Kingston valuram 512 mg pc2700 $55 AR at BB

[nealh]

BB has 512mg sticks for $55 after a rebate ..is this stuff any good

 

[weepul]

nice price. especially since summer is coming and prices are expected to go up.

//krunk (^_^x)

 

[stultus]

My Kingston PC3200 valueram does PC3700. If you can look at the ram before you buy, I'd imagine you can handpick the good stuff they've just rated lower.

 

[nealh]

I see some markings but I cannot decipher what they mean

no markings that indicate maker through the little window....

 

[AdamsJabbar]

That's a good price before rebate given the current prices of memory. The rebate makes it even sweeter. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[Amber]

I buy this RAM anytime Best Buy has a HOT deal (newegg is $94 for this RAM)

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: nealh
I see some markings but I cannot decipher what they mean

no markings that indicate maker through the little window....

All of the packages of recent make that I've seen, the chips themselves have had the original mfg info etched off, and only have "DDR 32M x 8", and maybe a speed grade, etched onto them. (PC2100 had "-7A" appended, PC2700 and PC3200 packages had no speed grade marked.)

If you are lucky, you might be able to find some older stock with name-brand chips, like Samsung or Hynix. I believe that the faster Kingston HyperX DIMMs are made with Hynix memory. (Btw, the "-D43" at the end of the Hynix chip codes, does NOT indicate 4.3ns memory.)

 

[yobarman]

I bought some PNY 333mhz 512 sticks from Bestbuy recently... still waiting on that rebate though!

 

[kenrippy]

I just picked up a stick of the 512mb pc2700 today. These have the Hynix chips. I had the guy look through all the boxes for any different chips, hoping for Samsung but no luck. They keep the ram behind the counter now in the service/repair area. (Westminster CA)

Not a bad price, only $5 more than the Kbyte (Spectek) I got from BB last month.

 

[xybertron]

Mine has Hynix D43.

 

[kenrippy]

Originally posted by: xybertron
Mine has Hynix D43.

yep mine too

 

[nealh]

Mine do not say..hynix..samsung..etc

markings:

Kingston
V71021
0351 P01
D3208DI1R-5A

Kingston
V71043
0351 P01
D3208DI1R-5A

what does this mean if anything???

 

[xybertron]

Clocked so far to PC3200 @ CAS 2.5 with no problems.

Go get some!

 

[nealh]

xybertron did yours say hynix on the chips

 

[kenrippy]

Originally posted by: nealh
xybertron did yours say hynix on the chips

yes his says hynix on the chips. looks exactly like these except the top numbers are a little different. mine have 408AA A next to hynix but the other numbers are the same. what do yours look like?


pic1 pic2

 

[nealh]

kenrippy ..thats what I figured...just my luck..mine is probably true valuram

 

[Odeen]

For what it's worth, the Hynix D43's on these Kingston modules are one revision away from being chips used in a lot of DDR500 memory. I've had a pair run 235mhz (DDR470) on a DFI LanParty Pro875 at 2.7v vDIMM.

 

[kenrippy]

Originally posted by: nealh
kenrippy ..thats what I figured...just my luck..mine is probably true valuram

not sure if it's worth it to you to go back to BB and search through their supply of ram to see what else they have...is it?

 

[Slogun]

Well i bought a stick today.
Great deal.

 

[xybertron]

Originally posted by: Odeen
For what it's worth, the Hynix D43's on these Kingston modules are one revision away from being chips used in a lot of DDR500 memory. I've had a pair run 235mhz (DDR470) on a DFI LanParty Pro875 at 2.7v vDIMM.

Yeah Corsair actually uses it.

Memory chips known as ?Hynix 43? are located under the heat-spreaders.

The most curious fact about those chips is their not being DDR500 chips, according to the manufacturer?s specs. ?Hynix 43? are those Hynix DDR400 chips that show excellent overclockability (it?s not a problem for them to notch DDR500 and more with timings like 2.5-7-3-4). It?s really strange Corsair took the risk of using such chips in its modules. On the other hand, ?legitimate? DDR500 with Hynix D5 chips are no better than Hynix 43 ones at overclocking. So Corsair?s decision looks odd, but absolutely justified.

The maximum frequency with 3-8-4-4 timings was 268MHz for both kits. On our extreme testbed with 3.3V Vdimm both TwinX kits reached 280MHz (DDR560) ? they again showed absolutely the same results.

 

[nealh]

Hmm..very interesting at my BB in Brandon..I dod not see any hynix chips..just generic kingston...but this was Sunday and they "only" had a few boxes..my ram said was rated cas 2.5 at 2.5v PC2700 on the sticker..so I hope to lower voltage to 2.6v or improve timings on 2.7v...

With my above markings..stuck them in...

running an 845E..P4@2.9..160fsb with 4:5 ratio now..160 cpu/200 memory at cas2.5/3/3/6 at 2.7v...I am going to back down the voltage and timings tonight see whether I can get 2.5/2/2/6(my IT7Max2 rev2 supposedly does not like a setting of 5 if you use HPT controller on the mobo)

just a note my crucial pc2100 that was like 2yrs + old ran 160 fsb cas2.5/2/2/6 2.7v....at 166 fsb not sure if the cpu or ram was the issue but in Deus Ex2 game crashed..first game in yr to do so ..so I dropped back to 160 fsb and increased my memory settings...

looks like even the non Hynix chips are pretty good..need to test in 3D games and video enccoding for stability..may try to get hynix chips...not sure

 

[Goopster]

Where can i learn to overclock?

Originally posted by: xybertron

Originally posted by: Odeen
For what it's worth, the Hynix D43's on these Kingston modules are one revision away from being chips used in a lot of DDR500 memory. I've had a pair run 235mhz (DDR470) on a DFI LanParty Pro875 at 2.7v vDIMM.

Yeah Corsair actually uses it.

Memory chips known as ?Hynix 43? are located under the heat-spreaders.

The most curious fact about those chips is their not being DDR500 chips, according to the manufacturer?s specs. ?Hynix 43? are those Hynix DDR400 chips that show excellent overclockability (it?s not a problem for them to notch DDR500 and more with timings like 2.5-7-3-4). It?s really strange Corsair took the risk of using such chips in its modules. On the other hand, ?legitimate? DDR500 with Hynix D5 chips are no better than Hynix 43 ones at overclocking. So Corsair?s decision looks odd, but absolutely justified.

The maximum frequency with 3-8-4-4 timings was 268MHz for both kits. On our extreme testbed with 3.3V Vdimm both TwinX kits reached 280MHz (DDR560) ? they again showed absolutely the same results.

 

[Subodim]

Originally posted by: yobarman
I bought some PNY 333mhz 512 sticks from Bestbuy recently... still waiting on that rebate though!

I probably bought the same memory you did. I mailed in the rebate on March 30 and received my rebate check on April 15, which was a pleasant surprise. Hopefully you'll receive yours soon.

On a general note, I just bought a couple of the Kingston ValueRAM 512MB PC2700 modules. I was able to see the chips through the window on the package. I bought the ones that have Hynix "D43" chips and left behind the ones that appear to be true "ValueRAM".

While I was at it, I also looked at the chips on the Kingston PC3200 512MB (2x256MB) Dual-Channel kit. They too are Hynix "D43", the very same as the Kingston PC2700 modules (the 512MB sticks have twice as many chips, but the chips appear to be the same). The only difference I saw was on the stickers: the PC3200 modules are 2.6V, while the PC2700 modules are 2.5V. Should I try to increase the voltage if I want to run my "PC2700" modules at 200MHz FSB?

Also, how does Dual-Channel memory work? From what I've seen, dual-channel memory doesn't look any different from single-channel memory. Are the modules any different, or does the difference only lie in the memory controller in the motherboard chipset? Since these Kingston PC2700 modules appear to be the same as Kingston PC3200 Dual-Channel modules, could I run them in dual-channel mode?

Thanks in advance!

 

[nealh]

I would have love to have gotten Hynix chips..but did not see any and I looked

As for voltage try the Hynix at 2.5 at pc3200 if it boots and works great..I bet you may need 2.6v though

I cant say I am unhappy with my chips these seem t orun fine at 200mhz...I intend to adjust settings to see how far they will go

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: Subodim

Originally posted by: yobarman

I bought some PNY 333mhz 512 sticks from Bestbuy recently... still waiting on that rebate though!

I probably bought the same memory you did. I mailed in the rebate on March 30 and received my rebate check on April 15, which was a pleasant surprise. Hopefully you'll receive yours soon.

That was quick.

Originally posted by: Subodim
On a general note, I just bought a couple of the Kingston ValueRAM 512MB PC2700 modules. I was able to see the chips through the window on the package. I bought the ones that have Hynix "D43" chips and left behind the ones that appear to be true "ValueRAM".

While I was at it, I also looked at the chips on the Kingston PC3200 512MB (2x256MB) Dual-Channel kit. They too are Hynix "D43", the very same as the Kingston PC2700 modules (the 512MB sticks have twice as many chips, but the chips appear to be the same). The only difference I saw was on the stickers: the PC3200 modules are 2.6V, while the PC2700 modules are 2.5V. Should I try to increase the voltage if I want to run my "PC2700" modules at 200MHz FSB?

I noticed the same things that you did. Hope you didn't buy that last package of PC2700 Hynix chips left at my store. I couldn't decide whether to drop the $$$ or not last night, but I think I'll go back and try to pick it up, if they still have that package left. They only had one left with Hynix chips. All of the 512MB (2 x 256) PC3200 kits that they had, also had the Hynix chips.

(The reason for the hesitation, was I already picked up a 2 x 256MB PC3200 kit last week from CC. I wish I had waited, so I could get one of these with the Hynix chips, instead of the "Kingston", but they're already installed and running in my KT4V-L board. If I also picked up the 512MB pc2700 Hynix, I would have to rip out one of my older 256MB PC2700 DIMMs to put it in, and I'm also not sure how well a 512MB would mix with my two 256MB DIMMs on this board. Currently, all three of my DIMMs are 256MB, single-sided, same DRAM chip density too.)

Originally posted by: SubodimAlso, how does Dual-Channel memory work? From what I've seen, dual-channel memory doesn't look any different from single-channel memory. Are the modules any different, or does the difference only lie in the memory controller in the motherboard chipset? Since these Kingston PC2700 modules appear to be the same as Kingston PC3200 Dual-Channel modules, could I run them in dual-channel mode?

Well, I know that the major difference is in the memory-controller in the chipset, if it supports dual channels, then if you populate the DRAM array correctly, it can interleave accesses between the channels,. resulting in potentially 2X the DRAM bandwidth.

As for the modules, that's a question that I have too. I don't believe that there is any real electrical difference between the DIMMs. I think that it is mostly marketing, and perhaps testing. Kingston prints "not dual-channel compatible" on their single-DIMM retail packages, but I think that is just because they want you to spend extra $$$ for a "Dual-channel kit". AFAIK, the DIMM module pinouts, and the actual DRAM chips used on the DIMMs (for example, Hynix -D43 chips), are the same. They may simply test the "dual-channel compatible" DIMMs together as a set.

I've also noticed that PC3200 memory seems to be default-rated at 2.6v, whereas PC2100/PC2700 seems to be rated at 2.5v. I believe that this was a concession by JEDEC to the DDR400 (PC3200) standards, and some mfg's chips requiring slightly more voltage to operate at that speed.

Any "specialty" memory, like OCZ/Geil/Mushkin/etc, that has a default voltage higher than 2.6v, is basically just re-labeled overclocked memory, since they use the very same chips that all of these other DDR400 modules use. Most high-quality DDR400 DRAM will run DDR500 with slower timings and slightly more voltage.