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Thread: DDR or CAS more important ?

  1. #1
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    Question DDR or CAS more important ?

    I'm trying to choose between two sets of memory. Both are Corsair Platinum Series XMS 2x1GB non-ecc, unbuffered with heatsink and lifetime warranty.

    The first is DDR500 3-4-4-8 £157.45
    The second is DDR400 2-3-3-6 £175.08

    The £17.50 price difference isn't earth shattering, but I don't want to spend it if there isn't going to be a noticeable difference.

    I intend to run it in an Asus A8N-SLi Premium, with a 3700 San Diego and a 7800GT. I might do a bit of overclocking but not a huge amount.

    The Corsair configurator came back with these exact modules as their most popular ( DDR400/cas2) and best overclocking (DDR500/cas3) :-

    Recommended Modules
    Most Popular:
    TWINX2048-3200C2 / DDR-400 (XMS-3200C2) / 2-3-3-6
    Best Overclocking:
    TWINX2048-4000PT / DDR-500 (XMS-4000) / 3-4-4-8

    Would I be making a big mistake to save the £17 ?

  2. #2
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    i would personally go for the ddr 500 ram and not because it's the cheaper option, i would get it as it would be better for overclocking.

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    lazy student nvening's Avatar
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    WHAT? when did ram get so cheap, that ram was over £200 like a month ago (crys in a corner)
    (\__/)
    (='.'=)
    (")_(")

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    Id save the 17quid, though it doesn't really matter. Timmings hhve very little difference on performance, except in systentic benchmarks, unless your Storm, and what to boast about your e-penis 3dmark 2001 scores it's not a big deal.

    As long as there 2Gb..............

    If your definatly going to overclock, then the PC4000 won't hurt either, i mean 17quid, isn't much difference is it.

    The PC3200 will do PC4000 most likely, but will need loose timmings, there both similar at the end of the day.

  5. #5
    PMM
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    Won't post what I think lets just say we have the honnor of storms posting on
    our forums at TPR :chuckle:

    1st off to clarify Cas ratings have been proven in A64 systems not to have much impact
    on performance in comparison to Tras but if you choose your own settings then you
    may even if running faster speeds not be using the full potential of the ram.

    Gets very complex in choosing the right timings i.e. Tras should be cas+trcd+2cyles to work
    at optimal.

    2nd - Don't let the DDR ratings confuse again... you could have 2 identical sticks of
    ram both able to run same speed.

    But a company can just slacken the timings allowing it to run at a higher frequency
    then offer it as ram at a higher DDR rating.

    Does not mean its any better.

    If your not into extreme overclocking then I'd say its not worth worring, your not really gonna see any speed difference at the end of the day out side of those benchmarks.

    TBH I hold Corsair in high regards, they to tend to make a very stable product and at defaults / mild overclocking they do tend to come in with less data errors than other brands (There are/were some good web sites with that type of info).

    And i'm sure the DDR500 will hit the same memory timings as the DDR400 part anyway going by my Corsair stuff.

  6. #6
    Banhammer in peace PeterB kalniel's Avatar
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    They basically sound like very similar sticks - you could get faster speeds on the DDR400 sticks by loosening timings, and better timings on the DDR500 by reducing speeds

    So.. go with the cheaper

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