Best RAM for $150

[wallrunnerm15]

i am looking for the best ram for my new system. DFI lan Party NF4 Ultra-D, and amd64 3500+ Venice Core, and a Sapphire X800XL. i will be overclocking the memory and am hoping for CAS 2 RAM.

 

[RussianSensation]

Twinmos or G.Skill Value VX chips on Newegg <$150 are good for 3.4+V (your board is perfect for them).

This is not bad:
Patriot PDC1G3200LLK 2-3-2-5 - $122.50

Otherwise for a bit more, these 3 are the best:

Geil Ultra-X - $172
OCZ EL Platinum Revision 2 - $165 (now after MIR)
Crucial Ballistix (x2) = $85x2 = $170

However, I'd rather get $80 1 gig value ram + $80 Audigy 2 zs = better sound, 10-15% greater cpu performance. CL2.5 vs. CL2 barely gives 3-4%.

 

[imported_wyrmrider]

excellent tip
onboard sound can have a high cpu usage
so can on board (non Intel) gigabit lan for some reason thieir chip is pretty efficient
what are some other hidden slow downs on board raid?

 

[rise]

i thought anand pegged the dfi karojen module sound at ~5-7%?

edit-btw, i'd get that rev2 from ocz. it clocks really well at sane volts, 2.8-2.9.

 

[sangyup81]

Ever since nvidia released nforce chipsets, the onboard sounds have been able to hang with the add on cards when it comes to CPU usage.

I've experienced this as I get better frame-rates with my onboard nForce3 sound than with an Audigy in HL2.

 

[Painman]

This stuff ain't for the faint of heart, but you did buy the DFI after all, didn't you?

Newegg sells it for under $150, but they're out of it right now.

 

[RussianSensation]

Originally posted by: rise4310
i thought anand pegged the dfi karojen module sound at ~5-7%?

Yeah good point forgot about that. This Audio Test. I just knew that not all nforce 4 mobos had good onboard sound. As you can see the Asus and Gigabyte board are at 30% cpu usage under 3d audio load. Still if he has nice speakers audigy 2 can add to the gaming experience.

Otherwise either VX (OCZ, Gskill, Twinmos) chips at high voltage on DFI lanparty or that OCZ $165 set are probably the best there is. OCZ will have higher overclocking headroom for sure but not at extreme tight 2-2-2 timings like the high voltage stuff.

This helps to gauge the performance differences for most of the compinations possible:
DDR600 Advantages on A64

 

[Rhoel]

Originally posted by: Painman
This stuff ain't for the faint of heart, but you did buy the DFI after all, didn't you?

Newegg sells it for under $150, but they're out of it right now.

It's tempting to get the VX pc4000 for a little more. I just had one of my twinmos sticks die on me. I have 3.4v and a 92mm fan directly over them. They are fast, but they aren't warranteed for the high volts like the vx gold. I just might buy these knowing that these will hit 250 and I won't have to buy another replacement.

 

[wallrunnerm15]

oh yea i already have an audigy 2 zs platinum, and i am never going back to onboard sound. any suggestions on descent ddr500? i guess cas 2/2.5???

 

[wallrunnerm15]

anyone use the ocz gold series?? 2-2-2-8 stock voltages http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820227203