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I think I'm done with Crucial...

B

brencat

Platinum Member
A bit of a vent thread, sorry. Just had a 2nd set of 2x2gb Ballistix PC2-6400 4-4-4-12 2.0v rated go bad on me. At least this set lasted me over a year and half...ran them 5-5-5-15 @ 1.9v at 900mhz since day 1 (overclocked E6750 @ 8 x 450).

Seems like the last 5 mos of me playing BFBC2 nearly daily for 3 hrs/day, which pushed my system in sig to the limit, finally toasted them...LOL. Actually it was just 1 stick that went bad... ran memtest86+ to a sea of red. The stick that went bad won't even boot in slots 1 or 4.

Got the RMA in progress, but anyone else here with an old Abit IP35-E care to recommend a set that has worked for them long term in this mobo? Obviously I can read compatibility charts...what I'm really looking for is a set that won't burn out under heavy gaming use because the Ballistix don't seem to be cutting it. Remember it has to be able to handle 450 FSB, 5-5-5-15 timings.

Looking at A-Data and Mushkin Silverline as possible replacements for ~ $75ish if anyone has these?
 
Crucial makes great memory. It's just their over-volted Ballistix stuff that's problematic. Over the past ten years, I've tried to buy Crucial/Micron memory whenever possible. I've never seen a memory error from a Crucial module. I've seen plenty of errors with various other brands.
 
RebateMonger said:
Crucial makes great memory. It's just their over-volted Ballistix stuff that's problematic. Over the past ten years, I've tried to buy Crucial/Micron memory whenever possible. I've never seen a memory error from a Crucial module. I've seen plenty of errors with various other brands.
Click to expand...

So you're saying you've had better luck with the jedec spec'd 1.8v value RAM from Crucial vs Ballistix? Interesting... so will those value RAM modules handle 450 mhz and/or 1.85/1.90v needed to get them to that speed? Was under impression the value stuff doesn't handle much beyond spec.

See, my dilemna is that I know Sandybridge is right around the corner. I don't want to spend a dime more on my current 3-yr old system that I don't need to. I can put together an I5-760+mobo+DDR3 system tomorrow for +/- $300 and sell off my replacement Ballistix on the way + my E6750 to temper some of that outlay.

Tough call here as I really don't want to build new with the new stuff so close to launch in Q1 2011.
 
brencat said:
So you're saying you've had better luck with the jedec spec'd 1.8v value RAM from Crucial vs Ballistix?
Click to expand...

That's what I would say as well. Who would'a thunk that running RAM at JEDEC specs made it last longer? :awe:

These days I even run factory overvolted stuff at lower volts. The overall system performance gain from a few more RAM MHz or a notch lower RAM latency is just not worth it for me.

BTW I also have a Ballistix kit here (2x1GB) that I need to get around to RMAing.
 
brencat said:
Remember it has to be able to handle 450 FSB, 5-5-5-15 timings.
Click to expand...
The question is why? You won't see even a single frame more in BF2 because of it and you just run into all those reliability problems with those high volted modules.. regardless of manufacterer. The only reason I see is to be able to oc the CPU higher (though I'd think the MB had some multiplier that would work), but then you can just relax the timings a bit.

I mean it doesn't seem like you want to run SuperPI records anyhow, so why not just stay away from all the hassle?
 
Voo said:
The question is why? You won't see even a single frame more in BF2 because of it and you just run into all those reliability problems with those high volted modules.. regardless of manufacterer. The only reason I see is to be able to oc the CPU higher (though I'd think the MB had some multiplier that would work), but then you can just relax the timings a bit.

I mean it doesn't seem like you want to run SuperPI records anyhow, so why not just stay away from all the hassle?
Click to expand...

Reason I say I want 450 FSB is so I don't have to decrease my overclock...I'm at 3.6ghz right now and that's where I'd prefer to stay. My chip's multiplier max is 8. Dropping down to 3.2ghz (400 x 8) is unacceptable and I might as well build a new machine...

If you tell me the PC2-6400 value RAM rated for 400 FSB will do 450 FSB and can handle any voltage increase beyond 1.8v safely needed to get there, I'm all ears.
 
brencat said:
Reason I say I want 450 FSB is so I don't have to decrease my overclock...I'm at 3.6ghz right now and that's where I'd prefer to stay. My chip's multiplier max is 8. Dropping down to 3.2ghz (400 x 8) is unacceptable and I might as well build a new machine...
Click to expand...
Yeah and you can't use a different divider from 1:1 on your mb? 1:1.2 or similar would solve that problem easily.
 
RebateMonger said:
Crucial makes great memory. It's just their over-volted Ballistix stuff that's problematic. Over the past ten years, I've tried to buy Crucial/Micron memory whenever possible. I've never seen a memory error from a Crucial module. I've seen plenty of errors with various other brands.
Click to expand...

^ Ditto. Same exact experience for me. Both because of that, and because they're the only American RAM manufacturer (I think...) they're all I go with when given the choice.

Not that I usually have other brands die, but I have had a couple of sticks die off here and there. One gave just a handful of errors on an overnight run of Memtest that caused just super occasional crashes, and eventually completely died-that sort of thing.
 
Voo said:
Yeah and you can't use a different divider from 1:1 on your mb? 1:1.2 or similar would solve that problem easily.
Click to expand...

Nope. You can't go below 1:1. 1:1.2 would make the RAM run at 540 FSB (1080Mhz) while the CPU is at 450 FSB (900mhz). The ratio is always from the perspective of CPU:RAM, never the other way.
 
brencat said:
Nope. You can't go below 1:1. 1:1.2 would make the RAM run at 540 FSB (1080Mhz) while the CPU is at 450 FSB (900mhz). The ratio is always from the perspective of CPU:RAM, never the other way.
Click to expand...
Oh I only needed it in that direction so far, but I just assumed that both directions would work, too bad sorry :/
 
Wolfpup said:
^ Ditto. Same exact experience for me. Both because of that, and because they're the only American RAM manufacturer (I think...) they're all I go with when given the choice.
Click to expand...
As an American who worked in the Semiconductor industry for ten years, I agree that's a pretty good reason.

I was shocked when Crucial decided to offer over-volted specialty memory. It seemed like a bad idea to risk their reputation for quality on a product with a limited market like that.

LOL. Here's the original post I made about this, in 2006:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=1809616&highlight=ballistix
 
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