Another Silly Ram Question

[Spike]

Ok, I would like to get another gig on my system. Currently I run 2x512 Geil Value DDR 400. I run a AXP 3200+ right now and will probably not be upgrading until Christmas or a little beyond so I figure I will get some sort of X2 at that point. I would like to get a decent 1GB stick (as I only have three slots on my NF7-S) and just add that to my system for the time being. I would also like to use this ram as well as an additional 1 gb stick when I build my new system.

All that being said, I want a cheaper value ram. I have looked at Corsair value ram (1gb stick is like $80) and am thinking about going that way, so thats where my questions come in... I would like to OC my X2 a fair bit (no, I won't push it to an extreme or do lots of volt modding, just some pushing for a decent air cooled oc) and don't want my ram to cripple my oc. I don't care about insane timings as I see that as spending too much for very little real world results.

So... how would one of these CL 3 1GB Corsair sticks affect my plans to air-cool oc my X2 in the future?

Sorry for the long question, but I want to be clear. this should be an easy answer for all you oc guru's out there 🙂

 

[Leper Messiah]

If you don't mind running a divider. That ram isn't going to do too much more than 205, so you'd have to run a divider to get your CPU speed up there. I'd save your money.

 

[Spike]

will a divider greatly hinder the performance of the CPU or the overclock? If not I have no issues running a divider. I am more for real gains (large CPU oc, better vid card) then I am for smaller gains like way overclocking your ram if that helps.

 

[Leper Messiah]

Originally posted by: Spike
will a divider greatly hinder the performance of the CPU or the overclock? If not I have no issues running a divider. I am more for real gains (large CPU oc, better vid card) then I am for smaller gains like way overclocking your ram if that helps.

Nah. Dividers in A64 provide no performance hinderence, because of the way it calculates RAM speed.

RAM Speed (S)
CPU Speed (C)
CPU Multi (M)
RAM divider(R)

S= C/[(M)/(R)]

200= 2000/(10/1) or 200= 2400/(10/[.83])

See? The second one is the mathmatical equivalent of running 10x240 with a 5/6 divider. The decmal equivalent of 5/6 is ~.83.

 

[Spike]

Thanks for the pointers. I will probably pick up a stick of that corsair value soon. On that note, do you have any reccomendations for brands in the ~$100 range for 1GB? Should I look at faster than DDR400? I guess that last question would be a no due to the way the A64 does it's calculations but I could be wrong.

Thanks again!

-spike

 

[Leper Messiah]

If you want to OC, or run a lower multi, sure you can get faster than DDR400. DFI NF4 and Abit NF4 support the DDR500 speeds that the Rev. E supports. 8x250 is going to be a bit faster than 10x200. the A64 is really versitile that way.

 

[Spike]

Originally posted by: L3p3rM355i4h
If you want to OC, or run a lower multi, sure you can get faster than DDR400. DFI NF4 and Abit NF4 support the DDR500 speeds that the Rev. E supports. 8x250 is going to be a bit faster than 10x200. the A64 is really versitile that way.

I was looking and the selection is pretty minimal for 1gb sticks above DDR400, especially in the cheaper range. Is that "bit faster" something that will be very noticible in games? Especially if the cpu is running 2700 or faster clock speed and I have a nice graphics card? This corsair is looking nicer and nicer, I may have to get it soon...

 

[Spike]

OCZ

Patriot

Corsair

Kingston

Patriot

Mushkin

Or how about this?

Any of those any good?

 

[Spike]

Does anyone have an opinion on the above listed value rams? If there has all-ready been discussions on them I would love a link... 🙂

EDIT* I am thinking about just getting the below set for $180, seems like a decent price for what you get...

Even Better...

 

[Leper Messiah]

The corsair is decent ram, I just don't know how well CL3 RAM is going to OC. Proc speed is more important than RAM speed. If you have a 2.7Ghz proc, you're not really going to be slowing that down with anything. 10x270 is probably going to be faster than 14x200.

 

[furballi]

Going from DDR400 to DDR333 will cost you about 50MHz of CPU core speed. That's like losing 5MHz FSB.

My 2.5 cas Corsair Value Select is stable at 274MHz FSB (about 228MHz RAM speed with 5:6 memory divider). Timing is stock at 2.5-3-3-8-1T with 2.7VDC going to the RAM.

Unfortunately, my 3000 Winchester is limited to about 2.5GHz.