Question about RAM

[dlrsuperman]

Hey, I am building a new cpu, and I have some questions about DDR ram.

First of all, can you use any kind of DDR ram in a new motherboard. Are most new motherboards compatible with even the generic DDR stuff? I ask this because I am thinking about buying some of the cheaper DDR ram pieces. I was just wondering if the hardware has upgraded from what it used to be.

Basically what I am asking is this: Is ram still picky about which motherboard it will work in? SD RAM is this way, is DDR ram the same way?

 

[DaveSimmons]

If you buy generic you might get chips running out of spec, say PC2700 chips being used for "PC3200."

Corsair valueram twin packs are pretty cheap at newegg, and Hot Deals has stickied deals on RAM at the top. Paying an extra $10 or so per 512 MB seems worth it compared to dealing with wierd crashes and reboots.

RAM and power supplies are two items going cheap on can backfire.

 

[ZL1]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
If you buy generic you might get chips running out of spec, say PC2700 chips being used for "PC3200."

Corsair valueram twin packs are pretty cheap at newegg, and Hot Deals has stickied deals on RAM at the top. Paying an extra $10 or so per 512 MB seems worth it compared to dealing with wierd crashes and reboots.

RAM and power supplies are two items going cheap on can backfire.

I'll second, dont cheap out on ram or more importantly PSU
kingston value ram is also not too expensive and pretty decent if you dont plan to overclock

also let me expand this a bit, see its been easy to buy generic pc133 in the past couple years and get decent results because pc133 has been around for a long time now and even generic manufacturers got the hang of making it
hower ddr, especially high speed ddr, is not that old so they didnt get around to making it that well yet, for example even some of the bigger companies are still having problems making it up to spec


D

P.S. what you mean sdram is picky ? sdram is not picky at all
or do you mean high density problems ? thats not the ram its the board

 

[dlrsuperman]

Thanks for your responses.

I have had problems with compatibility with SDRAM. It is probably the motherboard, rather than the RAM. It just seems that over the years they have changed SDRAM quality a lot.

I'll look for some kingston deals. Thanks. By the way, can you off the top of your head recommend a decent price motherboard that has good DDR Ram compatibility?

 

[dlrsuperman]

I also have another issue I'd like to bring up.. I have been looking at some motherboards at pricewatch and heres what I found that I am highly interested in. PC CHIPS M848ALU Socket A DDR MB with Athlon XP 2800+ (2.083Ghz) 333FSB CPU & Fan here is the webpage to this site if you'd like to know more.. http://www.bzboyz.com/store/product3430.html the problem with all of this is that I want to spend money but I don't want to get all crazy and fancy not yet anyway.

so can anyone plz post their opinions on whether I should get this or not? Or list the advantages and disadvantages I really appreciate your help.

 

[ZL1]

Originally posted by: dlrsuperman
Thanks for your responses.

I have had problems with compatibility with SDRAM. It is probably the motherboard, rather than the RAM. It just seems that over the years they have changed SDRAM quality a lot.

I'll look for some kingston deals. Thanks. By the way, can you off the top of your head recommend a decent price motherboard that has good DDR Ram compatibility?

what u building ? what cpu ? what plans ?
ddr compativility problems dont really exist, just speed compatibility



D

 

[ZL1]

Originally posted by: dlrsuperman
I also have another issue I'd like to bring up.. I have been looking at some motherboards at pricewatch and heres what I found that I am highly interested in. PC CHIPS M848ALU Socket A DDR MB with Athlon XP 2800+ (2.083Ghz) 333FSB CPU & Fan here is the webpage to this site if you'd like to know more.. http://www.bzboyz.com/store/product3430.html the problem with all of this is that I want to spend money but I don't want to get all crazy and fancy not yet anyway.

so can anyone plz post their opinions on whether I should get this or not? Or list the advantages and disadvantages I really appreciate your help.

one - dont get pc chips, big no no
also dont cheap out on the board generally speaking

I had a gigabyte 7vac, kt333 board, good brand name board but it was the cheap type and I had quite a few problems with it


D

 

[dlrsuperman]

If you don't recommend pc chips what do you say I should get? Any advice? as far as motherboards compatible for a AMD Athlon in particular.. do you know of any deals? I am not trying to build a computer completely. I'm just looking to get a new motherboard and processor.

 

[ZL1]

Originally posted by: dlrsuperman
If you don't recommend pc chips what do you say I should get? Any advice? as far as motherboards compatible for a AMD Athlon in particular.. do you know of any deals? I am not trying to build a computer completely. I'm just looking to get a new motherboard and processor.

well Id say get the barton 2500, great price/performance
and get a nForce powered mobo, Asus would be my first recommendation

browse newegg.com - very good store


D

P.S. if you get a good mobo, also get pc3200 ram and OC the 2500 to 400fsb and you'll have one kick ass machine

 

[dlrsuperman]

What about Syntax motherboards? any word on that?

 

[ZL1]

Originally posted by: dlrsuperman
What about Syntax motherboards? any word on that?

dude I never heard of them
and thats odd cuz I usually know most brands



D

 

[Super6]

Newegg sells a nice no-frills Shuttle motherboard for about $70. An Nforce 2 Ultra if my memory serves me correct.

Super6