Does RAM brand matter?

[cloudguy]

The MOBO im getting says it can work with either 1600/2100/2700 or 3200 RAM, I guess thats speed or something? Anyways, I was wondering if that really mattered at all performancewise and would I notice a difference. Also, does brand matter? Im just looking to get a single 512 chip for it and I dont want to spend a whole lot, so I found some for between 50-65 dollars on Price Watch but they arent any high end brands or anything. Thanks.

 

[screw3d]

If you are not overclocking, it does not really matter that much., Just make sure it at least passes a few hours of memtest86.

 

[cloudguy]

How do I do all that? Im not overclocking either. This is my first one im building, so what happens when I turn the damn thing on and it works? How do I know its working besides the fact something pops up on the screen and no smoke and sparks come flying out of the case? Do I install XP right away or do I need drivers first? Cause I assume its not going to be able to do much with no drivers and no operating system installed.

 

[jar5tyle]

Yea load that OS up after a BIOS checkover

 

[mrweirdo]

it would probably be a good idea in the long run to spend a little bit extra for some good ram like crucial, cosair, kingston, etc. It also lowers your chances of having memory related problems.

 

[nCred]

It depends on which CPU you´re buying, you can´t run a XP 3200+ with PC2100 RAM. Gotta have PC 3200 RAM for a CPU with 400mhz bus and PC 2700 for 333mhz FSB.

 

[ZL1]

IMO brand matters even if you are not overclocking

get something like kingston from newegg.com, value series are cheap and good
or try ebay if you want to save a buck (you can find a brand new kingston 512mb for 60-65 if you are patient)


D

 

[cloudguy]

Its an XP 2600+ actually, and im pretty sure its 400mhz, MIGHT BE 333 but im almost positive its 400, i can check, although the review about this board (has athlon 2.13 Ghz processor) said that it wasnt able to make use of the fact that its 400 anyways over the 333 for some reason or another, so the 400 offered a small fractional increase over the 333 in this case, so I dont think it matters that it is 400 that much, if it is even.

 

[ZL1]

Originally posted by: cloudguy
Its an XP 2600+ actually, and im pretty sure its 400mhz, MIGHT BE 333 but im almost positive its 400, i can check, although the review about this board (has athlon 2.13 Ghz processor) said that it wasnt able to make use of the fact that its 400 anyways over the 333 for some reason or another, so the 400 offered a small fractional increase over the 333 in this case, so I dont think it matters that it is 400 that much, if it is even.

get 400mhz ram even if your not sure
2 reasons: 1 why not ? price difference small so why not, it might come in handy
2 in case you'll ever wanna overclock it will be easier if you got 400mhz ram


FYI I just got some 256mb pc3200 kingstons on ebay for $30 so keep ebay in mind



D

 

[mmnatas]

I used to always buy generic ram, whatever was cheapest on pricewatch. Then two seperate times, I got stuck with bad memory using that approach, and won't settle for no name memory anymore. Unless you're buying cutting-edge memory, kingston or crucial are usually only $10-15 dollars more per dimm and can potentially save you a few hours of troubleshooting and worrying about stability.

Most of the generic providers have different levels of quality, if you get generic, make sure you get from a provider that gives you at least a two week warranty, many offer less than that, or even no returns at all.

 

[nCred]

Originally posted by: ZL1
IMO brand matters even if you are not overclocking

get something like kingston from newegg.com, value series are cheap and good
or try ebay if you want to save a buck (you can find a brand new kingston 512mb for 60-65 if you are patient)


D

I´m not so sure about Kingston value, I have a 256 mb PC2100 stick of that and it´s not very good if you want low memory timings. My cheap TwinMos RAM is much faster.

 

[ZL1]

Originally posted by: mmnatas
I used to always buy generic ram, whatever was cheapest on pricewatch. Then two seperate times, I got stuck with bad memory using that approach, and won't settle for no name memory anymore. Unless you're buying cutting-edge memory, kingston or crucial are usually only $10-15 dollars more per dimm and can potentially save you a few hours of troubleshooting and worrying about stability.

Most of the generic providers have different levels of quality, if you get generic, make sure you get from a provider that gives you at least a two week warranty, many offer less than that, or even no returns at all.

exactly + some generics have a habbit of burning after a couple months and then you are definetly fudged since there is no more warranty at that time, simply put its not worth it for $5-10


D

 

[ZL1]

Originally posted by: nCred

Originally posted by: ZL1
IMO brand matters even if you are not overclocking

get something like kingston from newegg.com, value series are cheap and good
or try ebay if you want to save a buck (you can find a brand new kingston 512mb for 60-65 if you are patient)


D

I´m not so sure about Kingston value, I have a 256 mb PC2100 stick of that and it´s not very good if you want low memory timings. My cheap TwinMos RAM is much faster.

dude we werent talking about low cas here, dude he was saying generics over there, those are like cas 4


D

 

[Corporate Thug]

only the good stuff is rated to cas2, so i would spend a little more and get that not to mention that a majority of the really good stuff (hyperX, XMS, Mushkin) have a life time warrenty so you may spend a little more now, but you dont have to worry about spending more money when your memory craps out sense you get a lifeime warrenty

 

[cloudguy]

So what brands do I look for now, im glad I didnt just go ahead and order that cheap generic stuff now. I got some Samsung DVD and CDRW drives for cheap, Western Digi hard drive, ASUS mobo, ASUS video card, the floppy is samsung also I believe, and a motorola v.90/.92 modem JUST in case they go back to AOHell.

 

[ZL1]

Originally posted by: cloudguy
So what brands do I look for now, im glad I didnt just go ahead and order that cheap generic stuff now. I got some Samsung DVD and CDRW drives for cheap, Western Digi hard drive, ASUS mobo, ASUS video card, the floppy is samsung also I believe, and a motorola v.90/.92 modem JUST in case they go back to AOHell.

go with kingston value dude, good ram for a decent price
or if you want low timings kingston hyperx has 2-2-2 timings which are great and the price is still very good


D

 

[cloudguy]

bump

 

[cloudguy]

bermp

 

[chocoruacal]

Originally posted by: cloudguy
bermp

Bump all you want...nobody can give you a definitive answer to this. There are always going to be people who have had good luck with generics, and those who have good luck with name brand. There's no such thing as the "best" RAM for stock or overclocking applications. Its just as possible to spend $150 and get a bad and/or incompatible stick of Corsair as it is to spend $50 on pricewatch.

 

[cloudguy]

Alright, well now im getting back and forth info about the video card i got.....