4x1gb or 2x2gb? DDR2 800 or DDR2 1066? Confused.

[Sinnerx96]

I'm putting together my first build, to be ordered within the next couple weeks. Here's basically what I'm getting;

-CPU: Q6600 G0
-GPU: 8800GTS 320 to hold me over until next gen cards
-Mobo: Abit IP35 Pro
-PSU: Corsair 520HX
-Display: I have a 226BW S Panel 1680x1050
-Page File HD: 80gb 8mb cache Ultra ATA100 (I have this now)
-OS HD: WD Rapter 36gb, or WD Caviar 80gb
-Storage HD: WD Caviar SE16 400gb
-Case: Antec P180B/P182
-Cooler: Tuniq Tower

I'm mostly going to use this for normal use, Gaming, Audio Production, and some Video Editing. I'm most likely going with Vista 64 Bit for the OS as my hardware will be all new and shouldn't have any driver issues. And I want to Overclock my G0 Q6600 as much as I can on Air with the Tuniq Tower.

Since Vista 64 can use all 4gb's of memory, which 4gb kits should I be looking at? 4X1gb or 2x2gb? DDR2 800 or DDR2 1066?

2x2gb kits are much more expensive. So I was thinking of getting TWO 2x1gb Kits of Crucial Ballstix. But I'm not sure if it's worth it to go for DDR2 1066 instead of DDR2 800.

Help a noob out please.

 

[Mr Fox]

Originally posted by: Sinnerx96
I'm putting together my first build, to be ordered within the next couple weeks. Here's basically what I'm getting;

-CPU: Q6600 G0
-GPU: 8800GTS 320 to hold me over until next gen cards
-Mobo: Abit IP35 Pro
-PSU: Corsair 520HX
-Display: I have a 226BW S Panel 1680x1050
-Page File HD: 80gb 8mb cache Ultra ATA100 (I have this now)
-OS HD: WD Rapter 36gb, or WD Caviar 80gb
-Storage HD: WD Caviar SE16 400gb
-Case: Antec P180B/P182
-Cooler: Tuniq Tower

I'm mostly going to use this for normal use, Gaming, Audio Production, and some Video Editing. I'm most likely going with Vista 64 Bit for the OS as my hardware will be all new and shouldn't have any driver issues. And I want to Overclock my G0 Q6600 as much as I can on Air with the Tuniq Tower.

Since Vista 64 can use all 4gb's of memory, which 4gb kits should I be looking at? 4X1gb or 2x2gb? DDR2 800 or DDR2 1066?


2x2gb kits are much more expensive. So I was thinking of getting TWO 2x1gb Kits of Crucial Ballstix. But I'm not sure if it's worth it to go for DDR2 1066 instead of DDR2 800.


Help a noob out please.

I have sold a few sets of this RAM already it is Micron Based memory that was confirmed by my Crucial Rep.

Mushkin

I have the tighter timed version most folks would not believe it to be worth the added expense.

But i can run 3.6 Ghz..@ 3-3-3-10 @ 800 mhz. I have gotten 3.8 Ghz.. but I had to Loosen timings to 4-4-4-12 but heat was such where a TEC type cooler would have helped.
3.4 Ghz. is 24/7 but I preped the MOBO, by pulling the Chipset Coolers and pulling the thermal pads and replaced with grease... etc.

I know that a few of the regulars have bought that MOBO, and seem to like it.. I am a picky bastard.. And only Buy ABIT, ASUS, Or MSI usually..

That Case is one Of Antec's Ass Backward series I believe...
I have heard of people having issues with the PSU leads on some PSU's not being able to reach with certain MOBO's etc... personally.. if you are going to fork out that kinda cash.. might as well not mess around ThermalTake Armor Or CoolerMaster CM Stacker You will never need another Case.

RAID 0 is a good Idea Two 36 Gig Raptors gives you strong drives that make vid Edit, and Rips smooth, and quick.

Good luck with your Build !

 

[Mr Fox]

 

[Sinnerx96]

Thanks Fox.

I was checking out that Ram. But then I was thinking how I could get 2 Crucial Ballstix DDR2 800 2x1gb Kits for cheaper than that. Or I could get 2 Crucial Ballstix DDR2 1066 2x1gb Kits for about the same price.

Both have Micron D9's, and better latency ratings. This would be 4x1gb as apposed to 2x2gb, and I'm still not sure of the differences. What about those options?

The P180B/P182 has been used quite a bit around here, and it's highly praised. I've made sure that my PSU. Mobo, Cooler, and Case choices have been used with success by others. Corsair HX PSU's shouldn't have problems reaching.

But you have me intrigued. My main concerns with a case are;
-Cooling Performance
-Looks
-Quality
-Easy to upgrade components.

The Stacker looks much more appealing to me than the Armor. The 810 has an extra 120mm Fan,....so why the CM recommendation? Is it because you don't like the PSU Bay at the bottom?

Thanks again, Fox. I appreciate your help.

 

[zero2dash]

Since Vista 64 can use all 4gb's of memory, which 4gb kits should I be looking at? 4X1gb or 2x2gb? DDR2 800 or DDR2 1066?

2x2gb kits are much more expensive. So I was thinking of getting TWO 2x1gb Kits of Crucial Ballstix. But I'm not sure if it's worth it to go for DDR2 1066 instead of DDR2 800.

Help a noob out please.

I'll be building a similar machine late fall/early winter. (Already got the case Lian-Li PCA05B)
Q6600, Gigabyte P35C-DS3R, Tuniq, 8800 GTS 640meg, dual 18x burners, Corsair HX620.

I have a 320gig SATA Seagate 7200.10 already, I'll probably get a larger 7200.10, either 500 or 750 and transfer all my storage onto it and use the 320g for Vista Ultimate x64. (Was going to originally get Home Premium but I want Shadow Copy which is only in the Business ed. Vistas and Ultimate. Plus I hear Ultimate has tweaks for gaming as well.)

Will be a Photoshop CS3/dvd ripping-encoding quad monster primarily...gaming a 2nd.

I've looked all over for answers to the "4x1 vs 2x2" question and always see replies like "4x1 puts more stress on the memory controller", "4x1 is harder to overclock because you're dealing with more dimms", "4x1 runs hotter/requires more voltage" etc.

I'm torn, really, like it sounds you are.

Buying 2 2x1 kits is just so much cheaper.
I'll either end up picking the 2 2x1 Crucials for $79 AR apiece on Newegg or get the 2x2 Patriot on Frys for $189...I'm not sure which. I'll probably get the Crucials based off reputation, the fact that they're Micron, and the price after rebate. I have no plans on going past 4gigs of ram (and 4x1 will fill all the DDR2 slots) until Photoshop runs like crap on it, and I doubt that's going to happen for a long time. By the time it does happen, DDR3 will be cheaper and I'll get that (that mobo has 2 DDR3 slots).

I also like the look of the Crucials more. Not that it counts for much or it's a deal breaker, but the silver/orange will look nice with the aqua/blue Gigabyte mobo.

I'd go with DDR2 800 though over DDR2 1066, for what you'd pay, I don't think the small performance boost would be worth it.

 

[Sinnerx96]

I think you're right. DDR2 800 should be plenty. Especially with a Q6600. I was just thinking about going for DDR2 1066 for future-proofing a bit more. Like if a new Quad CPU comes out that can overclock higher and take more advantage of it. But at that time, we might be crossing too far into DDR3 Territory to bother with DDR2 anymore

So I'm most likely going with 2 Kits of 2x1gb Crucial Ballistix DDR2 800.

My problem will be with Vista 64. Some programs that I use do not work well with Vista, after a bit of research. Like Cubase SX3. Reports of that program going to hell with Vista. And some plugins for it are having problems as well.

But I Need a 64 Bit OS to make use of the 4gb's of RAM! I'll have to get XP 64, as well as Vista 64, and run a Dual Boot. I should be able to Partition a 36gb WD Raptor to dual boot, correct? If so, I'm going that route most likely.

Good luck with the build!

 

[zero2dash]

I'm thinking (or, moreso hoping) that around the time I build, Vista SP1 will be out and straighten a lot of the Vista problems out.

I figure I might as well get Vista while I'm at it this time around...need to get 64 bit, like you said...deciding between XP 64 and Vista 64, sounds like Vista 64 is much better (driver wise) than XP 64, plus Vista is a "safer" buy since XP is approaching it's mid-life so support will be winding down over the next few years.

AFAIK I'd assume dual booting won't pose you any problems.

Man that Crucial ram deal is just too good to pass up, isn't it?
It'll be the first Crucial ram I've bought. Strictly was a Corsair guy up until this point, but the Crucial has better reviews speed/benchmark wise than the Corsair XMS2..

GL to you with yours as well

 

[lopri]

If you're looking to keep the case for several upgrades (which usually is the case), you could consider spending a bit more for long-lasting cases. (such as one of those Lian-Li or Silverstone TJ-0X series)