Need advice from a RAM expert

[farmercal]

I have a question that needs an answer - you could say I am confused (not new for me).

NewEgg has some Corsair XMS Memory I am going to buy and the two sticks I am looking at are listed below:

512MB 32MX8 PC-3200C2 With Heat Spreader
Model#: CMX512-3200C2
Price: $104.00

512MB 64MX64 PC-3200C2PT With Platinum - Silver Heat Spreader OEM
Model#: CMX512-3200C2PT
Price: $119.00

Is the only difference between these two products the platinum heat spreaders?
Can both sticks of RAM be used in either AMD or Intel based motherboards?
I noticed in the reviews on NewEgg that most people who purchased the $119 RAM put them in an Intel-based system and those buying the $104 RAM used them in an AMD-based system. Corsair's website offers little explanation on the subject.

 

[John]

Is the only difference between these two products the platinum heat spreaders?

Yes. One has black alum. heat spreaders, the other is silver aluminum.

Can both sticks of RAM be used in either AMD or Intel based motherboards?

Yes.

 

[farmercal]

Thanks John.

 

[ScrapSilicon]

I'd get these..

512MB 32MX8 PC-3200C2 With Heat Spreader
Model#: CMX512-3200C2
Price: $104.00

$30...😉

 

[Ilmater]

Your RAM expert has arrived.

Originally posted by: farmercal
I have a question that needs an answer - you could say I am confused (not new for me).

NewEgg has some Corsair XMS Memory I am going to buy and the two sticks I am looking at are listed below:

512MB 32MX8 PC-3200C2 With Heat Spreader
Model#: CMX512-3200C2
Price: $104.00

512MB 64MX64 PC-3200C2PT With Platinum - Silver Heat Spreader OEM
Model#: CMX512-3200C2PT
Price: $119.00

Is the only difference between these two products the platinum heat spreaders?
Can both sticks of RAM be used in either AMD or Intel based motherboards?
I noticed in the reviews on NewEgg that most people who purchased the $119 RAM put them in an Intel-based system and those buying the $104 RAM used them in an AMD-based system. Corsair's website offers little explanation on the subject.

The answers to your questions are, in order, no and yes. They'll both work in either motherboard. The reason more people use the more expensive sticks in Intel boards is because many people are already paying too much for Intel, so paying too much for RAM without doing research is just part of the game.

As for the two sticks, the configurations are different. One is 32MX8 and the other is 64MX64. That means the RAM chips on them are different. Unfortunately, I'm not enough of an expert to answer exactly what that will do as far as performance or stability.