Need help choosing memory for my Asus P5K-E.

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meanhoe

Member
Nov 9, 2007
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planning on getting this mobo with a Q6600.

http://www.newegg.com/product/...p?item=N82E16813131225

wondering which of the following memory would be a good choice if i plan on OC'ing.

Ballistix:
http://www.newegg.com/product/...p?item=N82E16820146565

G.Skill:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820231098

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820231065

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820231128


any other recommendations are appreciated as well. i plan on getting 4GB. i am trying to find a balance between performance and price but mainly concerned about stability/reliability when i OC.

thank you in advance for your help.
 
Cerb

Cerb

Elite Member
Aug 26, 2000
17,484
33
86
I'd do 2 sticks, myself.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820220227
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820211188 (non-OC RAM)

If you're going to get 4x1GB, though, Crucial is never a bad choice. The MiR makes it an even nicer deal. I was hoping to find a 2x2GB Crucial kit at a decent price :(

Edit: that said, OC won't be a problem. I'd forgotten the Q6600 was a 1066MHz FSB part. W/o OCing the RAM, you've got 50% headroom with any DDR2-800.

In that case, I would avoid the G.SKILL 1066: 2.3-2.4V? OUCH!
The red has a slightly higher CAS, but is rated for normal voltage, which is good.
The black I'd not get because of the higher voltage, but that's probably why it's rated for 4-4-4-12.

Generally, it looks like 2 of the Crucial kits, once the MiR is considered, offers a good way to go. Or the black G.SKILL.
 
Cerb

Cerb

Elite Member
Aug 26, 2000
17,484
33
86
Originally posted by: meanhoe
what do you think about these?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820148144
Click to expand...
Looks like $15 for 2 LEDs, to me.

Any DDR2 800 should get you to around 3.6GHz ((2.4*800/533 for 1:1). If you're worried about cost, just go with costs in mind. The Q6600 looks to have a reasonably high multiplier, so I don't think it's worth fretting about, really. You basically won't need to OC the RAM.

If you want 4-4-4-12 RAM, the Crucial is basically the same as the black G.SKILL (in practice, that 0.1v difference means nothing, and you'll need it that high with 4 of them installed anyway, I'd bet), just that Crucial has an excellent history as a company that few others can touch.
 
C

clickynext

Platinum Member
Dec 24, 2004
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I have a P5K-E with that exact Crucial Ballistix kit and it works at 1050mhz, 5-5-5-15 no problem for me.
 
Cerb

Cerb

Elite Member
Aug 26, 2000
17,484
33
86
Originally posted by: clickynext
I have a P5K-E with that exact Crucial Ballistix kit and it works at 1050mhz, 5-5-5-15 no problem for me.
Click to expand...
If I didn't have RAM, already (the A-Data kit linked, FYI), that would answer it for me!

I think both of those Corsairs are a bit flashy and expensive--more for showing off in your case than really using (though I'm sure they will OC well).

The Crucial's con is rebates, of which you can probably only send off one, making it really about $130 for 4GB. For that, you can also get a 2x2GB kit. But, the Crucial is rated for 4-4-4-12, has a lifetime warranty being overvolted, and that 4-4-4-12@800 gives a higher chance of greater speeds with relaxed timings (as clickynext uses).

Current DDR2 pricing does not make the choices easy, though, if you want 4-8GB.
 
M

meanhoe

Member
Nov 9, 2007
31
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hey clicky... is that the P5K-E/WiFI or just P5K-E? what cpu you running? if you're running Q6600, have you OC'ed? if so as well, what are you getting? thanks.

let me also add that i appreciate all this input. all the advice is helping me tremendously.
 
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QuixoticOne

Golden Member
Nov 4, 2005
1,855
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IMHO:

Get either one of the following.
The patriots from fry's are specified at a bit lower latency,
but a 2.0V power setting to achieve it, and you have to jump
through the rebate hoop.

The SuperTalents from eWiz cost a couple of dollars more
(probably near identical after shipping differences), but
there's no rebates to delay you either.

Either set is rated for 400MHZ stock speed, and with a P5K-E
(I have one and a Q6600 running) you'll have a x9 max. multiplier
for the CPU and 400x9=3600MHz CPU speed @ stock RAM speed.
If you OC the RAM to 440MHz, 440x9=3960MHz which is almost
CERTAINLY FASTER than you'll be able to successfully overclock a
Q6600-G0 (or any previous stepping!) even if you use a good $400ish
water-cooling setup for the CPU and over-volt it fairly much.

It's not UNCOMMON for people to get limited overclocks around
3.6GHz up to maybe 3.8GHz if they're very lucky on the best
available air cooling heatsinks.
The "ThermalRight Ultra 120 Extreme" $65ish heatsink is about the best
one you can get for air-cooling the Q6600, and with that and a couple
$4 D12SL fans (jab-tech has them cheap) you're all set to overclock
a Q6600 up to around 3.6 or maybe (don't count on it) 3.8 GHz.

So basically either of the the 400 MHz RAM (PC2-6400 DDR2-800) sets
is fine since you'll very likely be able to get up to 425MHz out of it
which is about all your CPU cooling and CPU could probably realistically
handle in any optimistic scenario. Spending more for faster RAM is not
really worth it since the CPU couldn't go much faster anyway even
if the RAM was faster, and the added advantage of the RAM speed
being a little faster is basically irrelevant for a Q6600 CPU, it's
best to just run the CPU:RAM at 1:1 around 440x8.

Or you could generally aim for somewhere around
3.3 to 3.8 GHz CPU speed at either CPU x9 or CPU x8
with the ram running between 420MHz and 450Mhz however fast
it can go at the same clock as the CPU or somewhat higher depending
on your available RAM multipliers at the speed your CPU limits at.

I'm running two P5K / Q6600 systems so I am pretty confident about all
the details of what'll work for your setup.

I bought the G.SKILL 5-5-5-15 PC2-6400 ram for my 2nd Q6600, but
at the current price the stuff below is a much better deal for the same
performance.

$103/2x2GB=4GB, no rebates to hassle with.
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=T8UB2GC5&show=p
SuperTalent manufacturer
Specification
o Mfr Part Number: T8UB2GC5
o Type: DDR2
o Capacity: 2 GB
o Speed: PC6400 800MHz
o Size & Bit: 128 x 8
o Pins: 240pin
o ECC: No
o Registered: No
o Super RIGID



http://shop1.outpost.com/produ...sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG
$99/2x2GB=4GB after you get back the $50 rebate.
DDR2 4GB PC6400 DUAL PATRIOT
$50.00 Rebate
PATRIOT:
FRYS.com #: 5200607

PDC24G6400ELK

* Extreme Performance
* DDR2 4G (2x2GB)
* PC2-6400 (800MHz)
* Enhanced Latency DIMM Kit

The Patriot Extreme Performance PC2-6400 Enhanced Latency line is engineered to provide PC enthusiasts and gamers enhanced memory performance without breaking the bank. Capable of operating at 800MHz with a latency of 5-5-5-12, it is equipped with Patriots own bladed heat shields to ensure system stability while running under extreme overclocking conditions. Available in 512MB to 4GB kits, these memory modules are compatible of performing with the latest AMD and Intel DDR2 platforms allowing users to speed up their system instantly.

http://www.patriotmem.com/prod...oupid=38&id=593&type=1
Features

* Extreme Bandwidth PC2-6400 (800MHz)
* Enhanced Latency (5-5-5-12)
* Bladed aluminum heat shields to improve module stability
* 100% Tested and Verified
* Lifetime Warranty
* RoHS Compliant
* EPP Ready

 
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QuixoticOne

Golden Member
Nov 4, 2005
1,855
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0
For other options I might suggest --

Case:

Antec P180 if you can find one on sale for like $79-$90 or less;
Frys, Compusa, Buy.com occasionally seem to do that.
Advantage: very nice design, very good airflow, makes cable management
nice in some ways if you take the time to route everything in the best way.
It'll keep the CPU, cards, memory, hard drives nice and cool with its fans,
and it's nice and quiet running.
Bad part: it's a little more cramped than I'd like, if it was a couple inches bigger
in every direction it'd be nice, but everything fit OK for me without too many
compromises.

Power supply:
It's hard to resist the $39 to $65 or so prices I sometimes see these PSUs
on sale for (fry's, outpost.com, compusa, buy.com).
Antec TruePower Trio 650W
Antec EarthWatts 550W.
Both relatively well reviewed and relatively efficient, quiet, reliable.
Hard to beat for the price when they're on sale, though there are
comparable or slightly better quality competitive units, they're usually
a fair bit more expensive.

Heatsink / Fan:
ThermalRight Ultra 120 Extreme + one or two Yate-Loon D12SL fans added to it.

CPU: Q6600-G0 stepping. Or wait for the Q9450 Yorkfield/Penryn quad core
which will be better in quite a few ways but won't be available until January or
thereabouts. If you want to make a system now, don't regret using the Q6600,
but if you don't need it for a month or two, you might as well wait for the
better chip for comparable price.

Heatsink grease: Arctic Cooling Ceramique. Read the instructions carefully
or just (contrary to instructions) spread it all over the CPU IHS in a THIN EVEN
layer with a credit card edge. Then wipe some on the clean heatsink base
all over through a plastic bag with some ceramique on it just to get a
residue on there then wipe it off the heatsink base just leaving a little residue
haze but no real layer of it. Bolt 'em together.

Video card: XFX 8800GT or EVGA 8800GT for serious gaming.

Works well for me.

Oh check the base flatness of the TR120UE heatsink and also your CPU
IHS with the "razor blade" method and "glass sheet and water drop" method
before you assemble them just to make sure they're fairly flat together.
I lapped my thermalright a bit just to flatten it out but if it's pretty good
to begin with you probably don't need to do it. Some people have really
warped CPU IHS caps or heatsinks in which case they get high CPU temperatures
even if they assemble them properly with the right paste amount etc. but
usually it works out OK without having to do anything.

Some people add a washer or dime in between the TR120UE retention
plate and the top of the heatsink to make it clamp down a bit more snugly
if you think it rotates/slides too much against the CPU when you bolt it down,
that's about the main problem with them but they're still essentially the best
performing air heatsink money can buy for the quad core CPUs even with a
quirk or two to watch out for / tweak sometimes.

Even if it ends up a bit loose or a bit uneven it'll probably still cool quite fine
but if you end up unhappy with your CPU temperatures at IDLE / OVERCLOCK LOAD
then those are a few things to check into, no big deal to fix / adjust.



 
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QuixoticOne

Golden Member
Nov 4, 2005
1,855
0
0
I run the P5K-E-WIFI, and the P5K-DELUXE-WIFI.

I don't think there's too much difference between the WIFI and non WIFI
board models except for the WIFI module itself though.

 
M

meanhoe

Member
Nov 9, 2007
31
0
0
my new computer specs:

rig name: Black Beauty

Lian-li G75B
Asus P5K-E/WiFi
Q6600
Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2 800 x2
EVGA 8800GT 512MB SSC
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer 7.1
Western Digital Raptor X 150GB
Samsung SpinPoint T Series 500GB x2
Samsung 18X DVD±R DVD Burner, LightScribe
Corsair HX620W
Thermalright U120 Extreme (will be lapping)
Scythe S-FLEX 2xSFF21E 1xSFF21F
Arctic Cooling MX-2

if you have any thoughts on this setup, it will be welcome.
 
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