Memory for A8N-SLI

[CraKaJaX]

Was wondering what the best deal is for about $250-$300 on memory for my A8N-SLI rig. Anyone have suggestions? Mostly looking for gaming performance more then anything. If you could help me I'd appreciate it.

 

[ts3433]

Performance, even when overclocking, will be pretty much the same with cheap $140 value RAM (price assumes 2x512MB) as with $220-300 2-2-2-5 TCCD/Micron G. Save the money and get 2x512MB value RAM from Corsair, Mushkin, or Crucial. (See the sticky in the CPU/OC forum for more info.)

 

[theorignalAMD Overclocker]

So no. Forget that and get the Corsair PC3200 XLPL. This will be the best ram for that motherbaord.

http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=20-145-523&depa=1

 

[docshadow]

I'd say it depends on what you want to do... If you're not too worried about high level o/c then go with cheaper ram at equal timings. Despite what people say you can still save $50+ at get the same performance.
If you really want to drive your rig to o/c heaven then you might want to look into more premium memory, cheaper ram can sometimes hit stability issues when it wasn't really designed to be pushed.

 

[sxr7171]

I just got in on the deal at Outpost - $99 for 2 x 512MB Kingston Value RAM. I hope it lets me hit a decent OC. Nobody has ever really explained why you can't get a modest OC with Value RAM. Isn't there a way to OC the CPU without OCing the RAM?

 

[ts3433]

Yeah, it's called a divider. Running asynchronously like this doesn't kill performance on A64s as it does on P4s (this is where the expensive overclocking RAM can still be useful, because they depend heavily on memory bandwidth for performance), so get value RAM.

theoriginalamdoverclocker: Was that comment directed at my recommendation? Yes, 2-2-2-5 stuff will be the best RAM for that system, but as is shown here and other places, it's simply not worth the price delta.

 

[sxr7171]

Originally posted by: ts3433
Yeah, it's called a divider. Running asynchronously like this doesn't kill performance on A64s as it does on P4s, so get value RAM.

theoriginalamdoverclocker: Was that comment directed at my recommendation? Yes, 2-2-2-5 stuff will be the best RAM for that system, but as is shown here and other places, it's simply not worth the price delta.

Thanks a lot, I was getting sick of all this "you have to spend $250 on a gig of RAM if you overclock BS." It's almost a sick joke that people will pay a 150% premium for a 3% performance differential and recommend that others also do it. I am a happy man with my $99 memory, and now I can use the extra $150 I saved on a better video card (where incidentally your money actually buys a significant performance increase - what a concept!).

 

[Samus]

Originally posted by: sxr7171
I just got in on the deal at Outpost - $99 for 2 x 512MB Kingston Value RAM. I hope it lets me hit a decent OC. Nobody has ever really explained why you can't get a modest OC with Value RAM. Isn't there a way to OC the CPU without OCing the RAM?

*laughs* he thinks he'll get a OC with valueram. You'll be lucky if they run at SPEC

 

[amheck]

So if Value Ram is ok for these setups, then the HyperX should be even better, right? I'm beginning to piece together an A64 system, but to be honest with you, I always wanted memory with the heat speaders on them. I think I'm going to spend the extra couple bucks on the memory with heat spreaders. Outpost has 2x512 for $140 after $20 MIR.

 

[sxr7171]

Originally posted by: amheck
So if Value Ram is ok for these setups, then the HyperX should be even better, right? I'm beginning to piece together an A64 system, but to be honest with you, I always wanted memory with the heat speaders on them. I think I'm going to spend the extra couple bucks on the memory with heat spreaders. Outpost has 2x512 for $140 after $20 MIR.

Hey $140 is still better than $250-270 that people like spending on their memory. This is almost worse than the RDRAM days.

 

[CraKaJaX]

Well if I can get the same performance (mostly gaming) for cheaper, I will do it. But all I have left to buy is the memory and I have about $300 to blow, I want the best I can possibly get for it. Still not sure on what to do with this money... anyone have any suggestions? I'm really not concerned on overclocking right now, but if I could get some memory that could handle the oc I'll order it.

 

[Cardioversion]

I bought twinx 1024-4400c25 ddr550 xms 4400 from corsair for 269. But the Asus a8n deluxe sli board hangs on the 550 setting. Other than that its good mem..........

 

[sxr7171]

To be very honest if you asked me what I would do with $300 burning a hole in my pocket, I would save it in a bank for the inevitable upgrade I would be doing in 6 months-1 year. Maybe I could get a dual core A64 when it comes out or a new video card later this year. I suppose that if you really want the best RAM you can get, there's nothing wrong with that. I've put lots of money into things that barely gave me a return (in audio and cars). It all depends on how badly you need to have that ultra fast RAM and it's okay if that's what you want as long as you are aware of the price/performance ratio and are alright with it.

 

[CraKaJaX]

Well I might as well stick to the value ram for $150 and save some cash for the future. Just have to decide now, here's what I'm looking at:

http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=20-146-900&depa=1
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=20-144-310&depa=1
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=20-145-480&depa=1
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=20-218-062&depa=1

Anyone throw out a suggestion or hear anything good on these? Or something better around the same price?

 

[ts3433]

I would pick Corsair, Crucial or Mushkin. 2x512MB from any of those three can be had for $140. The OCZ and Geil sticks linked are a bit more expensive, and I don't think TwinMOS is quite up to the level of Corsair/Crucial/Mushkin.

 

[Insomniak]

2x512 Mushkin here in a A8N-SLI Deluxe. No complaints at all.

 

[CraKaJaX]

Well I looked into what you said and all I could find from mushkin for dual channel ram is here:
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=20-146-379&depa=1

Still about $180, is there something I'm missing here?
There was also another set of mushkin (2x512) for $175 but out of stock here:
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=20-146-351&depa=1

For Crucial memory, I couldn't find any dual channel (2x512) on newegg anywhere, help?

 

[ts3433]

There are no such things as dual channel memory modules. Dual channel is a property of the memory controller (usually the northbridge, but on the A64 and Opteron, it's the CPU), not of the DIMMs. Two identical sticks will work in dual channel even if not sold as such, and often two non-identical sticks of the same capacity will work that way too.

Mushkin for $140

 

[CraKaJaX]

Appreciate it, ordering now. New rig should be up and running in a few days.