, which do you think will be better? RAM that is clocked faster with a higher latency, or RAM that is clocked slower with a lower latency?

3) My motherboard specs only list RAM up to PC2-4200 @ 533Mhz. Would it still be possible to run the faster RAM at 667? Or will I be limited to 533?

4) I keep reading reviews talking about people manually adjusting the RAM timings. I don't see any options in my bios for doing this (I do see options for adjusting the voltage and clock speed). Is this something that's motherboard specific? Or is there a utility that can be used to adjust RAM timings? Also, how important is it that I be able to do this manually? I've read that some people have had stability problems unless they manually changed the timings -- is this common?

If anyone has any other suggestions, I'd greatly appreciate them. RAM is one aspect of my computer that I know very little about. Thanks for your help!

 

[Bootstrap]

No one has any opinion on this?

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: Bootstrap
No one has any opinion on this?

Other than that most of your questions could be answered by searching, not really.

As far as your questions:

1) Sorry, no. In general, RAM is RAM is RAM, unless you're into crazy overclocking.

2) (huge abstraction) Intel processors generally like higher speed rather than tighter timings.

3) You'll be limited to 533Mhz unless you OC the motherboard and/or CPU.

4) It's adjusted in the BIOS -- but since you gave absolutely no useful information about the rest of your system, we can't even try to help you. Generally, everything works just fine at the automatic settings unless you are trying to do something unusual.

 

[Bootstrap]

Thanks for your reply. I have been searching for quite a while, but I've been unable to find a clear, centralized explanation, so I thought I'd just ask the experts. I do apologize, as I'm sure you hear the same questions over and over.

Sorry about the lack of info -- I gave what I thought would be relevant. My motherboard is a Gigabyte GA-8I915P Duo A with a Pentium 3.4Ghz Prescott. The RAM that's in there now was taken from an older computer. I'd be happy to provide other "useful" information, if you'd be so kind as to define what that is. I do appreciate your help, though.

Thanks again.

 

[alimoalem]

i'm pretty sure when it says the ram is PC2-5400, the manufacturer is just saying it's OCable to that speed. i'm pretty sure the PC2-5400 will come to you as 4200. are you interested in OCing?

 

[Bootstrap]

You mean that if I install 5400 RAM will just run at the 4200 speed by default, unless I OC? Websites like Crucial list 5400 RAM as compatible with my motherboard, but the documentation doesn't, which is why I was asking the question to begin with. My main concern is stability -- I wouldn't be averse to overclocking, but I don't want to waste time screwing around with BIOS settings to try and avoid crashes. On the other hand, if there was a huge performance difference between the two and no effort required on my part either way, then I'd obviously want to buy the RAM with the best performance.