New RAM

[mr-tom]

I'm currently using an AMD Athlon X2 4400 mounted on an MSI K8N SLI motherboard.

I want to add more RAM (which will mean replacing what's currently there).

I don't think it'll take more than PC3200 (400MHz RAM).

I guess what I'm really looking for is a website which tells me the absolute best stuff I can stick in it, and ideally which RAM of that rating performs best.

Anybody got any ideas?

Cheers.

[dfour]

What size (GB) and how much do you have to spend?? Do you intend to overclock the ram??

Maybe you should look at corsair and OCZ stuff like:
http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.aspx?sku=316234

This stuff works at cas2 which is fast for a 2 gb kit.

MSI website
http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p...4_Platinum/SLI

[s_kinton]

I don't think it'll take more than PC3200 (400MHz RAM).
.

That board will take any DDR ram. If you dont intend to overclock or do, but will use a divider then go for PC3200, if you want overclocking room, then look at PC4000 or PC4400.

I use 2Gb of Geil PC4000 with my x2 4200.

It all depends on what you want it to do....?

[mr-tom]

So I can put in faster than PC3200?

Custom PC reviewed the faster DDR2 stuff a few months ago - but of course didn't go as far down as PC3200 - PC4400, so I didn't really know what was best at that level.

I'm not planning to overclock.

I want to put in 4*1GB (Running Vista Ultimate, so not a problem).

I want whatever will deliver best performance at stock speeds.

Cheers.

[s_kinton]

Custom PC reviewed the faster DDR2 stuff a few months ago - but of course didn't go as far down as PC3200 - PC4400, so I didn't really know what was best at that level.

Just be sure not to buy DDR2, it will not fit in that board. You need to look for DDR1 only.

If you're going for 4Gb, then you'd be better off with 2x2Gb sticks.

I think PC4400 is the fastest available for DDR1, but dont quote me on that. Its getting harder and harder to find high speed DDR1 memory now.

If you want the best performance at stock speeds then get the lowest latency PC3200 memory you find find.

[dfour]

You cant put DDR2 in only DDR1 but you can get faster DDR1 than PC3200. I use PC4000 which is guaranteed to work at 250FSB (pc3200is 400fsb)

http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.aspx?sku=312362

From the MSI webite on your baord
The Maximum memory speed decreases when the following two memory combination is selected:
- Each channel is installed with two double-sided memory module
- Both DIMM1 and DIMM3 are installed with double-sided memory module
• Due to the South Bridge resource deployment, the system density will only be detected up to 3+ GB (not full 4GB) when each DIMM is installed with an 1GB memory module

What do you need 4GB for?? Almost nothing uses it. If you did you would have to find single sided ram and then it might not detect the full 4 gig. Have a look to see if you can get 2*2gb sticks.

It may be worth emailing MSI to ask about what you want to do.

[iranu]

How much Ram do you have at the moment? Do you have 1x 512mb stick, 2x512mb or 1x1gb etc.

I presume that you are using windows xp. If so then there is no point in going above 2GB of Ram. For PC3200 then the difference between tight timings (higher performance) of say CAS2 as against CAS3 is minimal and in all likelyhood you won't notice the difference except in your wallet! Infact I think it's probably quite hard to get PC3200 with tight timings now.

Anything in the £60-70 range for 2x1GB matched pairs from a decent manufacturer will do you fine. If you have 1GB stick already then if you can buy another.

[kungpo]

I think he's running Vista Ultimate. But even then, 4GB won't be seen unless it's 64bit Windows.

[mr-tom]

It's 64 bit Vista Ultimate on a 64 bit dual core processor.

The Vista hardware adviser says the RAM is the weakest component. After that, the graphics which I'm just changing now.

Current RAM - not too sure of spec, but it's 4*512MB sticks, so 2GB total.

Sadly, I'll have to get rid of the lot.

I'm thinking of two matched pairs, although I'm hearning rumours of matched bundles of four now being available.

Anybody heard anything about that?

Cheers,

Tom.

[kungpo]

I would be tempted by 2x 2gb sticks, thus keeping two slots free.

[mr-tom]

I've checked - it's 184 pin, so nothing above PC3200.

Which makes the question easier. Does anybody know of any benchmarks of current PC3200 RAM?

Likewise - I've been out of the picture for a while and don't fully understand the figures 3-3-3-9, 5-5-5-18 etc. Does anybody know of a good write up of this stuff - just something I can read through to get a little more clued up.

Cheers chaps.

[kungpo]

As an aside, the Vista advisor is not really the best measure for performance. I did see an improvement going from 1gb to 2gb, but not any more after that (x64 Ultimate). Also, setting the CAS in the BIOS made a difference.

I don't really understand what the 3-3-3-9 means, except that the lower the number, the faster the ram. Can one tell? I dunno.

What do you use your machine for?

[s_kinton]

I've checked - it's 184 pin, so nothing above PC3200.

Which makes the question easier. Does anybody know of any benchmarks of current PC3200 RAM?

Likewise - I've been out of the picture for a while and don't fully understand the figures 3-3-3-9, 5-5-5-18 etc. Does anybody know of a good write up of this stuff - just something I can read through to get a little more clued up.

Cheers chaps.

The figures relate to latencies, the lower the latency the faster the performance, There plenty of guides on the internet if you want more detail.

As mentioned before, you'll be able to run any 184pin DDR1, up to PC4400 in that board. If you're not overclocking then just buy PC3200, with the lowest latencies you can find/afford.

2-2-2-5 is probably as low you you can get for PC3200