What is the best 2x1GB ram, around 190-250 USD?

[siodine]

I saw the OCZ support thread in this forum, so i assumed that this was where people posted about ram so sorry if this is the wrong place i didn't see a memory forum. Anyway my main question is in the topic. I've already asked this question in other places but their advice seems to conflict with this sites Mid-Range to High-End Buyer's Guide.

They said G.SKILL Extreme Series 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400 (PC 3200) was the best ram in the 190-250 price range, and i don't overclock.


Edit:
mobo: nforce 4 ultra
cpu: amd 64 3500

 

[xgunnas32]

depends on ur mobo

 

[tallman45]

Mushkin has many choices, and there products are Top Shelf
For $197 you can use this

http://www.mushkin.com/doc/products/memory_detail.asp?ID=184

Rock solid stable if you are not OC'ing (much)

 

[Zap]

I have that G.Skill RAM and it works a bit better than advertised. I have a mild overclock with the advertised tight timings. Using Nforce 4. There's a lot of money to be had in the high end RAM market. You're paying for two things, 1) overclockability 2) brand name. You mentioned not needing the first. You can live without the second.

 

[EPZ Soldier]

Corsair XMS !!!!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145575

 

[xgunnas32]

Originally posted by: EPZ Soldier
Corsair XMS !!!!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145575

he said he didnt need oc, so he get just get the cheapest 2-3-2-5 which is g skill depending on his mobo, the other one is ocz plat, beware that some mobo do not do 2 CL

 

[Elfear]

The G.Skill is probably your best bet if you don't oc. The HZ G.Skill sticks are a little better if you do.

 

[Cabages]

I was having this same deliberation. I will be running a Asus A8N sli mobo with the Nforce 4 SLI chipset and a X2 3800+. I also will not overclock.

Would the G.Skill still be the best option for me?

 

[alanore]

The G.Skills is good RAM and has some good overclocking potential. Although it offers not significant real world performance over the G.Skills value which is $50 cheaper. Although if you are overclocking The Extreme Series will scale far better and futher than the Value could.

 

[fogeyman]

For that price, you can get OCZ 2x1gb Dual Channel Platinum (2-3-2-5) It's 240 before MIR off Newegg (here).

 

[siodine]

Originally posted by: tallman45
Mushkin has many choices, and there products are Top Shelf
For $197 you can use this

http://www.mushkin.com/doc/products/memory_detail.asp?ID=184

Rock solid stable if you are not OC'ing (much)

Aren't those slower than the g.skill's because of their high latency?

Is it better to get pc4000 ram with higher latency, or pc3200 ram with lower latency, and whats the difference between 200mhz ram and 400mhz?


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231021
vs
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231032
vs
http://www.mushkin.com/doc/products/memory_detail.asp?ID=184

which is better?

 

[Elfear]

Originally posted by: siodine

Aren't those slower than the g.skill's because of their high latency?

Is it better to get pc4000 ram with higher latency, or pc3200 ram with lower latency, and whats the difference between 200mhz ram and 400mhz?

Not sure what you mean by the 200MHz and 400MHz ram but I imagine you're referring to the clock speed. They are both the same ram. One is just the data rate (2x200MHz) and one is the actual frequency the ram runs at (200MHz). Not the most technical explanation but that's essentially how it works.

If you don't plan on overclocking the lower latency sticks will be better for you

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: Elfear
If you don't plan on overclocking the lower latency sticks will be better for you

QFT

My G.Skill (same as in the OP link) will hit about DDR418 at CAS 2 and loosening to CAS 2.5 will get me DDR480-500 (forgot which). This is with either default or a mild vDIMM boost. More voltage doesn't seem to do much with these sticks.

The following thread showed the required settings to run this RAM at DDR540 CAS 3, so you can use this either as low latency standard speed, or high speed higher latency just like the advertised PC4000 RAM - your choice.
G.Skill 2GBZX DDR400 2-3-2-5 Test
posted by a claimed G.Skill USA technician

 

[Elfear]

Originally posted by: Zap

QFT

My G.Skill (same as in the OP link) will hit about DDR418 at CAS 2 and loosening to CAS 2.5 will get me DDR480-500 (forgot which). This is with either default or a mild vDIMM boost. More voltage doesn't seem to do much with these sticks.

The following thread showed the required settings to run this RAM at DDR540 CAS 3, so you can use this either as low latency standard speed, or high speed higher latency just like the advertised PC4000 RAM - your choice.
G.Skill 2GBZX DDR400 2-3-2-5 Test
posted by a claimed G.Skill USA technician

I wasn't implying that the ZX sticks won't oc but according to most of the overclocking gurus, the HZ sticks have a better chance of hitting higher frequencies. There are numerous posts on the Xtreme bandwidth forum if you'd like to check it out.

 

[Zap]

Quoting the OP:

i don't overclock

I think the ZX will work just splendid for him since even much "better" RAM won't run under CAS 2 (except that mystical CAS 1.5 limited to only certain OCZ and DFI products).

 

[Elfear]

Sorry to quote myself:

Originally posted by: Elfear

If you don't plan on overclocking the lower latency sticks will be better for you

I think we're saying the same thing. I just got the impression from one of your posts that you thought that I was implying that the ZX sticks didn't oc well when it was nothing of the sort.