What ram is right for me?

[mpodesta]

Hello all!


Please bare with me for I'm not to great with memory stuff. I'm upgrading my pc next weekend,

I currently have
GA-K8NSC-939
amd 64 3400
pos kingston ram
6800gt vid card

I just finished building my water cooling system (I'm a CnC machinist and built it my self) and wanted to start trying to OC my system. I got the Cpu and Gpu Ocing process down pack but I'm hazzy on the ram part, First off what ram would work best with my system? And could someone please be kind enough to explain all this timing mumbo jumbo? I understand that "Tighter timings" are better but why?

 

[Spinal C]

i have pretty much same mobo as you, i use OCZ platinum rev2 pc3200, for more xtreme overclocks muskin xp4000 redlines are best. but ocz does it quite well. tighter timings are better because say you have 2-2-2-5 and 2.5-3-3-7 first off 2 compared to 2.5 the .5 is an extra half a cycle that the memory must do to complete a process so in short tighter timings = higher performance, but you wouldnt even notice the difference anyway lol. maybe from like 3-3-3-8 to 1.5-2-2-5 ok but other then that no. also when you do oc you may have no loosen your timings due to the fact the ram cant handle it.

when i oc'd my comp i could go to 220fsb @ 2-2-2-5 then at 230 i had to use 2.5-3-3-7, but those timings worked all the way up to 260fsb mushkin xp4000 redline can do 270fsb @ 2-2-2-5 but using 3.3v on the memory which needs a fan blowing on it.

 

[mpodesta]

Thanks for the help but now I may look like and idot for this one, but you suggested the 4000 for pushing the redline but my mobo only supports upto 3200, how does this work out?

Sorry If my questions sound stupid

 

[Spinal C]

pc4000 is just for more headroom when oc'ing but if you have a good stickoram you dont need it like a lot of my friends got pc3500/4000 while i got pc3200, i managed to hit 260fsb while they were all at 250.

 

[bobyjo]

You will have to go to the mfg website and find thier configuration link.
There you could put in Motherboard, make, model and then you will be given several choices of memory that is certified to run in your board.
Don't purchase memory from someone telling you this is good stuff.
He may not have the same board as you.
This eleminates the guessing and headaches of getting memory that is not compatable with your board.

Your board is certified to run PC3200.
This is the minimum speed of memory that should be installed.
PC4000 or even up to the highese DDR700 will work.
As long as it has the proper chips on the sticks that your board requires.

 

[thedivinehairband]

Corsairs website also has a tool for finding what RAM is compatible with a particular motherboard. Maybe you should try there also.

 

[mpodesta]

Thanks guys!

I checked out Corsairs sitte and got a recommendation

But OCZ and Geil dont even have my board listed >.<

 

[thedivinehairband]

I had a look round and havn't found a great deal of reference to your board or many reviews of it. What is your maximum RAM voltage in the BIOS? That is a limiting factor in what RAM you can get. If you can't get higher voltages (3.1V+) you won't reach the sweet spot of many high quality RAM kits. My OCZ kit is at 3.4V because it uses bh-5 chips.

 

[mpodesta]

I'm at work so I'll get back you later on that, I cant be 100% sure but I ***Think*** it was 2.9

 

[thedivinehairband]

Hmm. Thats not a lot of voltage. I'm not sure what sort of RAM would be best then. Really if youre gonna hve an overclocking setup you'll want to get as many voltage options as you can.
Can anyone else recommend some fast memory that uses little voltage???
I'd personally say that if you have the funds get an upgraded board. The DFI Lanparty UT Ultra-d. It is widely regarded as the best board for overclocking and if you're watercooling your rig youll want to be able to push it to the limit.

 

[mpodesta]

Hmmmmm Okay that board is only 128$ at new egg so that easly doable, So based on me getting the board what do you recommend?

 

[GoLLuM4444]

If you've got the voltage to give then definitely go for bh-5: OCZ pc3200 gold bh-5 series, OCZ vx series or mushkin redline are the most common new bh-5 style chipped ram. Or if you don't want to have a fan cooling your ram then get TCCD/TCC5 like g.skill LA, LE, FF (or GH) or OCZ PC4800/PC5000 platinum series.

 

[bobyjo]

If you've got the voltage to give then definitely go for bh-5: OCZ pc3200 gold bh-5 series, OCZ vx series or mushkin redline are the most common new bh-5 style chipped ram. Or if you don't want to have a fan cooling your ram then get TCCD/TCC5 like g.skill LA, LE, FF (or GH) or OCZ PC4800/PC5000 platinum series.

I would like to ask you something. Why do you along with a bunch of others overlook the Patriot memory?
Thier XBL line is TCCD chips on BrainPower PCB's.
Thier PC3200 memory runs at 2.7v 2,2,2,5 timings.
You may set the timings to 3,4,4,8 leave the volts alone and you have DDR600 rated memory.
I would think you have not used any of this memory, since it is about 30% less than OCZ and Corsair should entice you to try this and recommend the memory to your friends.

 

[thedivinehairband]

Good call bobyjo. I don't know much bout the other memory chips. I only used bh-5 and before that was just cheap generic RAM.

Is up to you really mpodesta. The better featured motherboard gives you more voltage options but if you just want the memory go with bobyjo's selection. You can see my clocks below from my system. Just choose which you would prefer.

Your money afterall.

 

[mpodesta]

Well thank you all,

My new dfi board, OCZ and new PCI 16 6800gt card should all arrive monday^^

On a side note, switching from a AGP to a PCI 16 6800gt, will I notice and type of increases?

 

[thedivinehairband]

Well thank you all,

My new dfi board, OCZ and new PCI 16 6800gt card should all arrive monday^^

On a side note, switching from a AGP to a PCI 16 6800gt, will I notice and type of increases?

Which OCZ RAM type are you getting?

 

[mpodesta]

Which OCZ RAM type are you getting?

I got 2 of the 1gb kits (512 x 2) OCZ pc3200 gold OCZ4001024ELDCGE-K

 

[thedivinehairband]

I got 2 of the 1gb kits (512 x 2) OCZ pc3200 gold OCZ4001024ELDCGE-K

Good choice. Would've said the VX like I have would be more suited.
They have a 3.5V lifetime warrenty.
Nevertheless If you'll water cooling you're outside most warranties anyway.

 

[GoLLuM4444]

I would like to ask you something. Why do you along with a bunch of others overlook the Patriot memory?
Thier XBL line is TCCD chips on BrainPower PCB's.
Thier PC3200 memory runs at 2.7v 2,2,2,5 timings.
You may set the timings to 3,4,4,8 leave the volts alone and you have DDR600 rated memory.
I would think you have not used any of this memory, since it is about 30% less than OCZ and Corsair should entice you to try this and recommend the memory to your friends.

Agreed that if you're not overclocking some of the low banwidth TCCD is good too. You are wrong in saying I have not used it. I have used Corsair pc3200LL rev 1.2 which is TCCD and also very cheap. It is a good budget option but BH-5 is also fairly cheap now and will overclock to about 270 2-2-2-5 with enough voltage wheras the TCCD will only get to about 240 2-2-2-5. When buying TCCD you're best off going for some pc4400/4800/5000 which will also do 2-2-2-5 at pc3200 as the large bandwidth attainable is the TCCD/5's main selling point over BH-5.