Memory advice needed ASAP

[Megatomic]

Kingmax PC3500

What do you all think about that stuff? I am selling my entire platform (which now includes the RAM) and I have the stuff all picked out/purchased except the RAM. I now have 2 x 512MB Corsair VS PC3200 that aren't even close to being matched, one is C3 and one is C2.5. I'm figuring that if I decide to overclock my new rig I'll have the assured overhead to do so with the PC3500 and it won't break my budget, either.

Here's my plan:

Soltek SL-K8AN2E-GR (very slightly used, like new)
AMD Athlon64 3400+ 1M L2 w/ retail cooler (new retail PIB)
2x512MB of the linked Kingmax PC3500
Everything else is what is in my sig link below.

Please, let the opinions roll in. As I said, I'd like to buy it today or tomorrow morning. Thanks.

Edit: This is my first poll.

 

[RussianSensation]

So you have 1 gig of PC3200 ram in your possession and you want to simply put that away and buy this ram for around $160?

I wouldn't spend $160 to go to CL2.5 timings for the same size ram from CL3.0.

If anything keep your old ram, and then if you arent satisfied, sell it and acquire ram with tight timings.

Personally, I'd spend $160 towards socket 939 board (for some upgrade path) and one of those new A64 90nm cpus, which overclock fairly well. Then just use ratios with your old ram. This also gives you the choice of being able to buy additional 2x512mb of ram for a total of 2 gigs if need be.

You can also consider:

1) keeping everything you have and just buying 1 stick of 512 for 1.5 gigs (since s754 is limited to 3 dimms) Memory timings wont improve performance by more than 5% for A64 since it has on-die memory controller

2) get Logitech Z5300 speakers for 5.1 for $150

3) get Audigy 2 ZS soundcard since now you'll be stuck with onboard sound. Audigy 2ZS should improve framerates far more than the timings on the ram since you'll offload the cpu greatly.

4) get a 74 gig Raptor for $160

 

[Megatomic]

Thanks for the advice, but the CPU and mobo I listed are already paid for. They're on their way. But as to memory, I did skip it and went for some Geil Ultra PC3200 that I should be able to overclock with no problem.