Best Value 1GB Sticks (Crucial vs G-Skill)

[Diasper]

In light of AT's article on value 512MB sticks I'm looking to start a discussion on 1GB sticks. What do you make of the sticks so far? Does anyone have any experience or found any reviews? (I can't seem to find any!) Also, does anyone have any recommendations?

Options seem limited - in the UK I've only found Crucial and Geil:

http://www.geil.com.tw/portal/product_400_tv_dc.php
http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/PartSpecs.asp?imodule=CT12864Z40B&cat=RAM


What do you reckon of those two sticks and their ability to run at tighter timings at DDR400 speeds given a bit of voltage - say Crucial @ 2.8V and G-Skill @2.95V as those are still within their warranties?





My background for asking:
I'm looking to help a friend build an AMD64-based gaming pc to run for a few years which is meant to play games including Everquest 2. I'm building it in a couple of months but I wanted to do some early research on 1GB sticks (so will have 2GB total) as that's what I know least about.

I'm looking to do a moderate-high overclock but not at the expense of noise. Given the K8's architecture I'm looking to run them with a divider at DDR400 with as tight timings as possible. Which of those two would be better? My instinct tells me to go with G-Skill especially as they support voltages upto 2.95V as opposed to Crucial's 2.8V (I think). However, Crucial's value sticks have been good to me in the past where i have 2x512MB CAS3 at 2.5-2-2-9 @2.8V in my AMDXP setup - far better than their rated 3-3-3-8 rating.

Other components look likely to be depending on future pricing: 3200+ Venice with a Coolermaster Hyper48, DFI/Abit/MSI nforce4 mobo, 400-485W Enermax/Tagan/OCZ PSU, ATI X800 XL (probably HIS for noise and case exhaust), Hitachi Hardrive (for fastest 7200RPM loading times) and an Antec 3000B case.

Edit - updated the links

 

[imported_llama]

i have 2 512MB sticks of DDR400 from Kingston. Its the CL2.5 stuff works well, although im not sure if it will do 1T command rate at 400Mhz, board defaults to 2T

 

[Rip the Jacker]

TwinMos TMSP if you can give it alotta voltage...

Nothin beats UTT for $55 / 512MB

 

[Diasper]

I think you guys might be mistaking this discussion for 512MB modules rather than 1Gb modules which it is.

 

[Rip the Jacker]

LOL.

I just noticed.

 

[Diasper]

What I would like to know is how 1GB module respond to extra voltage compared to 512MB and if given their greater transistor count would probably respond less well?

Also it seems the 2.95V on the website I listed for the Geil RAM was a typo on their behalf so I'm not really sure what voltages would be ok to use within the warranty.

Edit - I managed to find a comment review from 3dgameman.com on their value ranger - I think he reviewed a 512MB stick of Value RAM

"The GeIL Value Dual Channel PC3200 400MHz DDR Memory is value with attitude. Not only is this memory fast at it's default speed, but it's excellent at overclocking. It can reach speeds of 510MHz DDR at above spec timings, which is fantastic. If you are on a budget but want super performance then keep this memory at the very top of your list. Watch the Video to find out more..." ~3dGameMan.com

Now I'm hoping that's accurate but it seems that Geil seems to rate their value range quite conservatively. That might suggest decent possibilities for their 1GB value sticks..

 

[Concillian]

Geil vs. crucial?

Crucial... every time.

I've seen some people with issues with Geil RAM, while Crucial pretty much defines the standard for memory stability and service. No brainer in my opinion. Crucial sticks are generally rated quite conservatively.

As for 1GB sticks, you just have to realize you're not going to get much of an overclock with them. They generally do not respond nearly as well as 512MB sticks in terms of voltage and overclocking margin, which is why everyone talks about 512MB sticks. You cannot compare reviews for 2x512MB kits and extrapolate performance on 1GB sticks. When a 1GB stick says CAS 3, it probably means it.

The best you're going to do without paying pretty high prices is 2.5-3-3 just get something decent and count on not running 2-2-2.

 

[Diasper]

Originally posted by: Concillian
Geil vs. crucial?

Crucial... every time.

I've seen some people with issues with Geil RAM, while Crucial pretty much defines the standard for memory stability and service. No brainer in my opinion. Crucial sticks are generally rated quite conservatively.

As for 1GB sticks, you just have to realize you're not going to get much of an overclock with them. They generally do not respond nearly as well as 512MB sticks in terms of voltage and overclocking margin, which is why everyone talks about 512MB sticks. You cannot compare reviews for 2x512MB kits and extrapolate performance on 1GB sticks. When a 1GB stick says CAS 3, it probably means it.

The best you're going to do without paying pretty high prices is 2.5-3-3 just get something decent and count on not running 2-2-2.

Thanks Concillian.

Well I'm not looking to actually overclock the sticks beyond 200mhz so it's only really the timings that concern me. After *watching* the 3dgameman review I think I'll take all his comments with a very heavy pinch of salt and hopefully stop laughing sometime soon. Kickass! Lol

Crucial being conservative with timings is actually far more true - the RAM i'm running from them is evidence.

What would be better then - 2x 1Gb at 2.5-3-3 @ 400mhz is probably better than 4x 512MB @ 2-2-2 at 333mhz (assuming Venice core)

 

[imported_Kensai]

Anything with TCCDs.

 

[Diasper]

TCCDs only come on 512MB modules and even if they did come on 1GB modules they wouldn't count as value RAM.

What is it with everyone today?

 

[Concillian]

Originally posted by: Diasper

What would be better then - 2x 1Gb at 2.5-3-3 @ 400mhz is probably better than 4x 512MB @ 2-2-2 at 333mhz (assuming Venice core)

Difficult to know for sure.

Personally I would go with 2x1GB, which I'm planning to move to soon, now that I've seen the improvement that 1.5GB has given me over 1GB even though I had to move from 200 MHz at 2-3-2 1T to 200 MHz at 2.5-3-3 2T (because i had to use 3x512MB sticks... I have a S754 board which can run 3 sticks)