Memory for new A64 system

[Goi]

Hi guys,

I'll be building a new S754 A64 system(probably a 3200+/3400+) and I'm a bit confused on what memory I should be getting. I will be overclocking the system, and because of that I'm under the impression that I should go for bandwidth and forget about low latencies. As such, I'm basically looking at ~PC4000 memory, in particular the OCZ EL PC4000/Performance Series PC4200 DC pack or the Geil Ultra PC4000 DC pack. While the S754 doesn't support DC, I think it's cheaper to buy them in pairs anyway since I will be needing ~1GB.

I'm looking at newegg and Corsair/Mushkin/Kingston doesn't have anything comparable to these OCZ/Geil pairs pricewise(~$260-280), and the OCZ PC4200 Performance Series is just a few bucks more than the OCZ PC4000 Enhanced Latency(even though Newegg lists both as 3-4-4-8). My question is, are these 4 pairs of memory any good for the A64 that I'm getting?

Any other comments/suggestions/opinions are appreciated. Thanks.

Here are the links to the memory that I'm interested in:

OCZ Enhanced Latency Dual Channel Kits 184 Pin 1GB(512MBx2) DDR PC-4000 - Retail

OCZ Performance Series Dual Channel Kit 184 Pin 1GB(512MBx2) DDR PC-4200- Retail

Geil Ultra Series Dual Channel 184 Pin 1GB(512MBx2) DDR PC-4000 - Retail

Geil Ultra Platinum Series Dual Channel 184 Pin 1GB(512MBx2) DDR PC-4200 - Retail

 

[cowdog]

I am running 2x512 OCZ PC3500EB memory, and my system seems plenty happy. I am currently running 8x285 with memory @ 228 (3-4-4-8, 1T). I would run 2T, but my older stepping 3200+ won't do 2T. BTW, the memory controller/cpu seems to like Cas3 over 2.5, in my case.

The OCZ PC3500EB runs better than some BH-5 Mushkin memory I have. I suspect the BH-5 would do better with more vDIMM than my motherboard allows without a mod.

Note that Socket 754 boards generally seem to O/C better with one DIMM.

 

[Goi]

Thanks for the reply. How much did you get your memory for?

Also, wouldn't it be better, if possible, to run the memory at 1:1 to the FSB? I know A64 systems have HT rather than an FSB, and I'm pretty green in the A64 arena, so I'm not exactly sure of what I need.

 

[cowdog]

The OCZ EB memory sure wasn't cheap. I think it was $305 or something like that at excaliberpc.com. I wanted the PC3700EB memory, but that was out of stock everywhere when I was buying.

I am not sure what settings are better with this A64. Right now I am playing with high HTT. I'll try 10x230 with memory at 1:1 or thereabouts eventually. Back with my first AK89Max motherboard I was running 10x230 with memory at 1:1 (the BH-5 @ 2-2-2-6). But that board had nagging intermittent issues overclocked or not. The RMA board was rock stable, but I was never able to run those same settings stable. This 8KDA3J motherboard seems to work better with the OCZ EB memory than the Mushkin BH-5. I find that A64 overclocking has nuances that just need to be worked out case by case.

 

[Goi]

After some surfing around I did find some comparatively priced Corsair modules over at ZipZoomFly...they are the Corsair TWINX1024-4000PT and the Corsair TWINX1024-4000. Any idea how these compare, and what's the difference between the 2 other than the color of the heatspreaders? Links below:

TwinX1024-4000
TwinX1024-4000PT

 

[JBT]

I would reccomend Kingmax PC4000 its 102 bucks per 512MB stick. Right now I am running it at 2.7 vdimm with timmings of 2.5,4,4,11 in a 1:1 ratio of 245. I am limited by my CPU wanting to go highier right now. But my water cooling set up will be here tonight so we'll see how far I can go then.

 

[Goi]

Hey thanks, that's pretty cheap. I found some other Corsair 4000PT sticks for $129 each, but this Kingmax is even cheaper at $102. I don't suppose there's much performance/stability/compatibility differences between the two? Kingmax seems like a pretty decent chip/module manufacturer...not as good as Corsair maybe, but heck they're cheaper.

Thanks again.