Which Memory Brand is the Best?

[vegettoxp]

Hey Guys, I know I haven't gotten my motherboard yet, but I just wanted to know which Memory Brand is good out there. The reason I haven't gotten my motherboard is because I am waiting for Intel to release the X38 Chipset. When it comes out, I plan to get the board. I know one thing and that is it is gona Support DDR-2 and DDR-3 and since DDR-3 is gona be really EXPENSIVE, I thought I go with DDR-2 way for now and get DDR-3 Later when the price goes down.

With my old system I have used Kingston and Mushkin and I had no problems with them. I just wanted to get your guys thoughts on what other Good Brands I should look at. So if you guys can share your opinion on this subject, it will really help me out!

Thx for all the help guys!

P.S. Fusion

 

[JustaGeek]

Any brand that uses Micron D9 IC's can be recommended.

Practically all DDR2 rated 1066MHz and above qualifies.

 

[myocardia]

As far as brands, Crucial, Team Group, OCZ, G.Skill, Mushkin, and Corsair are all good, and in that order, IMO.

 

[vegettoxp]

So I am guessing its a good idea to wait for Intel's Offical release on X38 and then look for ram!

 

[ethugholla]

I think it depends on your budget. Initial releases of DDR3 ram are very expensive, and the market will only increase the price. While it does perform very well, AFAIK, memory only contributes a small portion to your CPU's overall performance.

Unless you have a large amount of money at your disposal, it might be wiser to buy a low latency DDR2-800 or DDR2-1066 (when there is a viable deal) and then spend that money you saved (instead of going for an expensive DDR3 kit) on something that will make your overall performance better, such as a better graphics card.

But in response to best memory brand, I've had luck with Patriot. From what I'm reading, Corsair is no longer producing D9 Microns.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: myocardia
As far as brands, Crucial, Team Group, OCZ, G.Skill, Mushkin, and Corsair are all good, and in that order, IMO.

I would never recommend Corsair or OCZ but everything else is solid. Add to that Cellshock.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: ethugholla
I think it depends on your budget. Initial releases of DDR3 ram are very expensive, and the market will only increase the price. While it does perform very well, AFAIK, memory only contributes a small portion to your CPU's overall performance.

Unless you have a large amount of money at your disposal, it might be wiser to buy a low latency DDR2-800 or DDR2-1066 (when there is a viable deal) and then spend that money you saved (instead of going for an expensive DDR3 kit) on something that will make your overall performance better, such as a better graphics card.

But in response to best memory brand, I've had luck with Patriot. From what I'm reading, Corsair is no longer producing D9 Microns.

Corsair use D9, but ONLY in their overpriced dominator line (1066Mhz and up).

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

Originally posted by: myocardia
As far as brands, Crucial, Team Group, OCZ, G.Skill, Mushkin, and Corsair are all good, and in that order, IMO.

I would never recommend Corsair or OCZ but everything else is solid. Add to that Cellshock.

I have had good results with both Corsair and OCZ, havent used GSkill or Team Group, I think I had mushkin many many many years ago to heh. My 1st ram ever was Crucial and also didnt have any problems with them.

 

[Wicked Akuba]

Corsair, OCZ, G.Skill and Patriot i think

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: WaTaGuMp

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

Originally posted by: myocardia
As far as brands, Crucial, Team Group, OCZ, G.Skill, Mushkin, and Corsair are all good, and in that order, IMO.

I would never recommend Corsair or OCZ but everything else is solid. Add to that Cellshock.

I have had good results with both Corsair and OCZ, havent used GSkill or Team Group, I think I had mushkin many many many years ago to heh. My 1st ram ever was Crucial and also didnt have any problems with them.

it's not bad memory isn't marketing ploys to get people to buy memory with "SLI" or "Crossfire" capability. Also using good IC on rev1 and then rev2 uses another IC of lower quality. This is why I do not like these companies when it comes to MY memory. I just won't recommend them.

 

[BenchZowner]

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

Originally posted by: WaTaGuMp

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

Originally posted by: myocardia
As far as brands, Crucial, Team Group, OCZ, G.Skill, Mushkin, and Corsair are all good, and in that order, IMO.

I would never recommend Corsair or OCZ but everything else is solid. Add to that Cellshock.

I have had good results with both Corsair and OCZ, havent used GSkill or Team Group, I think I had mushkin many many many years ago to heh. My 1st ram ever was Crucial and also didnt have any problems with them.

it's not bad memory isn't marketing ploys to get people to buy memory with "SLI" or "Crossfire" capability. Also using good IC on rev1 and then rev2 uses another IC of lower quality. This is why I do not like these companies when it comes to MY memory. I just won't recommend them.

There's nothing wrong with Corsair & OCZ, unless it's your personal problem with those companies.

As far as I remember ( will confirm the number later just to make sure ) all OCZ memory kits rated above PC2-7200 are using Micron D9 ICs.

Corsair also uses Micron D9 on their kits, and they don't have any secrets...you can ask RAMguy for the specific revisions and you can easily locate the desired one in the stores.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: BenchZowner

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

Originally posted by: WaTaGuMp

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

Originally posted by: myocardia
As far as brands, Crucial, Team Group, OCZ, G.Skill, Mushkin, and Corsair are all good, and in that order, IMO.

I would never recommend Corsair or OCZ but everything else is solid. Add to that Cellshock.

I have had good results with both Corsair and OCZ, havent used GSkill or Team Group, I think I had mushkin many many many years ago to heh. My 1st ram ever was Crucial and also didnt have any problems with them.

it's not bad memory isn't marketing ploys to get people to buy memory with "SLI" or "Crossfire" capability. Also using good IC on rev1 and then rev2 uses another IC of lower quality. This is why I do not like these companies when it comes to MY memory. I just won't recommend them.

There's nothing wrong with Corsair & OCZ, unless it's your personal problem with those companies.

As far as I remember ( will confirm the number later just to make sure ) all OCZ memory kits rated above PC2-7200 are using Micron D9 ICs.

Corsair also uses Micron D9 on their kits, and they don't have any secrets...you can ask RAMguy for the specific revisions and you can easily locate the desired one in the stores.

OCZ has many sets using promor rated at DDR2-800 and so does Corsair. They only use D9s in their overpriced kits.

 

[BenchZowner]

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

Originally posted by: BenchZowner

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

Originally posted by: WaTaGuMp

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

Originally posted by: myocardia
As far as brands, Crucial, Team Group, OCZ, G.Skill, Mushkin, and Corsair are all good, and in that order, IMO.

I would never recommend Corsair or OCZ but everything else is solid. Add to that Cellshock.

I have had good results with both Corsair and OCZ, havent used GSkill or Team Group, I think I had mushkin many many many years ago to heh. My 1st ram ever was Crucial and also didnt have any problems with them.

it's not bad memory isn't marketing ploys to get people to buy memory with "SLI" or "Crossfire" capability. Also using good IC on rev1 and then rev2 uses another IC of lower quality. This is why I do not like these companies when it comes to MY memory. I just won't recommend them.

There's nothing wrong with Corsair & OCZ, unless it's your personal problem with those companies.

As far as I remember ( will confirm the number later just to make sure ) all OCZ memory kits rated above PC2-7200 are using Micron D9 ICs.

Corsair also uses Micron D9 on their kits, and they don't have any secrets...you can ask RAMguy for the specific revisions and you can easily locate the desired one in the stores.

OCZ has many sets using promor rated at DDR2-800 and so does Corsair. They only use D9s in their overpriced kits.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820227191

( with MIR you can grab 'em for 140$ ) [ and it's not the cheapest place to grab these ]

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: BenchZowner

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

Originally posted by: BenchZowner

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

Originally posted by: WaTaGuMp

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

Originally posted by: myocardia
As far as brands, Crucial, Team Group, OCZ, G.Skill, Mushkin, and Corsair are all good, and in that order, IMO.

I would never recommend Corsair or OCZ but everything else is solid. Add to that Cellshock.

I have had good results with both Corsair and OCZ, havent used GSkill or Team Group, I think I had mushkin many many many years ago to heh. My 1st ram ever was Crucial and also didnt have any problems with them.

it's not bad memory isn't marketing ploys to get people to buy memory with "SLI" or "Crossfire" capability. Also using good IC on rev1 and then rev2 uses another IC of lower quality. This is why I do not like these companies when it comes to MY memory. I just won't recommend them.

There's nothing wrong with Corsair & OCZ, unless it's your personal problem with those companies.

As far as I remember ( will confirm the number later just to make sure ) all OCZ memory kits rated above PC2-7200 are using Micron D9 ICs.

Corsair also uses Micron D9 on their kits, and they don't have any secrets...you can ask RAMguy for the specific revisions and you can easily locate the desired one in the stores.

OCZ has many sets using promor rated at DDR2-800 and so does Corsair. They only use D9s in their overpriced kits.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820227191

( with MIR you can grab 'em for 140$ ) [ and it's not the cheapest place to grab these ]

Still overpriced to begin with...OCZ apparently lost someone's RMA and Rebate receintly too...dunno how that turned out for them

 

[BenchZowner]

Originally posted by: cmdrdreddOCZ apparently lost someone's RMA and Rebate receintly too...dunno how that turned out for them

Can't really believe this happened, they don't just lose RMA'd kits.
Even if a kit could get lost in there, they still have your info & your RMA # & form, and they'll cover your warranty like they always do.
Pretty good to tell the truth.

As for the rebate...as far as I know OCZ does not do 'rebates' directly, so it's not their fault.

 

[ryderOCZ]

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd OCZ apparently lost someone's RMA and Rebate receintly too...dunno how that turned out for them

That remains to be seen. I have posted in the thread and have heard nothing from the user.

 

[Mr Fox]

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

Originally posted by: WaTaGuMp

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

Originally posted by: myocardia
As far as brands, Crucial, Team Group, OCZ, G.Skill, Mushkin, and Corsair are all good, and in that order, IMO.

I would never recommend Corsair or OCZ but everything else is solid. Add to that Cellshock.

I have had good results with both Corsair and OCZ, havent used GSkill or Team Group, I think I had mushkin many many many years ago to heh. My 1st ram ever was Crucial and also didnt have any problems with them.

it's not bad memory isn't marketing ploys to get people to buy memory with "SLI" or "Crossfire" capability. Also using good IC on rev1 and then rev2 uses another IC of lower quality. This is why I do not like these companies when it comes to MY memory. I just won't recommend them.

I Whole Heartedly Agree with what you are saying !!!

I believe that JEDEC Spec. Compliance is the key here ...

Not who has greased Who to get a "Certification" There is a cost associated with those LOGO's and Chips are Chips..

Not all of them are Created Equal..... Micron has Led The Charge in the DDR-2 Spec. It Was SammyChung and Winbond in the DDR days.

 

[ryderOCZ]

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd it's not bad memory isn't marketing ploys to get people to buy memory with "SLI" or "Crossfire" capability. Also using good IC on rev1 and then rev2 uses another IC of lower quality. This is why I do not like these companies when it comes to MY memory. I just won't recommend them.

Please do not make statements that are not true.

Rev2 using lower quality IC's? Rev2 is a revision and the Rev2 of our current Gold and Platinum kits have tighter timings than the Rev1, which is why its Rev2.

If anything they are the better binned chips because they run tighter timings at the same voltage.

You are entitled to your opinion about 1 brand or another, please do not continue to spread misinformation about a product.

 

[SerpentRoyal]

Most if not all overclocking RAMs start out as 1.8V DDR2 800. Those "excellent" chips are sorted out and tested at higher voltage (2.0-2.2V) to qualify for a DDR2 1066 logo. Higher voltage will also result in a significant rise in chip temperature which will degrade the chip over time. The cheapest and most effective way to cool these chips is to blow cold air over them. A small 80mm low speed Panaflo is perfect for this task. A fancy heat spreader is good for fattening the mfr's profit margin.

In general, I prefer 1.8V DDR2 800 over "overclocking" 2.0-2.2V DDR2 800. These higher voltage sticks probably don't make the cut at 1.8V. It also make you life easier when you reset the CMOS. Some boards will use the default 1.8Vdimm. This lower voltage can be problematic for some overclocking RAMs since these are not stable @ 1.8V with 400MHz speed.

I'm particularly fond of Kingston's OEM "N5" line of DDR2 800 ValueRAM. These modules cost 15 to 20% more than the vanilla "non-N5" found at most retailers. All are rated at 1.8V operation without heat spreader. Have tested eight 1GB sticks and two 512MB sticks. Worst module...580MHz at 5-5-5-18-2T with 2.1Vdimm.

I believe Kingston has a policy of using very high quality chips in their OEM line of DDR2 800. Unless you live n die by benchmarks, you should focus on maximum C2D CPU core speed rather than the lowest possible timing out of the RAMs.


Model #: KVR800D2N5K2/2G
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820134117

 

[videopho]

Crucial Tech is the best all-around, imo.
It gets great rams, tech-support, and sometimes prices.
OCZ gets my vote for 2nd place, mainly due to its poor rebate processes.