Does memory matter if you run stock?

[imported_MaxPayne]

Ok, I run my computers at stock speed. Just not into overclocking.
Knowing this, does the quality of my RAM really matter?

Would I benefit using PC3200 over PC2700 if I only ran at stock speed?
Also, is there any benefit for me to get a RAM with Low Latency if I only run at stock.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Nope, good "value" RAM is so close in performance at stock speed there is little or no value in paying for premium RAM.

PC3200 is worth buying if you might be upgrading to an A64 system in the next year or so.

 

[CraigRT]

unless you buy low latency RAM and run it in spec, it won't matter.

EVEN then, performance is only 1-2% on average, with low latency RAM... so who really cares.

 

[Alptraum]

Would I benefit using PC3200 over PC2700 if I only ran at stock speed?

This could make a big difference depending on what your system bus is at. For instance if you have a P4 with an 800mhz bus, you would want PC3200. That all deals with stock stuff though. If your stock bus just requires PC2700, by all means run that if you don't plan to OC. Assuming everything is stock there really isnt't any noticable difference between running really low latency stuff and cheaper RAM.

If you mentioned what CPU/MB you have people could recommend all kinds of good value choices.

 

[TRUMPHENT]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Nope, good "value" RAM is so close in performance at stock speed there is little or no value in paying for premium RAM.

PC3200 is worth buying if you might be upgrading to an A64 system in the next year or so.

Hear! Hear! This is exactly why I bought 1GB of Corsair "ValueRam" to go with my new mainboard for my Barton processor. It is an XP2500+ running at 2.2 ghz (XP3200+). I can still play with overclocking it.

My old "Value Ram" was Crucial PC2100. I would immediately change the CAS timing from 2.5 to 2.0. That was on an older system. There is value in "Value Ram".

 

[imported_MaxPayne]

Let's say I bought an Athlon 64 3500 and paired it with the new Gigabyte GA-K8NF-9 nForce 4 mobo.

If I only ran this at stock speed, I'm assuming that I'd be better off using PC3200 RAM?

And if I'm not overclocking, then the CAS latency wouldn't make much of a differnece?

 

[imported_MaxPayne]

On another note, does better RAM make a difference when it comes to gaming?

 

[Alptraum]

Originally posted by: MaxPayne
Let's say I bought an Athlon 64 3500 and paired it with the new Gigabyte GA-K8NF-9 nForce 4 mobo.

If I only ran this at stock speed, I'm assuming that I'd be better off using PC3200 RAM?

And if I'm not overclocking, then the CAS latency wouldn't make much of a differnece?

Yep. The native bus speed of that CPU requires PC3200 to run at stock. So just get some good PC3200 value type RAM (Corsair, Kingston, Mushkin...you get the idea) and you are good to go. No need to get the pricey versions from those (Like the various types of XMS from Corsair).

And don't worry about CAS. In your situation you would basically need a benchmark to tell the difference between say Kingston value RAM and Kingston HyperX. And even then it wouldn't be much of a difference.

 

[imported_DaveA]

i have a amd 64 3200+ 939, msi k8n neo 2 platinum and some crucial value pc2700 ram all at stock speeds. i get around 5300MB/s memory transfer speed. fast enough for me.

 

[Alptraum]

Originally posted by: DaveA
i have a amd 64 3200+ 939, msi k8n neo 2 platinum and some crucial value pc2700 ram all at stock speeds. i get around 5300MB/s memory transfer speed. fast enough for me.

I understand that its perfectly fast for you. But aren't all the 939 chips built to run PC3200 stock? I figure if you are buying new you should get memory that you can run at stock timings as opposed to running below spec.