Compatible RAM for Abit NF7-S motherboard?

T

timeOday

A little over 3 years ago I built a system with an Abit NF7-s
motherboard and 512MB of Mushkin PC 3200 RAM:
<http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820146219>

It has 3 memory slots and only 1 is occupied.

I'd like to add another 512MB or 1GB of RAM, but I'm worried about
compatibility since that model of RAM is no longer sold and
"high-density" RAM apparently has compatibility problems?

For instance the first review for my current RAM on newegg says:

"Don't mix with other RAM!
Pros: Works alright if it is by itself.
Cons: Wouldn't mix with Patriot Memory with very loose timings."

So how can I get the best chances of compatibility without wasting money?
 
P

Paul

timeOday said:
A little over 3 years ago I built a system with an Abit NF7-s
motherboard and 512MB of Mushkin PC 3200 RAM:
<http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820146219>

It has 3 memory slots and only 1 is occupied.

I'd like to add another 512MB or 1GB of RAM, but I'm worried about
compatibility since that model of RAM is no longer sold and
"high-density" RAM apparently has compatibility problems?

For instance the first review for my current RAM on newegg says:

"Don't mix with other RAM!
Pros: Works alright if it is by itself.
Cons: Wouldn't mix with Patriot Memory with very loose timings."

So how can I get the best chances of compatibility without wasting money?

http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=NF7-S

I've used as many as 3 of these in my Nforce2 board. At DDR400, 2-2-2-6.
And the price on these is pretty decent, compared to what I paid for them.
You could buy as many of these as you want, and park you existing stick
outside the box.

http://www.crucial.com/store/mpartspecs.aspx?mtbpoid=C5E4B919A5CA7304

The Crucial 1GB sticks are CAS3, as are the Kingston offerings. So
next I tried the Corsairmicro site.

http://www.corsairmicro.com/configurator/product_results.aspx?id=2246

Just for chuckles, I tried checking the price of their "featured product",
and it wasn't bad. TWINX2048-3200C2PT.

This stuff is $144 after mail in rebate. It is rated 2-3-3-6 timing wise.
And considering the price of the Crucial 512MB sticks, this is definitely
competitive. Install the pair of these, and put your existing stick in the
drawer. Check your user manual, for any instructions about what slot or
slots to use.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145575&Tpk=TWINX2048-3200C2PT

As you can tell, for this application, I'm a big fan of CAS2 memory. The
Nforce2 is picky about RAM, and I spent about a week trying various
fixes (including a hacked BIOS), until eventually deciding to "fix it
with expensive RAM". I wanted to run at the full DDR400, and replacing
the RAM made my system rock solid (even with three sticks of the Ballistix).
I bought four sticks of Ballistix PC3200 512MB, and as of today, have two
sticks in my current machine, and two sticks remain in the Nforce2 board.
In my current machine, the RAM is running at DDR460 (but not at CAS2). It
will probably run faster than that, but not on my current motherboard.

Corsair has a forum, and this page that Corsair offered, has links to
some of their threads about your board. You could take a look through
these, and see if there are any "do's and don'ts".

http://www.corsairmicro.com/configurator/forum_search.aspx?id=2246&term=ABIT+NF7-S+

HTH,
Paul
 
P

Patty

A little over 3 years ago I built a system with an Abit NF7-s
motherboard and 512MB of Mushkin PC 3200 RAM:
<http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820146219>

It has 3 memory slots and only 1 is occupied.

I'd like to add another 512MB or 1GB of RAM, but I'm worried about
compatibility since that model of RAM is no longer sold and
"high-density" RAM apparently has compatibility problems?

For instance the first review for my current RAM on newegg says:

"Don't mix with other RAM!
Pros: Works alright if it is by itself.
Cons: Wouldn't mix with Patriot Memory with very loose timings."

So how can I get the best chances of compatibility without wasting money?

This is what I have in both my NForce2 boards (NF7-S v2.0 and ASUS A7N8X-E
Deluxe).

http://www.mwave.com/mwave/skusearch.hmx?SCriteria=BA02599&CartID=done&nextloc=

Works great, never have had a problem. I even partnered the one in my
NF7-S board with a stick of 256MB RAM that was given to me. But, if I
recall, that stick was also PC2700.

Patty
 
V

Victor

A little over 3 years ago I built a system with an Abit NF7-s
motherboard and 512MB of Mushkin PC 3200 RAM:
<http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820146219>

It has 3 memory slots and only 1 is occupied.

I'd like to add another 512MB or 1GB of RAM, but I'm worried about
compatibility since that model of RAM is no longer sold and
"high-density" RAM apparently has compatibility problems?

For instance the first review for my current RAM on newegg says:

"Don't mix with other RAM!
Pros: Works alright if it is by itself.
Cons: Wouldn't mix with Patriot Memory with very loose timings."

So how can I get the best chances of compatibility without wasting money?

1gig kits(2x512mb) same model number are available on Ebay. $45.90
Seller has
ex rating.
http://cgi.ebay.com/mushkin-1GB-2x5...ryZ74942QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
 

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