Cruical Or Mushkin

[DasFox]

Well I've been looking over the Crucial Ballistix ram:

http://www.crucial.com/store/p...odule=BL2KIT12864AA804

And Mushkin XP2-6400:

http://www.mushkin.com/doc/pro...mory_detail.asp?id=350

And it's been a toss up as to which I'd like to get for the Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R:

http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Pro...roductName=GA-P35-DS3R

I know boards can be picky with ram, and so far I've never run into these issues, since all I've used so far is Corsair, and OCZ, but in order to get the same lower CAS4 I'd have to pay more.

Right now Mwave has the Crucial selling for $101, and that made me think real hard for that, hehe.

Anyhow in the past I've heard a lot of people having compatibility issues with Mushkin, but I wonder if nowadays they are just as trust worthy as anyone. Plus from what I gather, even if you don't overclock, I've heard the Mushkin is suppose to be the fastest running out there.

What do you guys think?

THANKS & ALOHA

 

[Howard]

What speed/timing will you be running at?

 

[ch33zw1z]

crucial ftw...always

 

[DasFox]

Originally posted by: Howard
What speed/timing will you be running at?

Just the stock speed 800mhz, and timings. I'm not overclocking...

 

[Blain]

I ordered 2GB of Corsair XMS2 DHX to go with the P35-DS3R that I've got coming. The Corsair DDR2-800 DHX is rated to run at only 1.8v

 

[DasFox]

Originally posted by: Blain
I ordered 2GB of Corsair XMS2 DHX to go with the P35-DS3R that I've got coming. The Corsair DDR2-800 DHX is rated to run at only 1.8v

What's with all this 1.8v ram/motherboard issues I'm hearing, and what's so special about 1.8v?

Also I know DDR3 is around the corner, do you think that PC28500 will make a big difference in performance over PC26400 running at stock?

Now that I think about it, I wonder if I should get PC28500 instead, and Gigabyte's specs on the motherboard say to look at their "Memory Support List" for memory support information, but so many companies do that, and the memory half the time you want to use isn't listed, so I'm hoping this Ballistix PC28500 wouldn't have issues then with the board.

 

[Blain]

1.8v is the DDR2 standard for DIMM voltage.
Some MBs have issues running "high performance" memory rated over the standard.

 

[DasFox]

Originally posted by: Blain
1.8v is the DDR2 standard for DIMM voltage.
Some MBs have issues running "high performance" memory rated over the standard.

Ok, by the way did you get the 6400C4, or 6400C5?

I'd like to stick to the tighter timings of C4 if I can find a good deal on the 6400C4 maybe I'll go with them, I am a Corsair fan too...

ALOHA

 

[Blain]

I got the TWIN2X2048-6400C5DHX for about $107 after rebate & taxes.

 

[DasFox]

Originally posted by: Blain
I got the TWIN2X2048-6400C5DHX for about $107 after rebate & taxes.

Ok, well since I'm not going to overclock, I'd like to find some tighter timings then CAS5.

Also what about PC28500 over PC26400, is it going to make much difference?

THANKS

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: DasFox

Originally posted by: Howard
What speed/timing will you be running at?

Just the stock speed 800mhz, and timings. I'm not overclocking...

Well then who gives a damn?

 

[Captante]

Out of your choices I'd go with the Mushkin because over the years they've been the most reliable for me, plus on the couple of occasions I have had issues, they bent over backwards to make sure I was taken care of & I like companies that really do put the customer first. Crucial is my second choice in memory venders & their RAM is every bit as good as Mushkin's, but they are a much larger company & you don't get the same kind of personal treatment from their support.

The 1.8v thing can be a real problem if the RAM you choose doesn't default to settings that will allow it to post at that vdimm ... most enthusiest motherboards will allow voltage to be set higher manually provided you can get into the BIOS, but I've gotten stuck a few times after BIOS updates with a system that wouldn't POST which can be very annoying. (I now keep a 512mb DIMM of Kingston 667mhz DDR2 in my toolkit just for this reason)


Edit: I used to use Corsair RAM a lot, but the last several times I went with them I had nothing but trouble ranging from PC6400 that wouldn't run at 800mhz regardless of settings to Value RAM that gave me Memtest errors 3 RMA's in a row.


For CAS 4 PC6400 I'd go with this:

mushkin 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (cas 4) @ $130 + $5 shipping *(Before $15 MIR)


If you are more concerned with no potential 1.8v problems I'd go with this instead:

mushkin 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (cas 5) ( @ $87 + $5 shipping

 

[corkyg]

I have used both Crucial and Mushkin. I get fast service from Mushkin, and would use either. Which ever is the best deal that meets your specs.

 

[DasFox]

Captante, what about the Mushkin XP2-6400?

http://www.mushkin.com/doc/pro...mory_detail.asp?id=350

Mushkin told me that even though I'm not going to overclock it will runs faster then the HP Series.

As I mentioned before I want to get the Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R, so I'll have to contact Gigabyte, and see if the board is picky with higher rated volts on ram. The XP2-6400 shows that it runs at 1.9v

THANKS

P.S. WOW I just noticed the Mushkin XP2-8500 2x1GB is only $136.66:

http://www.mushkin.com/doc/pro...mory_detail.asp?id=523

 

[DasFox]

I just read one article that said the Mushkin XP2-8500 will run just fine at 1.8v with timings of 5-5-5.

Cool is all I've got to say, this is looking better... WoOt

ALOHA

 

[Captante]

I have the 4gb Mushkin PC6400 kit that they sold awhile back which is rated for 4-4-3-10 @ 2.1v & it won't POST even at 6-6-5-18 at 1.8v unless I kick the speed down to 667mhz ... unfortunately the SPD is programmed for 800mhz so if the BIOS is cleared I have to swap in my Kingston DIMM to get into setup on my 590-SLI.

They must have changed the SPD settings on the newer stuff so it defaults to a speed that will function at 1.8v or somhow made it operate at the lower vdimm ... in any case I'd say its a safe bet going with the PC8500 for $136 ... thats a great deal!

 

[DasFox]

Mushkin tech support told me the The 1.8V and 5-5-5 is at 800Mhz. This is the jedec stardard timings which is used before you set the timings, speed and voltage need for them.

So hopefully now this board won't be picky and will take the stock volts.

YEAH $136 is CHEAP for this ram, hehe.

ALOHA

 

[bamacre]

You should listen to Howard.

You said you aren't overclocking. That makes a huge differerence. What cpu are you going to run with this memory?

 

[etech]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820231114

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
Timing 4-4-3-5

 

[DasFox]

Originally posted by: bamacre
You should listen to Howard.

You said you aren't overclocking. That makes a huge differerence. What cpu are you going to run with this memory?

Mushkin told me that even though I'm not overclocking these sticks will run faster then the HP Series of ram they sell.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: DasFox

Originally posted by: bamacre
You should listen to Howard.

You said you aren't overclocking. That makes a huge differerence. What cpu are you going to run with this memory?

Mushkin told me that even though I'm not overclocking these sticks will run faster then the HP Series of ram they sell.

lol

 

[DasFox]

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: DasFox

Originally posted by: bamacre
You should listen to Howard.

You said you aren't overclocking. That makes a huge differerence. What cpu are you going to run with this memory?

Mushkin told me that even though I'm not overclocking these sticks will run faster then the HP Series of ram they sell.

lol

So what's so funny? Even if I don't overclock Mushkin doesn't make a HP Series DDR2 8500 chip.

That's why I'm looking at the XP2-8500 because I want a 1066MHz chip.

ALOHA

 

[DasFox]

Sorry my saying that they are faster isn't completely everything that Mushkin told me, I forgot to mention, Mushkin said because of the better chips on the XP and tighter timings, even though you don't overclock you'll get a faster chip/better performer, over the HP ram.

 

[Howard]

4-4-4-12 isn't that much faster than 5-5-5-15, and if you run the memory speed only a little faster than FSB, you'll probably run slower rather than faster than if you were to go 2:1 (memory:FSB) or whatever the regular ratio is.

 

[DasFox]

Originally posted by: Howard
4-4-4-12 isn't that much faster than 5-5-5-15, and if you run the memory speed only a little faster than FSB, you'll probably run slower rather than faster than if you were to go 2:1 (memory:FSB) or whatever the regular ratio is.

I understand all of this, but let's back up. I said originally I wanted to get XP2-6400. Later I mentioned XP2-8500, because for only about $12 more I could get this ram direct from Mushkin, and then figured why not get faster ram from 800mhz to 1066mhz for only $12 more, to me that is a great performance gain for so little money.

So even though I'm not going to overclock, who else is selling XP2-8500 for only $136.66?

Mushkin XP2-8500

http://www.mushkin.com/doc/pro...mory_detail.asp?id=523


ALOHA

P.S. See my point now? Who is really selling 1066mhz ram for only $136, regardless of overclocking...