How are DDR RAM prices now?

[Antoneo]

Is now a good time to buy DDR RAM? I'm specifically looking to buy a 512MB stick of PC2700 RAM. I have 512MB now but since my computing habits have changed (I now do lots of graphics and video editing), an upgrade would greatly diminish my impatience .

I have an old setup:
P4 1.6A (running at stock speeds)
EPoX 4g4a+
512MB Samsung Original PC2700 ram (not sure on timings)
4 Seagate drives (adding this in since they generate lots of heat)

Would getting higher rated ram (for example PC3200) insure a better overclock (assuming the CPU/motherboard/samsung ram doesn't hold me back)?

 

[OdiN]

Yeah now is as good of a time as any.....I don't think you will see any price drops soon, at least nothing major.

 

[RobCur]

I've seen them as low as 27 bucks LOL
You missed that deal a year ago, oh well..

 

[Sonic587]

Now is an ok time. You can get decent name brand 512MB 3200 for like $80. Not too shabby.

 

[Antoneo]

Hrmm will buying CAS3 PC2700 allow for 2-2-2 timings when I use it for PC2700 speeds?

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: Antoneo
Hrmm will buying CAS3 PC2700 allow for 2-2-2 timings when I use it for PC2700 speeds?

Well, I would assume you'd want CAS2 RAM if you want to run CAS2 timings... but maybe that's just me.

It might, but it wouldn't be in spec.

Edit: Or do you mean buying CAS3 PC3200 (DDR400) and running it at CAS2 at PC2700 (DDR333) speeds?

A clock cycle at DDR400 is 5ns. At DDR333, it's 6ns. CAS2 is thus 12ns latency at DDR333. CAS3 is 15ns latency at DDR400. I wouldn't expect it to work. CAS2.5 PC3200, however, would be very close (12.5ns for CL2.5@200Mhz versus 12ns for CL2@166Mhz), and would be pretty likely to work (though there are no guarantees).