How to chose RAM?

[Nomanor]

Im a bit confused.

My processor says that it's compatible with this ram: DDR3-1066/1333/1600

Does this mean i shouldn't get RAM with Frequency: 1866MHz ?
http://www.mushkin.com/Memory/Redline/994051.aspx

 

[ShintaiDK]

It doesnt matter. You can always run the memory at slower speeds. And it will do so per default.

 

[Nomanor]

But if i'm going to run it at slower speed, there is no reason to overpay?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Unless you are benchmarking, there is no discernible difference in ram speeds. If you have the money, get sticks with lower voltage requirements rather than higher speed.

 

[Nomanor]

Unless you are benchmarking, there is no discernible difference in ram speeds. If you have the money, get sticks with lower voltage requirements rather than higher speed.

I'm eyeing this one: Mushkin BlackLine Frostbyte 4x4GB DDR3-1600 PC3-12800 8-8-8-24 (994043) 1.5V

What do you think?

 

[ShintaiDK]

They are fine, if cheaper then good. However you dont need any fancy pancy memory for it.

Just make sure its 1.35V or 1.5V memory.

For example this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820226289

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I'm eyeing this one: Mushkin BlackLine Frostbyte 4x4GB DDR3-1600 PC3-12800 8-8-8-24 (994043) 1.5V

What do you think?

Looks fine. Although when choosing quad kits, I tend to play it safe and make sure they're on the QVL. It's not a hard and fast rule and most kits are NOT on the QVL and work just fine. I just do it because I tend to build rigs for older folks and like to eliminate as much risk as possible.

 

[Blain]

How to chose RAM?

If I were shopping for high quality memory, I would use the following parameters as a guide...

* DDR3 rated at 1.5v or lower
* DDR3 rated at the lowest CAS I could afford
* DDR3 rated at the highest clock speed I could afford
* Limit the scope of my purchease to G.Skill, Mushkin, Corsair XMS or Crucial (non-Ballistix)

While not wavering on the voltage point, I would balance the other issues with my budget.

Remember kids my goal is not pure "benchmarking" performance, but simply finding the highest quality memory I can afford. ^_^

The only reason I pay a premium for low latency, high speed, low voltage memory is...
Quality and quality alone.

1.5v is the JEDEC DDR3 voltage standard.
Stay with 1.5v or less if you can afford it..

What he said.

 

[philipma1957]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820147096

these are nice if you have a space issue

 

[coffeejunkee]

Quality? you mean like made of the finest silicon around?

TS: all cpu's have an official rated memory speed. That doesn't mean that faster memory won't work, just that it is not officially supported. Ivy Bridge can run up to 2400MHz fine. But you'll have to set it to this speed in bios yourself (very easy). Although like mentioned, the actual performance benefits are hard to perceive except in benchmarks. I'd stick with 1600Mhz.

 

[Blain]

Quality? you mean like made of the finest silicon around?

Highest quality module components, expected to last for the long haul.
I don't have an extensive memory module testing lab, so I must base my purchasing decisions on something. Memory specification and company reputation are what I base those decisions on.
"Price" is not my main criteria.

 

[Nomanor]

Great, thanks for the info guys.

One other question: does Windows7 benefit somehow from large amounts of memory?

I've see some people go for 32 or even 64gb, but i'm not nearly using so much.

 

[Blain]

64 bit Windows 7 Pro and above supports up to 192GB of memory.
64bit Windows 7 Home Premium tops out at 16GB.

 

[Nomanor]

Yes, but does it make any use of it?

If my applications only use 6GB, would there be any point in getting 32Gb ?

 

[ShintaiDK]

Yes, but does it make any use of it?

If my applications only use 6GB, would there be any point in getting 32Gb ?

No.

 

[coffeejunkee]

Highest quality module components, expected to last for the long haul.
I don't have an extensive memory module testing lab, so I must base my purchasing decisions on something. Memory specification and company reputation are what I base those decisions on.
"Price" is not my main criteria.

Well, I think it's a bit pointless with something so generic as ram. You wouldn't even know what ic's are actually being used without removing the heatspreader. And they often change even within the same series.

Also, I think you miss some brands. Kingston wouldn't be the biggest ram manufacturer if they didn't deliver 'quality'. As for longevity, I have some valueram in a Pentium III system, still working fine.

No.

Not really no, but some people use extra memory as a ramdisk.

 

[Meghan54]

Also, I think you miss some brands. Kingston wouldn't be the biggest ram manufacturer if they didn't deliver 'quality'.

Interesting you bring up Kingston. That and Crucial are the two brands that I've had the absolute most failures with, bar none. Just had a stick of Crucial Ballistix Sport die last week, two weeks into use. No OC'ing, just working at stock speed. But it was on sale and I went back on a promise I made myself to never buy Crucial again 'cause it was cheap. At least the RMA procedure only took 3 1/2 weeks.


Now with Corsair, I remember having to RMA one set years ago, and I've bought a lot of Corsair over the years.

But Kingston HyperX and Crucial Ballistix.....have had just too many failures with one or both sticks of a set to ever buy them again, and the latest failure of the Crucial I mentioned just reinforced this belief. I know both co's RMA well, but I shouldn't have to depend upon their RMA's to get me a set that lasts. Corsair---never really worry about that.

 

[coffeejunkee]

Yeah well, what can I say...I put Kingston valueram in about 10 systems I build, worked everytime. Used HyperX ddr2 and ddr3 for my own systems and it worked fine. Using G.Skill now, and again, works fine. Guess I'm just lucky. Or it might be because I don't waste money on fancy C8 or C7 memory.