Best RAM for nForce2 - Dual Channel Enhanced DDR?

[19]

I just picked up an Asus A7N8X mobo, but I'm not sure what type of RAM to get. I'm running an AMD XP 2100 in it right now, but I plan to switch to a fast 333 MHz FSB CPU when the prices drop a little. Would I notice much performance difference between, say, Corsair DDR 3500 CL2 and Samsung DDR 3200 CL 2.5?

Also, OCZ just came out with a "Dual Channel Enhanced" DDR 3500 stick (http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/memory_specs.php?id=17). Could this be my best choice?

 

[ScrewFace]

I believe that "Dual Channel Enhanced" DDR 3500 will give you twice the bandwidth as opposed to regular PC3500 DDR-SDRAM.

 

[19]

I know that I can double the memory bandwidth by using two DDR sticks - that's one of the cool features of nForce2 (Dual Channel DDR), but my question is which brand and model to put in those two slots. The OCZ sticks are perportedly "enhanced" in some way specifically for DC-DDR, and I was wondering if there was any merit to their claim.

 

[Snoop]

The OCZ sticks are perportedly "enhanced" in some way specifically for DC-DDR,

I think the term 'enhanced' is referring directly to their ability to run stable at a very high clock speed and low CAS rating and does not reflect any type of inherrant speed increase over other DDR modules, running at the same speed.

 

[19]

I think the term 'enhanced' is referring directly to their ability to run stable at a very high clock speed and low CAS rating and does not reflect any type of inherrant speed increase over other DDR modules, running at the same speed.

But OCZ makes an Enhanced Latency DDR PC-3500 stick that is not dual channel enhanced (see OCZ Products), so what's the difference?

 

[cnburden]

Just purchased the A7N8X deluxe also. I picked up two sticks of the 256MB Corsair PC3200 CAS2 (was only a dollar more then the PC2700). Bought the AMD 2600 with the 333FSB, so didn't want to get memory that was way overrated (don't plan on OC'ing). I also read some articles at Anandtech and also over at Toms Hardware which talked about the nforce2 boards and the dual DDR. Tom's said to go with CL2 ram in order to get the performance increase. The Anandtech's article showed what performance increase you could get running dual channel.

Tom's article:
Athlon On The Fast Lane: Three Motherboards with nForce2-Chipset and Dual-Channel DDR

Anandtech:
NVIDIA's nForce2 Part II: Diving Deeper

Cheers,
Craig

 

[Vermonter]

I kind of had the same question myself. My A7N8X Deluxe will be here on Monday and I'm stuck with my Corsair PC2400 RAM for now. When I can afford it I was planning to get two modules of PC3500 CAS2 RAM from either Corsair or OCZ. But I also heard that the nForce2 works best with "double sided" RAM ... or was it "dual bank"? I don't remember the exact wording. Can someone shed some light on this? I sort of assumed that whatever either of those memory types (Corsair or OCZ) would be "dual bank," but I want to make sure, and I want to know if it should even be a concern.

 

[19]

I also read some articles at Anandtech and also over at Toms Hardware which talked about the nforce2 boards and the dual DDR.

I read those as well, and I am convinced that dual DDR is the way to go. I've been hearing on another thread that OCZ and GeIL RAM is crappy, so I'll prolly go with Corsair as well. However, I'm not sure if I should shell out the extra $30 per 512 MB stick for PC-3500 over PC-3200. I will prolly overclock a 333 FSB CPU in my A7N8X in the future, and I want the RAM I buy now to last me the lifespan of the mobo...

 

[Macro2]

Doesn't it all depend on if you are going to overclock or not?
PC2100 should be all you need if you are running 133 Mhz bus? 2700 if running 166 etc.?

 

[XBoxLPU]

Don't ever buy OCZ RAM

 

[cnburden]

Originally posted by: Macro2
Doesn't it all depend on if you are going to overclock or not?
PC2100 should be all you need if you are running 133 Mhz bus? 2700 if running 166 etc.?

Macro2,

Yes, if you don't plan on OC'ing, not a lot of point to get faster ram. Unless, you are planning to upgrade in the near future.

For me, the extra dollar wasn't going to break the bank on the ram. And I also spent extra to get the XP 2600+ with the 333FSB to go with the motherboard, thus the 2700 or better ram.

Craig

 

[cnburden]

Originally posted by: Vermonter
I kind of had the same question myself. My A7N8X Deluxe will be here on Monday and I'm stuck with my Corsair PC2400 RAM for now. When I can afford it I was planning to get two modules of PC3500 CAS2 RAM from either Corsair or OCZ. But I also heard that the nForce2 works best with "double sided" RAM ... or was it "dual bank"? I don't remember the exact wording. Can someone shed some light on this? I sort of assumed that whatever either of those memory types (Corsair or OCZ) would be "dual bank," but I want to make sure, and I want to know if it should even be a concern.

Vermonter,

Think you are thinking "dual bank", that the nforce2 boards support. Which just means you can get better performance using two sticks of 256MB ram then one stick of 512MB ram due to the dual DDR feature.

I haven't seen anything about issues with double sided ram.

Craig

 

[19]

So say it's 9 months from now and I buy a new AMD 333 MHz FSB Athlon XP 3300 for my trusty A7N8X and I want to overclock it. Will the two 512 Mb PC-3200 sticks I bought 9 months ago meet my needs? Or will I regret not splurging for the 3500 (or even the 3700)?

 

[ahsumdude]

Check this review on high speed memory. This should answer all your questions and then some concerning the right purchase.

I purchased an A7N8X a couple of weeks ago and have been running at 200 FSB from day one. I have crappy Kingmax DDR 333 with loose (diarrhea loose I might add) memory timings cas 2.5, 4, 4, 8 with a .1volt increase in the mem voltage. I have ran this board stable at 211 (max setting) but I could only run the memory at 83% of this FSB.

My advise would be to buy the best and fastest you can afford and make certain you get two sticks of it. Two sticks of 512 would be best.

Unlock you processor and crank that bad boy up. I myself can not wait for the the Barton to come available here soon.

 

[ahsumdude]

oops...

Here's that link.

High speed DDR review of all major vendors.

 

[19]

Originally posted by: ahsumdude
Check this review on high speed memory. This should answer all your questions and then some concerning the right purchase.

In that article, they say "If however you want the absolute creme de la creme, OCZ's EL-DDR PC3500 is by far and away the best module tested." When I looked into OCZ further, I saw they were comming out with a "Dual Channel Enhanced" version of their EL-DDR PC3500.

If the regular EL-DDR is already rated the best PC-3500, shouldn't the DCE version be really really the best for an nForce2 mobo? Lots of people in this forum have told me to stay away from OCZ as it's not Scottish (i.e. it's CRAP!). However, given this review and a post I read on overclockers.com (where the author said he knew it sounded crazy but he found OCZ to be the best), perhaps OCZ is the way to go afterall...

 

[19]

bump

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: Macro2
Doesn't it all depend on if you are going to overclock or not?
PC2100 should be all you need if you are running 133 Mhz bus? 2700 if running 166 etc.?

your exactly right, unlike many people.... PC3500!!!! wow, that must be good!(if you have a 433 FSB athlon, it must be on fire)

 

[bgeh]

Originally posted by: 19

Originally posted by: ahsumdude
Check this review on high speed memory. This should answer all your questions and then some concerning the right purchase.

In that article, they say "If however you want the absolute creme de la creme, OCZ's EL-DDR PC3500 is by far and away the best module tested." When I looked into OCZ further, I saw they were comming out with a "Dual Channel Enhanced" version of their EL-DDR PC3500.

If the regular EL-DDR is already rated the best PC-3500, shouldn't the DCE version be really really the best for an nForce2 mobo? Lots of people in this forum have told me to stay away from OCZ as it's not Scottish (i.e. it's CRAP!). However, given this review and a post I read on overclockers.com (where the author said he knew it sounded crazy but he found OCZ to be the best), perhaps OCZ is the way to go afterall...

don't buy OCZ
and i don't think there's ram that's optimized for DCDDR

 

[Gondo]

I have 2 sticks of XMS 3200 cas2, and it works fine here. And my system puts a really big strain on
memory. I have the P4 3.06, which is locked at a 23x multiplier. I run stable at 144 FSB, and that
puts a hella strain on memory. I am still running at Cas2, 5,2,2 and it still works very stable.

Dual Channel memroy controllers, are just that, it is the memory controller. It means you need 2
like DIMMS to complete the circuit. Since the technology is still rather new, with Intel even coming
out with one soon, I would say that Dual Channel enhanced memory is a bogus claim right now.

Considering that if you have an older Athalon, you only need PC2100, and with the newer one
you only need PC2700. It all depends on how much money you have, and what you want to
overclock to.

My overclocking is held back by my memory, and Corsair XMS 3200 is not bad, I have not seen a
bad review. I do not dislike my processor either, I am just really limited with a 23x multiplier.

 

[Snoop]

Originally posted by: 19

I think the term 'enhanced' is referring directly to their ability to run stable at a very high clock speed and low CAS rating and does not reflect any type of inherrant speed increase over other DDR modules, running at the same speed.

But OCZ makes an Enhanced Latency DDR PC-3500 stick that is not dual channel enhanced (see OCZ Products), so what's the difference?

Nothing, its called 'marketing'

 

[compudog]

Go with the CL2 RAM and don't go with OCZ or Geil. Too many problems IMHO. I'm running Corsair XMS PC2700 CL2 with no problems.

 

[19]

Originally posted by: compudog
Go with the CL2 RAM and don't go with OCZ or Geil. Too many problems IMHO. I'm running Corsair XMS PC2700 CL2 with no problems.

I read on another site that OCZ cherry picks the best modules for their first batch of a new type of RAM, while the second and third batches get crappier and crappier modules. Since reviewers almost always review sticks from the first batch, OCZ often does well in benchmark comparisons. The poor consumer who believes the good review and unwittingly buys a stick from the third batch, however, winds up with a piece of junk. Moral: It may not be a bad idea to buy OCZ right after a new RAM comes out (e.g. PC-3700 right now), but if you don't want to gamble or support these kinds of business practices, stick with reputable companies like Corsair, Mushkin, or Kingston.