Looking for a RAM Recommendation for 965P DS3

[Interitus]

Looking for some good stable RAM for my DS3. Originally had 2x1GB of GSkill PC6400 HK's and one of the sticks died. I know you always read about the worst when it comes to forum posts and such but it just seems to me like there's a lot of flaky DDR2 going around lately. I can't really wait for an RMA to return so I just need to buy some RAM so I can send off the Gskill for RMA. I was also kind of hesitant to purchase the same RAM again because there are a lot of people getting bad sticks of the GSkill HK's.

System:

Gigabyte 965P DS3 rev 3.3
E6320 @ stock speed (may OC later but not really much)
EVGA 7950GT
Samsung SATA 400GB
2 DVD-RW drives
Audigy 2

What I'm looking for:

2x1GB kit
Def want to stick with PC6400
Looking to spend ~$100 tops
CL4 is a plus
MB boots from CMOS clear at 1.8v so RAM that will at least post with 1.8v is a definite need


I was really looking at the Cruical Ballistix for $109 from the egg, but wasn't crazy about running 2.2v to the RAM. Another set I was looking at was the Corsair XMS2 from the egg (think it was around $89)

Thanks for any input!

 

[Quiksilver]

I'm pretty sure that running the crucial ram at 2.2v will more than likely get you quite far I would assume.

I ordered 4 GB's of some crucial RAM myself. Unfortunately it's for a build in the work's I haven't had a chance to check them out but here's a few packaging photo's (Bar code and UPC numbers red-ed out cause I haven't done the MIR's yet. Just got them yesterday >_>

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/1749/dscf0237uj2.jpg
http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/7346/dscf0236xt4.jpg
http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/9345/dscf0235ux7.jpg

The RAM I bought:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820148144


(Side note: I was confused abit why the packaging has a giant 1GB sticker on it but the fine print say' 2- 1GB and the model numbers match up so I assume its a typo or some sort of sorting idea :S)

 

[Interitus]

Wow those look good. Heh my case is filled with Yate Loon Blue LED 120mm's too so that'd look sexy lol.

I'll have to see if i can dig up a review on them. I wasn't really worried about actually running 2.2v to the RAM, but more so that I have minimal cooling in my rig because I'm a silent PC freak. I have a total of 5 120mm fans but they all run at ~4.8v so they're really really quiet and don't push a ton of air. They're packed in a P180 though so even with low flow fans I should still be getting good air circulation in there. Heat was just the primary concern with 2.2v since I don't want to add any fans to cool around the DIMMs and I'm already playing with fire with the NB on the DS3 being so hot. If those modules will boot with 1.8v (I don't really have any backup RAM to get a low voltage post and change the BIOS voltage settings) then I'll definitely have my eye on those.

These are the other 2 I was considering even though the Crucial ones I'm linking are 2.2v as well. They look like they might even be the same sticks as the ones you linked only yours are Newegg blinged hehe.

Corsair XMS
Crucial Ballistix

And this is what I have that went bad. It's a shame because when they worked I was pretty impressed with them. I've just been hearing a lot of people getting bad sticks of these. I guess if I ordered them again though I could always make a pair out of 2 good sticks from a total of 4 lol.

Gskill HK's

 

[Interitus]

I did a quick search, looks like the model #'s match the tracers and from what I could find they should still post without bumping the voltage. I bit the bullet and ordered a 2gb kit. I probably won't initially overclock them but I'll see what voltage I can get PC6400 4-4-4 to stay stable at. I'd be really really happy with them if I could get them to run PC6400 at 4-4-4 with around 2.0-2.1v. I have a preferred account (yay free rush orders!) so they should be here by Saturday. I'll try to post back by Monday with my experiences. Can't wait to have 2GB and dual channel again lol. Running a single 1GB stick is making my 6420 unhappy!

 

[Quiksilver]

Yeah, their tracers ( BL2KIT12864AL804 ) just custom made. I like the Blue LED's more than the tracer modules Match's my planned build better.

 

[MyLeftNut]

Yeah, those crucial ballistix were a good choice. I have the PC-6400 Tracers and those will do 4-4-4 pc6400 with 2.0v for sure, perhaps even lower at 1.9v.

 

[Interitus]

What IC's do the tracers usually ship with? I assume it's some form of D9. And good to hear I might be able to run them at lower voltages

 

[Quiksilver]

As crucial is owned by micron they always use micron chips. it is likely they are D9GMH 's

 

[Interitus]

Memtest is chugging away as i type on my gf's PC. So far 1hr stable at 2.0v DDR800 4-4-4-12. Posted just fine at the DS3's 1.8v standard voltage. OMG they look sweet. They are indeed a blue LED but on the Gigabyte board with the yellow colored DIMM slots the LED causes a yellow glow. I had to double check that they were really blue LED's. It's THAT yellow. I'll post pics when I can get the digicam's batteries charged. So far I'm very happy with this RAM. Hope it goes a full 7 passes at 2.0v and I'll be just absolutely giddy. They do run pretty hot though, I can hold my finger on them at 2.0v but the spreaders are definitely hot.

 

[Interitus]

Here's some pics. Camera batts are apparently in need of replacement but it took some ok pics for now.

Pic 1

Pic 3

lol ignore my crappy cabling. Had my case open and tearing stuff down so much lately trying to get everything stable that it's in pretty sad shape. Made myself promise I'd get it stable before fixing all the cables.

-edit-

had to chop pic 2 for now, accidentally caught a s/n in there

 

[Quiksilver]

Sounds good, and yeah I'd like to see what they look like in a system ^^

 

[njdevilsfan87]

Ballistix are a great choice. I'm running 1100MHz 5-5-4-10 with 2.1V - I've ghetto mounted a 70mm fan above the 120mm fan on my hard drive tray so it's angled to blow over the Ballistix and even get some air to the northbridge - and they are warm (not hot) to the touch. Get some air over them and let them fly.

I'm thinking about ordering a set of Lanfest because I believe because these are limited edition - like the Crucial 10th Anniversary, maybe there is a chance these a cherry picked sticks. One person wrote a review saying they reached 1340MHz with 2.2V - that's outrageous! I could see my Ballistix maybe, just maybe reaching 1200MHz at 5-5-5-15 with 2.2V if I'm lucky... but 1340MHz?!? That and the Lanfest look very nice without those blinking LEDs on top of the RAM.

Let us know how they overclock!

 

[Interitus]

Did 9 1/2 hrs of memtest at 4-4-4-12 and 2.0v. Not a single error. Man I'm so happy right now. Running 1.9v 4-4-4-12 now and it's 2 hrs in without any errors. If I can do ddr2-800 at 4-4-4 w/ 1.9v I'm sure these have plenty of headroom. I'll try to OC them after I get my lowest stable ddr2-800mhz 4-4-4 voltage. I'm more concerned about cool and quiet than how far they'll go before they run out of mhz.

I will check on it for you guys though, just give me a few days to get my optimal settings down and then we'll let her rip hehe. I have no idea what this CPU or board is capable of so it may take me awhile to get some accurate results. I have the Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme so CPU cooling should be good.. can always break out the trusty box fan to keep it cool while I see what the sticks will do too

 

[Interitus]

Here's a better up close picture of the sticks. Had a hard time getting my camera to focus with all the LED's in there lol

Pic

 

[Zapper48]

I just added 2x512mb sticks to go with the 2x1024mbsticks. Now all 4 sticks are Tracers