Desprately need help deciding RAM

[bladephoenix]

Howdy. My system is in my sig. Now here is my story:

I have learned a VERY important lesson over the last couple of months: NEVER buy $40 Kingston value RAM for a DFI board (Initially I thought it might be OK, because I heard so many people here say that using value RAM works reasonably well, but I guess in my particular system it does not)

For the last 6 weeks or so, since I build my rig, I have been getting dozens of BSODs when I am doing just about anything. They always come out of nowhere and never seem to be reproducable -- sometimes referencing network drivers, sometimes sound card drivers, and sometimes just windows files. I tried the standard techniques: take out all hardware, safe mode, safe BIOS settings, etc., to no avail.

However, yesturday I did a MemTest (the prog is built into BIOS -- nice thing about DFI), and in about 15 mins it brought up 2500+ errors! I did another two quick 15 min tests with the same result, with more errors each time I did the test. I then tested each module individually by putting only one stick into slot 2 (single channel mode). I did a 1-hour MemTest on each stick, each with no errors at all. This lead me to believe that the sticks work fine individually but wreak havok when in dual-channel mode.

Thus, I took the RAM back to my computer store and exchanged it for a dual-channel kit instead -- Kingston HyperX 1GB. The first thing I did was do another MemTest. I ran the test for 3 hours, and produced no errors at all. However, at that point, the DFI tech support finally responded to my email and said that Kingston is generally not recommended for DFI boards. He gave me this link: Link

Now, I am thinking maybe I should exchange my HyperX 1GB (though it past Memtest, I have not had three months to use it) for one of the modules recommended, just as to play it safe and avoid issues which my pop-up another two months down the road. However, I don't have access to most of the modules mentioned. My store only sells the following: My local store

However, the info on the link that DFI sent me is somewhat over my league. I have narrowed down my choices of RAM to the following:

Corsair 2048MB TwinX PC3200 CAS 2 Dual Channel Kit ($309 CAD)
OCZ 1GB PC3200 Gold Edition 2-2-2-5 Dual Channel DDR Kit ($199.95 CAD)
OCZ 2GB PC4000 Gold Gamer eXtreme XTC Edition Dual Channel DDR Kit ($269.95 CAD)
Mushkin XP4000 Xtreme Performance Black Series DDR SDRAM, 2GB Dual Pack ($289.95 CAD)

From what I gather PC4000 has higher timings, but is more overclockable and has more selection when getting 2GB Kits. PC3200 has lower timings, but is not so good when getting a 2GB kit.

Now I know by looking at my sig, you would probably think that the system I have is crying to be OCed, and you would be right. I origially planned my rig to get into learning OC at some point in the future, but after the numerous BSODs I have been having at stock, and reading through all this confusing info about CAS/RAS, I have decided to lay off it for now. Aside from that I did manage to get my GTO2 operating at a X850XTPE, but OCing a CPU with a DFI board is very confusing. Added to that, I cannot seem to get my CPU temp to run cool at stock -- it still idles at 45C despite a recent application of AS5 on it, and a resonably good TT Tsunami case. So I am going to set OCing aside for the next 6 months or so.

Anyway, I just wanted to know, given that I plan on shelving OC for a while, what would be the best RAM to get. Sorry for the long post, I wanted to say as much history as I can so someone here can give me advice on what to do. I am now at the point of having my mind and money drained, repeatedly buying components that aren't compatible. Actually, I kind of wish I just spent a few more bucks on the ASUS Cool-Pipe board instead. DFI seems to be very finicky about what is inside your system...RAM or a PSU rail that is a little off voltage and it seems to complain, but I am kind of stuck with this mobo now.

 

[Painman]

Unfortunately, the DFI really does hate Kingston RAM for some reason. Is there a Canadian distributor for G.SKILL? I had an easy time with their 2 * 1 GB PC4000 "HZ" kit. Plugged in the DIMMs, and they perform flawlessly @ DDR500 with the BIOS RAM settings on Auto and VDIMM @ only 2.5 volts. In the US the kit is $197. Highly recommended if you can find it up there.

 

[bladephoenix]

Thanks for your reply Painman. Unfortunatly I can't seem to find G.Skill anywhere in my city. I had initially looked around for it since so many people recommended it here, but alas I can't seem to get a hold of it. I think NCIX.com should have it (newegg doesn't ship to Canada -- blast!), but am trying to get my stuff locally at a store. I know it limits my choices, but it does come in handy to have a face to face person if I should need to go back and complain something doesn't work.

 

[bladephoenix]

On a side note, Painman, is there a benefit to operating DDR 500 with no OC? I was trying to figure out if I should get Corsair DDR 400 or OCZ DDR 500. I read that "good" DDR 500 operates at 2.5-3-3-8 @ DDR 400, where as "good" DDR 400 runs at 2-3-2-6. By the way I know OCZ is not at the top of the chain, but again, its all I have access to -- either that or Mushkin or Kingston, both of which are no better than OCZ.

 

[Painman]

Is this the Mushkin kit that is available to you? They have a 2 * 1 GB kit based on the same Samsung UCCC RAM that the G.SKILL kit uses, I think this is it, but not 100% sure. I would go for 2 * 1 GB UCCC if available, the DFI boards play nice with it.

Edit: Missed your other post, tbh bandwidth and latency aren't big factors in A64 performance. You can always slow RAM down to ~DDR400 level while overclocking the CPU and still get great performance. Nonetheless, I just personally like to run the RAM as fast as it can, and buying DDR500 can eliminate a lot of guesswork in that endeavor. Plus, UCCC based DIMMs happen to play very nicely with the DFI, and since their pricing is competitive even with some of the DDR400 stuff, I see no problem going with it.

 

[bladephoenix]

Yup that's the one!

 

[Painman]

I'd get some confirmation first that the Mushkin Black is indeed UCCC (I'm pretty sure it is) and if so, go forth and buy

 

[bladephoenix]

After some research it appears that the Mushkin Black, GSkill F1 PC4000 and PC 3200 Kits, and the OCZ Gold XTC are all UCCC, just in case anyone reading this might benefit from reading. Oddly enough though, it appears that any Samsung UCCC memory requires 2.8V to operate and has a max OC of DDR550, so it was quite an amazing feat you managed to get it running at only 2.5V! Samsung TCCD/TCC5 memory is the lowest I have found and that requires 2.6V to run @ DDR400.

From what I have gathered so far, since all the memory above is UCCC, I will probably end up getting the OCZ XTC Gold, simply because it is just a tad cheaper than the Mushkin black, and is still Samsung UCCC. It also has a warranty protecton that if run up to 2.9V, the manufacturer will not make a fuss (not that they would know how much volts you pump into it anyway), and I have to admit, the heatspreader does look kind of cool (no pun intended).

Thanks for your help again Painman.

EDIT: On a side note, it does kind of pain me to know I will be spending about $120 more on RAM -- which ends up to be about $170 more than I intended to spend of memory altogether -- the memory costs are now almost the same as my CPU Oh well, I guess 2X the memory is 2X the $$$. I still dunno if I will be able to use up 2GB though...but it should last another few years without futher upgrading I guess.