Which RAM for O/Cing?

[WobbleWobble]

I'm looking to get a P4 2.6C and an Asus P4P800-DX and hopefully overclock it to I'm thinking 3.25GHz (13 x 250) using the stock HSF and hopefully stock voltage.

Is that a realistic number to hit? What's a safe bet and what might I do if I get lucky?

I'm planning to do with with PC3200 RAM. PC3500 is too expensive for me.

So I'm looking at (prices for 2 sticks, prices in Canadian)

$278 Kingston ValueRAM (Samsung chips)
$260 Samsung Original
$270 Cucial (Micron chips)
$284 Corsair Value (dual channel kit)

The Corsair is the only dual channel kit one and is CAS 2.5. I think all the others are CAS 3.

I can also get PC3200 OCZ CAS 2 for $310.

Which would be best for my system? I'm thinking it is feasible to O/C with PC3200 at 1:1, but if it isn't, please let me know.

So any advice?

Thanks.

 

[WobbleWobble]

Oh yeah, does CAS 2 over CAS 2.5/3 really help in overclocking? Not really for the CAS 2 timing, but for maximum FSB speed. What have you hit with your P4/PC3200 system?

 

[JSSheridan]

None of the memory you listed is 'overclockers' memory. Since Corsair has the tightest timings, I think it's the best bet. The reason to buy cas2 or low latency memory is that you can loosen the timings and give yourself more headroom to OC. I still don't trust OCZ's products. Peace.

 

[stevejst]

Pentium 2.4C?
Definitely GEIL PC 4000. Top on my list. 1:1 to 260 on IS7 at least, according to PCStats. Well over 10,000 on PCMark2002. Price tag very modest, $154 for 2x256 at newegg.

 

[Jeff7181]

He said 2.6... not 2.4...

I'd recommend getting 1 GB of RAM if you intend to play games... BF1942, Star Wars Galaxies, and a few other games already require more than 512 to run at peak performance... new games will only require more.

 

[WobbleWobble]

Problem is, I'm Canadian. And New Egg doesn't ship to Canada.

2x256 PC3500 is like the same price as 2x512MB PC3200. I've been reading posts with people hitting high speeds with value PC3200 RAM.

I don't really trust OCZ either... but I'll be opened minded about it.

This is why I'm kinda looking towards an AMD system. Because to overclock a XP2500+ to XP3200+ speeds, I don't need expensive RAM.

My current system is an Athlon, but I'd like to try an Intel this time. But if you guys really think I can't get away O/Cing the FSB while using value PC3200 RAM, then I'll just get an AMD.

 

[jiffylube1024]

Originally posted by: WobbleWobble
Problem is, I'm Canadian. And New Egg doesn't ship to Canada.

2x256 PC3500 is like the same price as 2x512MB PC3200. I've been reading posts with people hitting high speeds with value PC3200 RAM.

I don't really trust OCZ either... but I'll be opened minded about it.

This is why I'm kinda looking towards an AMD system. Because to overclock a XP2500+ to XP3200+ speeds, I don't need expensive RAM.

My current system is an Athlon, but I'd like to try an Intel this time. But if you guys really think I can't get away O/Cing the FSB while using value PC3200 RAM, then I'll just get an AMD.

Intel is awesome - you will love the stability, the compatibility and the speed. The only thing is, AMD is a much better deal even still. Intel motherboards and CPU's still cost a hefty premium.

I myself (in a state of perpetual upgrade) most recently went Intel with a P4B266 and a P4 1.8A (the first ones) @ 2.25 GHz. The system was stable as a rock, but since then I have gone with two different AMD platforms and had similar stability, speed and compatibility, all for less.

Whichever way you swing, stick with a good chipset, such as 865PE for Intel or nForce2 for AMD, for example.

Btw, where are you finding those prices in Canada? Those smoke even Canada Computers!

 

[WobbleWobble]

I'm in Vancouver, so I was looking for stuff locally at www.NCIX.com and www.anitec.ca

Even NCIX.com, I find expensive. There are many other stores that beat their prices. It's just that they have the selection and occassional good deals.

I agree, chipset is a biggie. I'm a fan of Intel chipsets. If it's an Intel CPU, I'm definately getting an Intel chipset.

If I do decide to go AMD, I'll definately go nForce 2. The Asus A7N8X-DX specifically.

 

[WobbleWobble]

I'm going to bump this as I want to know which RAM I should get anyways. It'll go with the Asus P4P800-DX and P4 2.6C. I'm leaning towards Corsair Value as it's CAS 2.5 but I'm heard good things about the Kingston ValueRAM being able to run at much higher rated speeds.

 

[lchyi]

I second the Geil RAM, it's one of the most stable yet affordable modules out there. Plus they look sweet (the golden dragon ones... mmmm LEDs). If you're OC'ing remember that memory plays a huge part in it so skimping on it would be like getting Walmart tires for NASCAR.

 

[stevejst]

Kingston Value Ram is a gamble. You might get BH-5 and CH-5 Winbond chips which is the top quality but you might also get Mosel-Vitalic or Hynix which is crap, as far as overclocking goes.

 

[WobbleWobble]

The Kingston ValueRAM has Samsung chips, would these be any different than Samsung Originals? I can't get the Geil RAM because I can't find it in Canada and like I said, New Egg doesn't ship to Canada.

Overclocking isn't a huge concern, but it'd be nice to keep it in mind. What speeds can PC3200 overclock to typically? Particularly with the listed sticks?

 

[infinite012]

What are the markings on the chips on the Kingston ValueRAM? My choice from those would be the Crucial PC3200 because I've heard only good things about it. I also own a stick and can vouch that it DOES overclock extremely well (at least in my nForce2 system...). I have yet to test the overclockability of it in my Intel system.

MAX FSB with Crucial PC3200: 220MHz (440MHz DDR or >PC3500)

If you don't want to go with Crucial (because of CAS 3) then go with the Samsung original.

 

[stevejst]

The Kingston ValueRAM has Samsung chips, would these be any different than Samsung Originals?

These are Kingston CL3 modules. These are Samsung original chips and, on Intel motherboard, they will max out at about 220 FSB at very lax setings. They are very stable. Talking about C or D revision. If you have a luck you might run into D revision that is better than usual and that can go all the way up to 250 FSB. Again with very lax settings like 3-4-4-8. But there are no warranties for that speed either.
The revision E Samsung are not available in Value Ram, and those are the ones you find in OCZ Gold DDR 500.

 

[WobbleWobble]

If Kingston uses Samsung chips, how would the Kingston and Samsung originals differ?

 

[stevejst]

They wouldn't differ at all, unless the PCB is different. However, Kingston also uses Infineon CL3 chips so you are not sure to get Samsung unless you make a choice by hand.
Kingston is a big company unlike Corsair, Mushkin, or OCZ that are all small potatos. Thus Kingston uses a lot of different OEMs for the products they offer.

 

[INemtsev]

I dont know what they say..but I had OCZ ram for a while now and it overclocks great....

 

[pelikan]

I'd give the crucial a shot. Although people have had mixed results, the crucial did over 230FSB at Cas 2-2-2-5 in the Tweaktown review.

 

[stevejst]

I have a problem believing in that, 232 FSB at 2-2-2-5 for memory that is sold as PC 3200 CAS3. Upon reading that manufacturer provided samples for that testing I think the review is not to be trusted at the face value.

More on overclockability of crucial:
Good but not even close to 232.

Another one says good but not the prime memory.

One more, on Intel, not too impresive either.

And another one, not impressive either.

So, I am not convinced that Crucial is the top memory though it can probably serve the purpose according to specs.