Memory prices/ MOBO's...am I missing something? :)

[mitchelt]

My quest to upgrade my system:
- New P4 CPU
- New motherboard
- Memory
- everything else from the "old" PC will work fine.

As I was reading a lot of the posts regarding decisions on Motherboards, I came across many comments talking about the higher prices of memory and that it might influence your decision on motherboards, this is what I am unclear of.

A quick search on Pricewatch revealed the following:

PC100 256MB = $16
PC133 256MB = $17
PC150 256MB = $25
PC2100 DDR 256MB $37
PC1600 DDR 256MB $39
PC2400 DDR 256MB $46
PC2700 DDR 256MB $60
PC800 RDRAM Rambus 256MB $77

The prices for the faster memory seem to be more by anywhere from ~$17 to double.

In the case of the i845 Chipset with SDRAM vs. the i850 Chipset with PC800 you would take a HUGE performance hit with the i845 Chipset, but save $50 or so on 256MB of memory.

This is what I find funny, most people on this board, like myself, like having the best of everything, so should an extra $50 or so for 256MB of memory sway your decision on getting a better system?

I'm just a simple guy trying to upgrade my system, so please be kind if this makes no sense or if I am missing something.

I am always willing to learn something new.

As always...THANKS!

Mitch

 

[HappyPuppy]

Considering that not long ago I picked up 2-256MB sticks of PC2100 memory from Crucial for $27 each I would probably put off increasing/upgrading memory for now if it was going to cost an ADDITIONAL $50 per 256MB stick. Prices are going to come back down after the first of the year as right now there is high demand created by the yearly spending frenzy brought on by the holiday season.

Just my opinion.

 

[RazeOrc]

Depends on what is "the best," ask any AMD fanatic and they'll spout off about how wonderful AMD/DDR solution is in terms of price/performance even though the offical "best" DDR ohly has 2/3 the mem bandwidth of RDRAM and some of the horror stories about burning chips on first boot is false. Ask any Intel Die-Hard and they'll spout off about how greater membandwidth and stability rock and being in denial they'll claim that the Intel P4s still have greater performance. What is the best? It depends on what you use your computer for and where ur upgrade paths lie. There are roadmaps for both DDR and RDRAM, who's to say which is better? Easy, for price/performance go DDR route and currently you have ur choice of processor as p4x266 solutions are available. If you want to have THE MOST membandwidth (good mostly for multitasking but not much else) and can pay for it with a minor speed penalty go RDRAM, which limits ur options of CPU and Mobo to Intel based solutions.

Be wary however and do some research before buying, you may find a board supporting the new mem architectures for both DDR and RDRAM roadmaps at least for the next generation, just don't expect the as of yet unreleased vapormemory to work with your supposedly "upgradeable" system.


I am not an Intel fan even though that's my current rig, I was unfortunate enough to get tricked by DELL into buying my first computer on the i820 Motherboard and shelled out the extra cash later on for Memory upgrades so there was no way I was going to throw away $200 of ram for my new system, in the end the costs were the same to go either route so I chose P4, may God have mercy on my soul...

 

[jcmkk]

The problem with your memory comparison is that you are doing it off price watch. When it comes to ram, you have to get a good brand. The generic brands are just no good. Most of the time when you hear about ram prices it is from crucial. Anyone that has stuck around here know that they make the best ram. So if your saying that we are not willing to pay the premium for more performance then your wrong. If I were building a new pc right now I would definitly pay the extra for crucial over a genering brand.

 

[mitchelt]

No, I am NOT saying you would NOT pay for PREMIUM memory over GENERIC memory, what I was saying was the TYPE of memory required for the 2 different chipsets I mentioned in my example.

Sorry if I confused you.

Thanks!

Mitch