OCing DDR SamsungPC2700 or CrucialPC2100?

[pepsimanz]

I have a P41.6@2.4 setup with the MSI 645 Ultra MB with 256mb of Crucial PC2100 DDR ram running at 374mhz (4/5 setting) 2.5CL.
Loved my P4 2.4ghz and my crucial ram as I bought it at low price a few months ago and it is OCing like a champ even to 374mhz (PC3000+, but only 2.5CL only)

However, recently, I wanted to add another stick of ram into my system now for possible faster video editing speed and after reading through all the reviews and threads, I think I have come down to two choices because of my tight budget:

256mb samsung PC2700 ($72+tax)
256mb Crucial PC2100 ($75 +tax with the new 20% discount discussed in the hot deal forum)

I loved my Crucial PC2100, and would like to get it again. However, despite the higher cost, it is rated only at PC2100 and I know that it might not OC as good as my old one, so there might be a possibility that I cannot run it at my original setting.

The samsung PC2700 seems to be a better deal with real PC2700 rating. But I don't know how good it will overclock and if it will run at my current setting also.

Since my MB doesn't have a Vram adjustment, it makes me even more concern if any of these ram will run at my current setting with stock voltage.
Which ram , in general, would have a higher chance reaching 374mhz? Any comments or advise are greatly appreciated.

A small side question also: I have two identifical hard drives running in the system, I am thinking of doing a Raio 0 since it could improve speed while I am editing video. However, my MB doesn't have a raid controller, is it worth it to buy a seperate controller (e.g. Iwill, SIIG,..). I am thinking to get the IWILL SIde RAID100, any comments on its performance?

 

[ATC9001]

samsung definetly. I read a review today and samsung is the best out there rated at 2700....it even beat out crucial PC2700...yes 2700 and not 2100. Also smasung doesn't use a lot of vmem..actualy I was used to my crucial running around 3.0v so i put my samsung in at 3.0v and it wasn't OCing very well....I was pissed and went into a multipler OC and got no post, cleared CMOS (and voltage back to default) forgot about changing RAM voltage tried 166 FSB with turbo timings....bingo. Use 2.7 maybe 2.8v and your golden with samsung.

 

[anime]

samsung pc2700 all the way. I got mine running at 180mhzx2-360mhz (512mb module).
svcompucycle and googlegear have them onsale at good price. I got mine from svcompucycle.

 

[Sachmho]

samsung pwnz me

 

[Cuke]

<< samsung pc2700 all the way. I got mine running at 180mhzx2-360mhz (512mb module).
svcompucycle and googlegear have them onsale at good price. I got mine from svcompucycle. >>



Go with svc, not googlegear.

SVC has Samsung chips on Samsung boards 512M 2700 for $138

Googlegears is NOT on Samsung boards, but some inferior supplier's. Check out this thread:
Googlegear PC2700 is NOT True Samsung

Here's the SVC deal:
SVC Compucycle deal on Samsung 512M-2700 DDR

 

[pepsimanz]

Thank you everyone for your advise.

From all the feedback and some more research, I indeed decided to go with the Samsung now because of its promising OC and performance. and since I work close to SVC and had made previous purchase from them. I order and picked up a stick of 512mb today ($137.5+Tax, pretty good deal+no s/h) and I am glad that I did after hearing what Cuke mentioned.

However, when examing the ram, the board has no indication of being manufactured by Samsung. The only things that it says are "Made in USA" and "2002" on the edge plus a small sticker that says "DDR333 512mb" (It looks exactly like the picture posted on their website).

Then, I went to the review at http://www.vr-zone.com/reviews/Memory/HighPerfDDR/page8.htm and looked closely at the picture of their stick of samsung ram. The ram clearly says "samsung" on the edge with Samsung stickers and S/N.

Now, is my ram using samsung board? SVC stated on their website that both board and chips are from Samsung, but it looks nothing like the one at vr-zone.com

anime and Cuke, it seems that you two might have purchased this ram from SVC, do yours look the same? does it still OC well?

Well, anyhow, I will go ahead and test it when I get home and probably won't question it if I get good results. I will post how well it works at my current setting of 374mhz later tonight.

Thanks again.

 

[EdipisReks]

mine looks just like you described, and it is puttering away at 400 mHz.

--jacob

 

[pepsimanz]

alright, got back home and trying to install my new memory

I took out my 256mb crucial ddr and disassembled the Tt heatspreader, then installed the spreader onto the new samsung ram,and put it in the same slot.

First I try to warm up the ram a little, so set speed to 300mhz (1:1 of FSB150) with normal Timing, got to windows XP --> froze right b4 it finished loading.

Restart the comp, then it went ok and got to windows and checked with Sandra, everything seems ok.
Now, I set it to my original setting: 374mhz (4:5 of FSB 150) with normal Timing, everything seems fine, 2780mb/s, running Prime 95 as I speak.

So all in all, it seems to be performing at least as good as my old crucial ram. However, I don't know why it froze after the first time it loaded. It never happened to me b4 since I got the comp.

Maybe after a few days, I will try to up the FSB and increase the speed more or change it to faster timing.

so thanks everyone for their advise, I think Samsung was a good choice.

p.s. although i am still not 100% sure if the board is made by samsun, is there a way to check?

 

[eplebnista]

If it is genuine original Samsung memory it will have a Samsung sticker on it like the one in this picture. BTW, it is now available at Newegg for $162 shipped.

hth,
eplebnista

 

[John]

A true Samsung PCB will have SAMSUNG on the edge of the board.

Look on the right side of the PCB, in faint lettering, for SAMSUNG