Best 4GB DDR2 Ram out there

tornadog

Golden Member
Aug 6, 2003
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What's the best 4gb DDR2 kit for gaming and overclocking thats out there in the sub 100 Range?
 

tornadog

Golden Member
Aug 6, 2003
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I have the Crucial CL6 kit w/o heat spreaders. They are pretty basic. I would like something that can do 1066 speeds.

How is the OCZ Reaper Kit?
 

theAnimal

Diamond Member
Mar 18, 2003
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Why not get an E5X00 or E7X00 instead? OCing your RAM is going to provide no performance difference.
 

tornadog

Golden Member
Aug 6, 2003
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I have a $50 GC at Dell and they dont have any low priced CPUs but they have tons of RAM
 

Blain

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
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Originally posted by: tornadog
What's the best 4gb DDR2 kit for gaming and overclocking thats out there in the sub 100 Range?
Define "best" please.

 

VulcanX

Member
Apr 15, 2008
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Originally posted by: Blain
Originally posted by: tornadog
What's the best 4gb DDR2 kit for gaming and overclocking thats out there in the sub 100 Range?
Define "best" please.

Quite true, u want stuff that OCs like a demon, or want the lowest latency or what exactly u looking for?
 

Vampirrella

Golden Member
Apr 5, 2001
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I got DDR2 4GB kit of Corsair Dominator DHX a few weeks ago @ newegg for 40 bucks on sale. Been pretty happy with them so far
 

Blain

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
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Originally posted by: tornadog
What's the best 4gb DDR2 kit for gaming and overclocking thats out there in the sub 100 Range?
Define "best" please.

 

BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
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There's no hard and fast rule if you want 1066 Mhz DDR speeds. Decent modules rated at that speed will run at the prescribed latency settings and well within or below the voltage spec for the particular module and kit.

Some DDR2-800s are terrific over-clockers and you can probably get them to 1000 or 1066 by loosening the stock latency timings and/or increasing the voltage.

I've been a Crucial Tracer/Ballistix fan until last year, when many complained of short longevity even within the maximum voltage. My third Crucial kit went south about two weeks ago -- DDR2-800s -- and run at 2.10V and 4,4,4,12, 2T @ DDR=835.

Since then, I've discovered two or three models of G.SKILLs that are great in various flavors: DDR2-1000, DDR2-800 and DDR2-900. The 900's are on their way from the Egg as I speak, and will run at DDR=900 Mhz with 4,4,4,12 timing which are the stock spec. People report that they run reliably at those settings with a voltage just below the minimum in the spec voltage range.

I run the 1000's at DDR=800 with tighter timings. I'm looking to overclock my Wolfdale system a couple hundred Mhz higher than it already is, 1:1 with the RAM, with prospect of pushing the memory toward 900 and those latencies.

Another brand I've discovered -- probably mentioned above -- is Corsair DHX. I got a DDR2-800 4GB 2x2 kit, and they are reliable at their spec and over-clockable. From my experience with the Crucials, I am nevertheless watchful about voltage settings. The Corsair only specifies a "recommended" voltage, but I got it from their support people that they honor the warranty for a 5% variance above that voltage. That is, you can push the 2.1V recommended setting to 2.2 and feel safe under the warranty. Even so, many benchtest reviews show that these can be volted to 2.4V for dramatic over-clocking.

The G.SKILLs that I have on order come in DDR2-800 and the DDR2-900 flavor for a price posted a couple days ago at the Egg of about $50. The DDR2-1000's have a much higher price tag. These are the "PI - Black" modules with what appears to be a heatspreader technology/design similar to the Corsair DHX kits. The $50 bargains are also PI-Black models in 4GB kits of 2x2.
 

Blain

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
23,643
3
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Most memory can be OC'd pretty far depending how much voltage you slam it with.
One problem though, it that the more voltage the shorter the memory lifspan.
If you change memory every few months or so, no big deal... VOLT AWAY! :laugh:
 

Shmee

Memory & Storage, Graphics Cards Mod Elite Member
Super Moderator
Sep 13, 2008
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Well, if you want to get a really good oc on your e8400, you could go for the Gskill 1100 Mhz ram. Probably wont clock much higher though. I got some, wont run at advertised settings though, so Ima RMA it. may just be board compatibility though. Nice cuz it runs at low voltage.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820231194
 

EricMartello

Senior member
Apr 17, 2003
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I'm using OCZ Reaper (1066 MHz Kit). Great memory, runs stable at advertised timings and looks cool. :) Got it with a $30 rebate so final price was $45 shipped.
 

Blain

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
23,643
3
81
Originally posted by: EricMartello
I'm using OCZ Reaper (1066 MHz Kit). Great memory, runs stable at advertised timings and looks cool. :) Got it with a $30 rebate so final price was $45 shipped.
What speed have you been running yours at, how much voltage and how long?

 

taltamir

Lifer
Mar 21, 2004
13,576
6
76
i just ordered gskill DDR2-800 5-5-5-15 @1.8v for 25$ and free shipping. Ram is cheap now, but you can still pay extra if you want to, there is just no point to. The amount of OC you need to max out your ram is extreme.