Memory Confusion

[Dorkenstein]

I've been debating over which is the best memory to buy for a Barton 3200+. I want super speed without losing a limb in paymen, which might be impossible. Should I be getting DDR3200 memory for the Barton or go for an A64? It would be cool but I'd hate to just because I bought the Barton not too long ago and I don't feel like yanking it out and reinstalling windows. Anyway, here are my couple of options, which is best?

1)Kingmax Hardcore

2)Buffalo Micron 3700

http://epowerhousepc.com/cgi-bin/store/EPHstore.cgi?user_action=detail&catalogno=DD466-512MC

3)Something Mushkin or Corsair (expensive)

Thanks for the help, really appreciate it.

 

[Fern]

The Buffalo you linked are $110, I'm pretty sure when I checked Newegg the other day, the Corsair 3200 XMS with cas 2.0 was $121. For that small of a diff, I'd stick with the name brand.

Might wanna go visit a forum or two for the mobo you have and check for compatibilty with the brands you listed. Mobo's can be picky about ram sometimes. You wanna make sure they are gonna play nice.

EDIT: It's $123, Link

 

[Dorkenstein]

Thanks for the reply. Anyone else?

 

[Dorkenstein]

Nobody?

 

[dwcal]

Try this review. They didn't test the Kingmax hardcore but the Buffalo was one of the best.

 

[Dorkenstein]

Thanks dwcal. Is it true that paying a mint for the low timing stuff is robbery? Should I just get a good solid cheap gig and pump the settings up to faster speeds? Thanks very much!


BTW, isn't that buffalo that made it into the winners circle for Athlon64's? Someone emailed me and said that Cas 3 is only good for Athlon64's.

Double edit, does anyone on this forum like Kingmax SuperRam or Hardcore series? Tests have shown that DDR500 Kingmax Ram does DDR400 flawlessly but is it cheap enough to be worth underclocking it like that? I can't find it anywhere so I don't know. Thanks again...

 

[Dorkenstein]

Keep this thread alive, just a little while longer.

 

[Dorkenstein]

There must be a cheap solid stick that can be pushed to higher speeds.

 

[dclive]

Fry's has PC3200 RAM for $60 per 512M stick this week - and most tests show little or no difference (I'm going from Tom's Hardware's review of this year) for AMD CPUs.....

 

[Dorkenstein]

There aren't any Fry's near here. Basically I'm looking at three cheap sticks right now, all of which are about 80 dollars US.

1)Kingmax SuperRam

2)TwinMOS

3)Buffalo (the review says Cas 3, I'm under the impression that's not good for Athlons.)

 

[Dorkenstein]

Anyone like GeIL RAM? The major complaint is the high voltage. I think I'm just going to take a beating and buy the expensive stuff.

 

[Dorkenstein]

Still here and I still haven't chosen yet. I'm of a mind that paying a premo price for low latency stuff is bull but I still hear people say that it's worth every penny. Can someone recommend me something solid and fast for its price? Here's what I'm looking at, Buffalo again. Is this still with a Micron chip? I'd like to at least get something with a decent chip in it. Thanks yet again!

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-150-616&depa=0

 

[Dorkenstein]

Nevermind that, it's down to Buffalo with a Micron chip or Samsung with its own chip. Ideas?

 

[Dorkenstein]

Micron or Samsung? The Micron costs more but not much.

 

[Dorkenstein]

Pretty please?

 

[Mareg]

Ok now here I come.
You are right in you're assumption that Cas latency these days doesn't mean that much. The memory speed is giving a much better boost in framerate then a smaller latency.
Then, the chip from both Micron and Samsung are pretty solid. This mean, you don't get oem ram and is good news for you. Also, I've heard Buffalo ram is one of the best budget ram you can get. I think this stick will substain at least the speed it is rated at if not a bit more with great air flow in the case.

 

[Dorkenstein]

Exellent, thanks!

Looks like it's the Buffalo Micron RAM unless I hear otherwise.

 

[trexpesto]

don't do it!
just kidding.. yeah ram was the toughest for me to figure out. 175 is about all I'd pay for a gig though, now. Perspective-wise I guess whatever is equal to the cost of mobo + cpu of the unit. I realized after buying mine I probly could have got pc3200 since it is cheaper and just overclocked it if it was a good brand, but I need ROCK stability since it is a work machine, so I went by spec and got to tighten up my timings a bit.