Memory Upgrade, Need Advise

[KrEaToR]

Hiya ppl, well i want to upgrade my memory to 2GB i only want to spend around 150-180 quid. I narrowed it down to a couple of choices they are.....

4x512mb Crucial 512mb Pc3200 Ballistix Cl=2, Link >>> Here

Or

2x1GB Geil Value 1GB DDR PC3200 400MHz DDR, Link >>> Here

So what do i go for 4x512mb performance memory, or 2x1GB value memory?

Which will perform/overclock better? Will the performance difference between the two be very much?

If i was to run at stock speeds which would be better? Is the difference between 1T and 2T much? (Sorry for all the Q's)

But if you have any other memory suggestions please let me know of them aswell. Thanks

Andy.

P.S my setup is

AMD 64 3200+ (Venice) Overclocked to 2550Mhz
Abit Fatal1ty SLi NF4
Memory - TBA
Radeon X800XL 256MB PCI-E
2X120GB Maxtor in RAID 0 Config
Asetek triple 120mm fan CPU/VGA/Chipset water cooling kit

[sawyen]

Both will clock terrible tbh... anything above 2x512 will have a hard time overclocking..

But generally:
2x1 GB sticks... clocks better, 1T and leaves enuf slots of expansion in the future..

if u run 4x512 on A64.. u will need to run 2T command.. and should be almost impossible to clock past stock.. maybe a wee bit..

[KrEaToR]

i notice you have 4x512 crucial, what are they like?

[sawyen]

they run stock fine at 2.6v.. 2-6-2-2 but at 2T.. It clocks to about 210ish at tight timings but that about it.. after which it sends loads of errors in memtest or restarts for no apparent reason. Upping the voltage to 2.8V (max for my baord) gives around 230ish at loose 3-10-3-4.. anymore it'll mess up...

2 sticks of Micron (crucial) however, I could clock all the way to 280MHz-ish no problem... on 2.8V 3-10-4-4.. It does 2-6-2-2 all the way up to 220ish..

I currently run 9x300 at 266MHz divider.. its running slightly below 200MHz.. I'm pretty happy with it (but I normally bung the 2 extra out as I only need the extra 2 during my genetics work, BF2 and FEAR)

[KrEaToR]

hmmm, see my board can goto around 3v for the mem so i wonder if i could push more outta it?

So if i was to keep the memory at stock speeds you would say get 4x512?

Also have you got a link to the crucial memory that can go to 280mhz ish?

Thanks. Andy

Edit:: Or should i got with 2x512MB of really fast stuff? Will it be ok for BF2?

[sawyen]

I would still say 2 sticks of 1G would be best.. I bot anotehr 2 sticks of micron becoz i din want to sell them cheap off in ebay or hexus classified. Anyhow.. Running at 2T is significantly slower.. thru benchies.. the only advantage it has is the capacity.. infact, the results from Sandra is so pathetic that you would want to turn that thing off compeltely..

If u have a choice.. go 2 x 1G...

If u still need the linky.. here you go..

http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/MPar...BL2KIT6464Z402

It stated 2.8V, but I managed to get it running 2-6-2-2 on 2.6V local setting.. ~2.67V-ish..

[KrEaToR]

Ok the order has been placed and i have gone with
2x Geil Value 1GB DDR PC3200 400MHz DDR (Cas 3 8-4-4) with Aluminium heat spreader.

Cause with this as u said i can run 1T and i have read somewhere can the performance difference between 1T and 2T can be the equvilent of 20mhz per stick, and thats quite alot.

New question now lol, whats better the geil value, OCZ Value or the corsair value??

Thanks. Andy

[sawyen]

I would say OCZ if u want to clock them.. Corsair if u want it to work with most boards.. Geil sits right in the middle..

Corsair VS dont clock very well.. in fact, they clock terrible..

[KrEaToR]

theres also crucial and kingston, lol i'm so confused lol

[sawyen]

I never fancied Kingston and their HyperX range... but their value RAM are OK to say the least..

Crucial doesnt have 2G solutions for Ballistix range.. but they do have the usual 184pin DDRs if u fancy.. but their timings are terrible..

[arthurleung]

I would say OCZ if u want to clock them.. Corsair if u want it to work with most boards.. Geil sits right in the middle..

Corsair VS dont clock very well.. in fact, they clock terrible..

Most VS are crap but some are not

[KrEaToR]

Which do i go for now then

This one Kingston 2x1GB 400MHz DDR PC3200 DIMM 3-3-3 Link >>> Here

Or This

Geil Value 2Gb PC3200 Dual Chan DDR Kit (2x1GB) (Cas 3 8-4-4) with Aluminium heat spreader Link >>> Here

I have got it down to this two as they seem the best but i don't know which one to go with, the kingston seems the have tigther timings, but ive heard the geil performs really well.

Please reply, Thanks for your time.

[sawyen]

Id say go for the Geil Value.. im sure you'd be able to push 3-3-3-8 on higher volts.. its almost 20+ quids cheaper as well..

[KrEaToR]

I keep seeing other ram, ive seen this stuff now and was wondering what 4 sticks of this would be like, cause this stuff should over clock good aswell

4x Corsair (CMX512-3200C2PT) 512MB, DDR400 Link >> Here

Shall i go for this stuff or the 2x1GB Geil Value stuff?

The corsair stuff should over clock well right? therefore making up for having to run 2T?

Many Thanks, lol i'm a real pain in the a$$ Its such a hard choice tho lol

[arthurleung]

I keep seeing other ram, ive seen this stuff now and was wondering what 4 sticks of this would be like, cause this stuff should over clock good aswell

4x Corsair (CMX512-3200C2PT) 512MB, DDR400 Link >> Here

Shall i go for this stuff or the 2x1GB Geil Value stuff?

The corsair stuff should over clock well right? therefore making up for having to run 2T?

Many Thanks, lol i'm a real pain in the a$$ Its such a hard choice tho lol

You either take the most expensive one or the cheapest one.
If you want high freq/low latency, you either pay for it or not.
You could buy the cheapest one, hoping it can overclock well. If it doesn't, its fine, you got the fair share of cake.

512M sticks tends to run lower latency and run higher frequency, but had to run 2T for 2GB. 1G sticks doesn't overclock well but have 1T to compensate.

Most value stuff are pretty much the same. So it doesn't matter much which one you get. Its just pot luck.

[KrEaToR]

lol, so the question is, which would you yourself go for?