Help choosing Memory for a Barton 2500 cpu

[merrimackjay]

Hello,

I am planning on building a new computer from scratch. After doing some research, I've decided to go with a Barton 2500+ CPU on an ASUS A7N8X Deluxe Motherboard. However, I'm having trouble figuring out what memory to get.

What is the advantage of choosing PC3200 memory over PC2700 Memory?

Is the A7N8X really finicky over which brand of memory works well with it? If so which brands should I stay away from, and which brands do you recommend?

I've never overclocked before.... but I think I want to try to do it once I get my computer up and running. Does which brand and speed of memory I buy factor into how much I can overclock?

Thanks a bunch in advance for any help you can give me.

-Jay

 

[infinite012]

Welcome to the forums

The advantage of choosing PC3200 over PC2700 is the fact that you can upgrade to a faster FSB utilizing CPU in the future (xp 3200+). Also, it will allow you some headroom when you are overclocking, if you choose to do so.

Some brands that I would stay away from would be Geil and OCZ as they are both intended to be used with Intel chipsets and have some problems with AMD boards and not running SPD. More specifically, Geil ram will not run at it's rated speed with it's rated timings on nForce2 chipset based motherboards.

Good choice in parts.

 

[Shimmishim]

Originally posted by: merrimackjay
Hello,

I am planning on building a new computer from scratch. After doing some research, I've decided to go with a Barton 2500+ CPU on an ASUS A7N8X Deluxe Motherboard. However, I'm having trouble figuring out what memory to get.

What is the advantage of choosing PC3200 memory over PC2700 Memory?

Is the A7N8X really finicky over which brand of memory works well with it? If so which brands should I stay away from, and which brands do you recommend?

I've never overclocked before.... but I think I want to try to do it once I get my computer up and running. Does which brand and speed of memory I buy factor into how much I can overclock?

Thanks a bunch in advance for any help you can give me.

-Jay

RAM is very important.. never get cheap ram....

I'd recommend anything with winbond bh-5 ... seems as though some of the nforce2 boards don't like the winbond ch-5 too much...

the advantage of pc3200 over pc2700 is that pc3200 is made to be run at 200 mhz while pc2700 is only made for 166 mhz


so with that said...

kingston hyperX pc3200 is good stuff, corsair xms is good stuff, ocz enhanced latency is good stuff, and... mushkin, crucial, buffalo....

those are all i can think of at the moment...

i'm sure others can come up with more....

but stick with those brands and youll be good to go...

oh yeah, samsung as well

 

[merrimackjay]

Hello,

Thanks for the help!

One question: if PC3200 is made to be run at 200mhz, does that mean I will have problems running it on a 333 FSB? In other words, is it backward compatible?

Thanks again!

-J

 

[canadianpsycho]

Originally posted by: merrimackjay
Hello,

Thanks for the help!

One question: if PC3200 is made to be run at 200mhz, does that mean I will have problems running it on a 333 FSB? In other words, is it backward compatible?

Thanks again!

-J

Totally backwards compatible. You shouldn't have any problems.

 

[pspada]

Nope, PC3200 will run just fine at 333Mhz instead of 400Mhz. The good part is that at some point when you want to run it at 400Mhz, it will do so, whereas PC2700 may not overclock to 400Mhz.

 

[merrimackjay]

Alright cool, I know what memory to get now. However, I just thought of another question.

Should I get the OEM or the retail version of the Barton 2500 chip? I think the retail version comes with a cpu fan and the OEM doesn't, but what are the other differences?

If I am planning on overclocking would it make more sense to get the OEM chip and then buy a third party fan/heatsink rather then going with the included cpu fan in the retail version (which, I think I read, is not removable?)

If that's the case... what is a good, but value-priced fan/heatsink to get? For that matter, what is the different between a fan and a heatsink? Is a heatsink something you use instead of a fan, or something you use along with a fan?

OK, I guess that was more than one question, but I've never had to build my own motherboard/cpu/case before so never learned these intricacies

Thanks again for any help you can provide.

-Jay

 

[screw3d]

Originally posted by: merrimackjay
Alright cool, I know what memory to get now. However, I just thought of another question.

Should I get the OEM or the retail version of the Barton 2500 chip? I think the retail version comes with a cpu fan and the OEM doesn't, but what are the other differences?

If I am planning on overclocking would it make more sense to get the OEM chip and then buy a third party fan/heatsink rather then going with the included cpu fan in the retail version (which, I think I read, is not removable?)

If that's the case... what is a good, but value-priced fan/heatsink to get? For that matter, what is the different between a fan and a heatsink? Is a heatsink something you use instead of a fan, or something you use along with a fan?

OK, I guess that was more than one question, but I've never had to build my own motherboard/cpu/case before so never learned these intricacies

Thanks again for any help you can provide.

-Jay

The only difference between OEM and retail is the HSF unit and the 3-year warranty (Retail).

If you do plan to overclock, you will definitely want third-party heatsinks. The retail is fine if you only want to run it at stock. Depending on your budget, a good budget HSF combo would be the Thermalright SK-7 and a YS-tech 80mm adjustable from SVC.

A fan is a fan, and well, a heatsink is the metal block that comes in contact with the CPU core A heatsink without a fan blowing on it is called passive cooling, while one with a fan is active cooling.. newer CPUs (in fact, almost ALL CPUs) require some kind of active cooling. To answer your question specifically, a fan is something you use along with the heatsink, not the other way round

Hope this helps!

 

[merrimackjay]

OK, so... the OEM version is just a chip, while the retail version is a chip with a fan AND a heatsink?

So basically, if I am going to overclock, I will use a third party heatsink anyway, so it would then make sense for me to save money and go with the OEM version right?

What does HSF stand for anyway? (heat sink fan?)

Ooh I just thought of something else... are third party heatsinks easy to attach?

Thanks again, and pardon my ignorance

-Jay

 

[merrimackjay]

Shimmishim, how do you tell if memory is winbond bh-5 or winbond ch-5?

-Jay

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: merrimackjay
Shimmishim, how do you tell if memory is winbond bh-5 or winbond ch-5?

-Jay

i believe it says on the chips