Question about motherboard and ram compatibility...

[Schism]

Trying to find out if this ram
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820227205#DetailSpecs
will fit this motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813127206#DetailSpecs

The motherboard says it supports PC3200, but I assume I can go higher
than that as long as it's 184pin, correct?

I'm on a budget, and was wondering if it was better to get 1.5gigs of
the PC4000, or 2gigs of the PC3200, this is going to be a gaming
machine and both of those options cost about the same.

 

[Bob Knowlden]

Abit lists compatible RAM up to DDR550 (PC4400).

http://www.abit.com.tw/test_report/Fatal1ty AN8 SLI/

They don't list any OCZ memory, which I suppose only means that they haven't
tested any.

What memory configuration were you considering for 1.5 GB? The AN8-SLI
supports dual-channel operation, which requires RAM to be installed in
same-sized pairs. I don't know whether the board permits single channel with
3 DIMMs. (My own board, an old Asus A8V Deluxe with a Via Chipset, only
supports single channel mode with one DIMM in the B1 slot.) Regardless of
that, I presume that you wouldn't want to operate the memory in
single-channel mode.

You may also lose memory performance with 4 DIMMs. Some boards switch the
memory clock to DDR 333 (PC2700)when all 4 slots are populated. Even those
that can maintain DDR400 may require that the command rate be set to 2T
rather than 1T. (Whether either of these effects anything but benchmarks, I
can't say. Going to 2T really clobbers the SiSoft Sandra memory benchmarks,
though.)

If you're not planning to overclock, your best system performance might be
achieved with a pair of 1 GB CAS2 DIMMs. Newegg lists a few at PC3200 and
PC3500.

If you're planning to overclock, you probably you need to search for a lot
more information than I've given above. (www.anandtech.com is a good place
to start. Anandtech recommends DFI mainboards for serious overclockers, as
they include some wild voltage options.)

Enjoy your new system, whatever form it takes.

Bob Knowlden


Address may be scrambled. Replace nkbob with bobkn.

 

[Wes Newell]

Trying to find out if this ram
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820227205#DetailSpecs
will fit this motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813127206#DetailSpecs

The motherboard says it supports PC3200, but I assume I can go higher than
that as long as it's 184pin, correct?

Yes, that ram will work.

I'm on a budget, and was wondering if it was better to get 1.5gigs of
the PC4000, or 2gigs of the PC3200, this is going to be a gaming machine
and both of those options cost about the same.

It probably won't matter one way or the other..