RAM reccomendations

[tyborg]

I'm building a new rig, A64 4000+, don't know what motherboard. Probably the new ASUS or ABit Crossfire models, or else a DFI Lanparty NF4 Ultra-D.

Anyway, my question is this: I work in a data recovery/computer repair shop, and we buy RAM from a company called Lifetime memory. Their memory runs well, lifetime warrantee, and it's made with Micron chips. I'm wondering if I should go with 2x1GB from them, rated PC3200 at timings of 3-4-4-6 (I think, or somethin like that. Not lower than 3 on any of them anyway) that'll cost me around $250, or should I get the mushkin XP4000, rated at 500MHZ at 3-4-3-8 timings, seen here: http://www.mushkin.com/doc/products/memory_detail.asp?ID=245 , for $305, OR should I instead go with the Mushkin Redline XP4000 rated 500mhz at 3-3-2-8, seen here: http://www.mushkin.com/doc/products/memory_detail.asp?ID=273 , for about $30 more? would the difference in timings be worth $30 performance-wise? (mainly gaming).

I will be doing some moderate overclocking, basically what that means is I plan on shooting for the highest overclock I can get that's stable without breaking 50 degrees C on watercooling at full load. Any suggestions?

 

[Sqube]

Check out Anand's quality 2 gig kit review. Touches on the subject quite nicely and gives a recommendation.

I think it'll be helpful for you.

 

[tyborg]

thanks for the link, i was looking for that. Only, it has neither of the two types of ram I'm comparing

now, the mushkin sticks have better timings than the OCZ ones in the review, but they're about $10 more... this is so confusing. Also, the OCZ is the only one in the review. So I guess, it's down to the Mushkin, the OCZ, and the Lifetime Memory sticks. OCZ and Mushkin are about the same... I'm farther away from deciding than I was when I started!!! at least I've found another option to take. Thanks for the link.


So to sum it up, OCZ vs. Mushkin for PC4000, or the micron PC3200's if it's not worth the extra $50-100...

 

[Sqube]

Well, comparing the original RAM you were talking about, I would probably grab that Mushkin; the timings are about the same, and it's faster. If you brought it down to PC3200 speeds, you could probably get better timings than what you're looking at right now.

To confuse your choice even more, I recently bought 2x1 gigs of Patriot RAM; PC3200 and timings of 2-3-2-5. You can find it here.

If you're lucky, ribbon13 will show up and be able to drop you some nice knowledge. Otherwise, you'll be forced to deal with me.

 

[tyborg]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Although, these are about as equal on the price-per-performance ratio as you can get to the Lifetime sticks. Except these have cool heatspreaders.

 

[tyborg]

BUMP for the night folks

 

[tyborg]

BUMP for today. after this i think I may let it die

 

[Kraptor]

I would go for the Redline if u want to OC more. It should OC better then teh regular 3-4-3-8 Mushkin modul.

 

[Googer]

Stick with the value ram.

Wise Man once said:

• 
  Performance lost is much less than the money wasted.

 

[tyborg]

with that strategy, I might as well hold onto my P4 1.5GHZ machine. Only problem is, I'm building a gaming machine, and mine's a bit outdated. Besides, I wanna overclock.

So now then, it's down to the OCZ EB Platinum PC4000, the Mushkin XP4000, or the standard PC3200 sticks.