memory cas 2.5 or 3?

[newmenu]

I want to upgrade my ram and am thinking about corsair xms or ocz, and am not sure which one to get. I am also in wondering if pc3700 is enough or if pc4400 is the way to go. my biggest question is the cas latencies. are the ones starting with 3 beter than 2.5 or vice verca. I want the best in order to get the most out of a amd 754socket 3400 to play ut2004, doom3, HL2, and so on.

 

[ssvegeta1010]

generally CAS 2.5 is better than 3 but is sometimes no worth the price that is charged for it.

Are you overclocking, because if you are not, PC-3700 and 4400 will run at 3200 speeds unless you use a memory divider or a FSB overclock

 

[ts3433]

Even if overclocking, you do not need expensive high-speed or CL2 memory. LINK

 

[newmenu]

i ask because I have corsair value select pc 3200 and it sucks and I suspect it is responsible for my system instability, ie sudden shutdowns

 

[ts3433]

Run Memtest86 on your memory before coming to any conclusions about that. If the memory is indeed defective, just RMA it back to Corsair or the place of purchase.

 

[Regs]

Originally posted by: newmenu
i ask because I have corsair value select pc 3200 and it sucks and I suspect it is responsible for my system instability, ie sudden shutdowns

With Corsair, I would think it would be your motherboard. Corsair is the equivalent of a Visa Credit Card in acceptance.


Also, you only need RAM as fast as you run your bus speed. Let's say if I have an A64 running the HT link at 265. I would then need at least good overclocking PC3500 like OCz or for even more guaranteed stability PC3700 or PC4000. However if I'm running a 200 HT link, nothing over PC3200 will offer me any greater performance. Just as long as the memory latencies on my PC3200 are tight enough, like you stated above. Oddly enough though, corsairs value select 2.5 Cas PC3200 offers just this for me while the XMS will offer no benefit or any greater stability.

 

[newmenu]

where could the problem with my sudden system shutdowns be coming from if I am not oc'ing? I played with ocing before but have had this problem since before and after playing around with the oc settings. Sudden shutdowns only happen when I start to play a game like Doom3 HL2 or UT2004.