Best RAM for my Athlon 64 3500+

[MordecuS]

Hey all, I am new to the forum and am curious about upgrading my RAM. I have an Athlon 64 3500+ Winchester in a MSI Neo2 Platinum. I currently am running 2 sticks of Crucial PC2700 and it seems to be crippling my system from a benchmark standpoint. I am wanting to upgrade to a better suited RAM for my CPU but am puzzled on what to get. I love Crucial and am eyeing their Ballistix line very hard. I have also seen people that have jumped on the G. Skill bandwagon and swear by it. Either way, just looking for some good advice concerning my future RAM upgrade.

Thanks!

 

[Waylay00]

If you are overclocking, get the Corsair PC4400C25 or C25PT. OCZ EL Platinum Revison 2 PC3200 is also good. But for stock speeds, get Corsair XL.

 

[ts3433]

You don't need to upgrade, actually. Synthetic benchmarks mean nothing, and Zebo's memory tests (stickied to the top of the CPU/OC forum) show that PC2100 will not severely cripple an overclocked A64. Given that your PC2700 is Crucial-branded, it may also be able to get to PC3200 speed. Even when overclocking, lower-speed RAM is fine.

 

[ayman]

OCZ !

 

[Amaroque]

Originally posted by: ts3433
You don't need to upgrade, actually. Synthetic benchmarks mean nothing, and Zebo's memory tests (stickied to the top of the CPU/OC forum) show that PC2100 will not severely cripple an overclocked A64. Given that your PC2700 is Crucial-branded, it may also be able to get to PC3200 speed. Even when overclocking, lower-speed RAM is fine.

Crucial PC2700 will usually do PC3200 with relaxed timings, and or bumped voltage.

OP: You said that you're eying the Ballistix. I have the Ballistix PC4000, and this is some of the best overclocking, LL RAM I've ever used.

 

[sxr7171]

Kingston ValueRAM and no I am not joking.

 

[Machine350]

Originally posted by: sxr7171
Kingston ValueRAM and no I am not joking.

That or Corsair Value Select, both good stuff.

 

[Amaroque]

Originally posted by: sxr7171
Kingston ValueRAM and no I am not joking.

Depends what your objective is. If you want to run a high FSB 1/1, that will not do.

 

[sxr7171]

Originally posted by: Amaroque

Originally posted by: sxr7171
Kingston ValueRAM and no I am not joking.

Depends what your objective is. If you want to run a high FSB 1/1, that will not do.

I guess you're right, he seems to want to do competitive benchmarking. I guess everyone has their own sport.

 

[bluslice]

i'm planning on getting some corsair xms LL ram. pc3200 with memory timings of 2-2-2-5!! you can't get any more aggressive than that. with higher speed ram your latency will go up and out goes your performance. (i shouldn't say that actually, too controversial :x ). anyway, that's just my lean on things.

 

[Amaroque]

Originally posted by: bluslice
i'm planning on getting some corsair xms LL ram. pc3200 with memory timings of 2-2-2-5!! you can't get any more aggressive than that. with higher speed ram your latency will go up and out goes your performance. (i shouldn't say that actually, too controversial :x ). anyway, that's just my lean on things.

Not true. Especially for the A64. These guys aren't lying. The only thing high speed RAM is good for on the A64 is running a high FSB 1/1. Check out this thread.

More aggressive? Hmm My Crucial Ballistix PC4000 are rated for 2-2-2-5 1T @ 400MHz, 2.5-3-3-8 1T @ 500MHz (Crucial changed the specs to 2.5-4-4-8 @ 500MHz on the website)

 

[jterrell]

Get the Patriot 3200 w/ XBL for highest benchmarks at a good price. Its the same stuff as OCZ plat rev 2 but much cheaper.

My basic Crucial 3200 overclocks quite easily with stock voltages. I haven't tried running a divider yet but may to get to 2.4