Big difference in memory brands these days?

[essential]

I've been out of the building loop for a while. Currently looking to upgrade a laptop with some (8GBx2) DDR3L 1600 RAM, basically all the options are CL9 and all about $160 (Crucial Ballistix, G.SKILL Ripjaws, Kingston HyperX and Corsair Vengeance).

I used to buy exclusively Corsair, but it's been several years. Since they are all CL9 and about the same price, is there a go-to brand these days?

Thanks.

 

[Essence_of_War]

They're all fine. You may get some value from picking one that has better cust serve or an easier RMA process if they all really are the same price, but even then, that only will come in handy if you actually have a problem, and most people don't.

 

[sweenish]

The stuff you've listed is all good.

I like g.skill, but that's purely my preference.

 

[Blain]

Big difference in memory brands these days?

If I were shopping for high quality memory, I would use the following parameters as a guide...

* DDR3 rated at 1.5v or lower
* DDR3 rated at the lowest CAS I could afford
* DDR3 rated at the highest clock speed I could afford
* Limit the scope of my purchase to G.Skill, Mushkin, Samsung, Corsair XMS or Crucial (non-Ballistix)

While not wavering on the voltage point, I would balance the other issues with my budget.

Remember, my goal is not pure "benchmarking" performance, but simply finding the highest quality memory I can afford. ^_^

The only reason I pay a premium for low latency, high speed, low voltage memory is...
Quality and quality alone.

1.5v is the JEDEC DDR3 voltage standard.
Stay with 1.5v or less if you can afford it..

What he said

 

[mindless1]

Are you in a hurry? Occasionally, stuff does go on sale. 😉

Often it has been the case that memory prices go down sometime between late winter and late spring.

The Ballistix CL9 /1.35V is currently $147 on Amazon, but it wouldn't surprise me if Newegg had an email special on something equivalent soon.
http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-Ballis.../dp/B00DSGLM50

 

[tweakboy]

Some have better quality components.. gl

 

[essential]

What he said

Thanks Blain, that guy you quoted sounds pretty smart.

Are you in a hurry? Occasionally, stuff does go on sale. 😉

Often it has been the case that memory prices go down sometime between late winter and late spring.

The Ballistix CL9 /1.35V is currently $147 on Amazon, but it wouldn't surprise me if Newegg had an email special on something equivalent soon.
http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-Ballis.../dp/B00DSGLM50

Not something I need today but within the next 2 weeks. I'll pay attention to prices but probably have to pull the trigger by next weekend.