Crucial Ballistix Tracer DDR2-800 vs DDR2-1000 vs DDR2-1066

[Cheex]

Let us say that I will only buy from Newegg....

Crucial Ballistix Tracer
DDR2-800 = $135
DDR2-1000 = $211
DDR2-1066 = $180
(prices are quoted at the time of this post)
Also, keep in mind that I live in Jamaica and hence, MIRs do NOT apply to me.

800-1000-1066 Compared

Questions:

(1) What are the benefits of the 1000 or the 1066 over the 800 (aside from OCing) and is it worth the price difference (certainly not the 1000)??

(2) Would it be better served buying the 800 based on price/performance or get the 1066 for "future" use?

 

[drakore]

get the 1066 if you need the overhead for overclocking... otherwise you are wasting your money and should just stick with DDR2-800 because running ram at lower speeds with tighter timings is equal to higher speeds at loose timings.

 

[Cheex]

I guess you're saying that I should just cough the $180 and get the 1066.

Kinda hard on the pocket but I guess it will last me over 2 years (keeping up with the industry).

 

[MaxGeek]

I think you will find the Ballistix/Tracer DDR-800 will overclock to 1066 without any problems. The micron D9 chips are very good and all of those use the same chips.

The ram is binned for speed, but even the 800mhz Ballistix/Tracers will still overclock well.

 

[Cheex]

That I know; but my other question is...

Is the extra $45 worth spending on the 1066 or should I just go with the 800???

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Cheex
That I know; but my other question is...

Is the extra $45 worth spending on the 1066 or should I just go with the 800???

you are not going to like the answer

it depends

can you afford it?

are you an extreme OC'er?

if yes, then yes

if you are on a budget and will settle for a slightly lower OC then No

that said, i am looking for a great deal on super-fast RAM ... NewEgg Refunded my 'on sale' Crucial Ballistix PC8500 that needed to be RMA'd and really irritated me
[until they gave me a couple of very generous credits to my Preferred account]

the performance difference isn't extreme ... or very noticeable in gaming [imo] .. just depends on what you want your rig to do ... some guys like all chrome under the hood and will pay triple for premium parts ...

for $45, i'd go for it ... but it is just me

just remember, there is DDR3 ... and 4 ... which will eventually replace it

 

[Cheex]

If I'm going to change my motherboard anytime soon then I would get the GA-P35C-DS3R for the DDR2 & DDR3 support so I wouldn't have to change my board later on. That being said, I want some high quality DDR2 RAM that will tide me over until maybe mid-late 2008 when DDR3 memory actually gets widely used and is affordable.

That being said...I also have to option to buy another stick of my G.SKILL HK for $60 and dual channel with my current stick. However, I like to push my system and therefore the ProMOS chips used in this memory tops out at about DDR2-900. Which at 450 only takes my E6300 up to 3.150GHz. I know it can go higher.

Budget is a BIG, HUGE, GIANT problem right now because I want so many things (RAM, Monitor, etc.) and my cash flow is limited being a student and all that jazz.

I need help in making a proper decision and to stick with it and be happy and not complain afterwards...