Which Memory?

[tanker3000]

Im not sure which memory i should use in my new comp, iv built it myself. i know what makes im interested in and i know i want 1GB. its weather i use pc3200, like the motherboard manual recomends, or go for Crucial 1GB (2x512MB) DDR2 PC5300 667MHz Ballistix Dual Channel Kit (MY-035-CR) or Corsair 1GB DDR XMS3200XL Pro TwinX (2x512MB) CAS2 (MY-050-CS) my mother board is a chaintech zenith ZNF3-250. can anyone help?

 

[Reefsmoka]

Well we really need to know the rest of your spec, it helps when recommending other parts.

But in youe query you said you wanted either the Crucial 1GB (2x512MB) DDR2 PC5300 or the Corsair 1GB DDR XMS3200XL Pro TwinX . Both nice memory. But 1 is DDR2 and the other is just DDR. Your motherboard doesnt support DDR2, so theres only 1 to choose :/.

If your processor FSB is 400mhz, and your not overclocking, PC3200 (400Mhz) is perfect. If your processor FSB is 333Mhz, the memory will automatically run at PC2700 (333Mhz) so buying the PC3200 would be a waste really, when you could get PC2700 cheaper.

So whats your processor anyway?

 

[ChristopherP]

i'm not sure if DDR2 is compatible in not LGA775 computers...

 

[Reefsmoka]

i'm not sure if DDR2 is compatible in not LGA775 computers

I read in a magazine that AMD wont be making DDR2 compatible processors till the latencey/CAS is sorted out on DDR2, because at the moment its too expensive for too little performance.

 

[tanker3000]

Sorry diddnt notice it was DDR2, my comp has an AMD Athlon 64 3700 clawhammer, at the moment i only have a gforce 4 graphics card but im going to get an ATI X800XT (when i get paid ) im not sure about the FSB? i have three memory banks, the first supports 1gb and the other two support 1gb combined. Crucial 1GB (2x512MB) DDR PC4000 Ballistix Dual Channel Kit (MY-041-CR) so would this be the crucial memory to aim for? i cant seem to find the timming info on this, the corsair is low lattency i think its 2-5-2-2. But would the crucial be worth it on my setup?

Chaintech Zenith ZNF3-250 board with nVIDA nForce3 250 chipset
Chaintech multimedia card, 7.1 channel.
CBOX 3.
AMD Athlon 64 3700 clawhammer.
Samsung 60gb 133SATA HDD (Gettind another 100gb same make ect soon)
Antec TrueBlue 480 PSU.
3 case fans and coolermaster hyper 6 cpu cooler.
Still need memory and good graphics card.

 

[ChristopherP]

Get 1gb (2x512) of GeIL Value Ram it's good stuff! www.overclockers.co.uk

Also the X800XT is good!

Samsung make ATA133 60gb SATA drives? thought they started at 80 - i have a couple.

 

[Reefsmoka]

Well your processor has a 400Mhz FSB. So PC3200 memory is perfect for it, any higher and it would just be a waste of money because there would be absolutly no speed gain.

So you should be looking at memory along these lines:
Samsung DDR 512MB PC3200
Kingston DDR 512MB PC3200
Crucial DDR 512MB PC3200

Now that stuff there is good value for money. BUt you can get the expensive stuff, which does increase performance, but i dont think it justifies the hefty price tags.
Kingston Hyperx DDR 512MB PC3200
Corsair TwinX DDR 512MB PC3200

Its all down to how much you want to spend, the best memory up there is the Corsair TwinX, and thats why its the most expensive. But the performance increase is in the region of 10% while the price increase is in the region of 30% upwards :/.

And you say your getting a new graphics card, theres a great deal on a 6800GT OC, which will match or even beat the performance of an X800XT (non Platinum Edition) for under £270. http://www.pcwcomponentcentre.co.uk/invt/bfgr68256gtocuk absolute bargain there!

 

[ChristopherP]

i think that the GeIL value RAM would be perfect:

GeIL 1GB (2x512MB) PC3200 Value Dual Channel Kit CAS2.5 (GE1GB3200BHDC) (MY-005-GL)
GeIL Value offers outstanding performance levels at a very low price point and is compatible with all systems whilst been reliable backed up by a lifetime warranty. GeIL Value also has good overclocking ability.

- 184pin, Non-ECC, Un-buffered, high performance DDR memory modules
- GeIL 5ns 32x8 Density DDR Chip
- 6 Layers Ultra Low Noises Shielded PCB
- Optimized SPD for Dual Channel DDR motherboards
- Blue Aluminum Heat Spreader
- CAS 2.5 8-4-4 @ DDR400 PC3200
- 2.55V-2.95V
- Lifetime return to manufacturer warranty

Full Specification

Ta to www.overclockers.co.uk for providing images and specs.​

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[Kye]

So, I did some basic benchmarking with my system going from PC3200 2-3-3 to PC2100 2-2-2. The total difference was 2 to 4% performance loss in Doom 3. For 3DMark, the performance loss was about 10% on 01SE, 2% and 4% on 03 and 05 respectively, and 27% on CPU performance for 03 and 05. So basically, tasks that really stress the overall system might lose 10% or so, a few certain tasks could be as much as 25% or so slower (video encoding would probably be likely), and games that are GPU limites will probably suffer very little while CPU limited games might suffer significantly.

Hope that helps.

this is from togdor from the firingsquad.com forums. thus so, i have too take it back the memory back. or live with 768Mb of RAM at PC2700. or sell the sticks and save up for 1GB of generic RAM...OR, 512mb of quality RAM.

eitherway, twas very kind of him too do that and unless you didnt know, now you do!

edit: sorry! wrong thread

 

[Reefsmoka]

I reckon the memory that chris recommended would be the best for you, its a bargain, high quality with built on heatsinks/heatspreaders.

If i were in your shoes, i'd go for them every day of the week.

 

[floppybootstomp]

Geil memory used to be s**t a coupla years ago, was always reading horror stories about that stuff, so have avoided it like the plague.

Have Geil actually got their act together then? If so, gimme some links to prove it

 

[ChristopherP]

GeIL are VERY VERY good now...

Parents computer is about 8 months old, has 512 of GeIL value, totally stable, no probs ever.

They are probably better than OCZ and up there with Corsair...

 

[floppybootstomp]

Well, Geil used to be, how can we put this?

Like Lidl compared to Sainsburys, worse, even, than Netto.

A Ford Fiesta compared to a BMW.

As reliable as the British public train transport network.

Really at home in one of those pound shops.

But, most of all, Geil memory was unstable. I was warned off of it time and time again at several different forums.

So, old beliefs die hard. And I'm only talking 2001 - 2002 time.

No links, I see.

 

[Kye]

PQI are suppose too be good. not sure if there new or old, but they only been having good press recently. not that they was having bad press...

there really, REALLY cheap, with tight timings and sexy silver heatspreaders.

PQI is the future.

 

[ChristopherP]

http://www.3dvelocity.com/reviews/geil3200/geil3200.htm
read that

 

[Kye]

the Geil 1GB 512x2 PC3200 duel channel...OR,
Crucial Ballistix 512x1 PC4000?

after my 512mb purchase and the problems it caused, im never buying generic memory again!

 

[ChristopherP]

Get the GeIL as PC4000 is for overclocking...

It's very good stuff - i like it

 

[Kye]

i cant overclock. but, antec 430W coming too me very soon! if this sorts out the PSU problem, ill be so, so happy!

but, if its PC4000...since its higher and faster anyway, then overclocking the FSB though the RAM, wont it be a problem?

its like having 166, overclocking it too 200. if you have at stock a 220, then, overclocking too 240, wont that be way more unstable then the latter?

still, slightly off topic there. but, it might be a factor in choosing memory.

 

[ChristopherP]

PC4000 is no faster AT ALL than PC3200 when the CPU is at stock speeds.

If you cant overclock then get the cheaper option! GeIL!

 

[floppybootstomp]

http://www.3dvelocity.com/reviews/geil3200/geil3200.htm
read that

Yes sir.

I have.

Hmm.