PC3200 or PC3500?... which brand/model etc?

[Jeff7181]

I'm going to be upgrading to some PC3200 or some PC3500 RAM soon... Right now I'm using PC2700 with my Barton XP2500 and running it a-sync because it doesn't overclock well. My FSB is at 221, which I know is even higher than the PC3500 rating... basically what I'm looking for is some suggestions... should I go with PC3500 that has 2-3-3-7-T1 timings? Or PC3200 that has 2-3-3-6-T1 timings? (BTW, I'm looking at Corsair XMS Extreme Memory Series)
I hear a lot of people are using Kingston HyperX... and some have been talking about Buffalo recently... so I'm going to set up a pole... please vote, and please also post your reason why you vote the way you did.

 

[smahoney]

XMS3500 is my vote - stable and fast - The timings you list are the recommended values at maximum speed. The 3500 does 2-2-2-5-1 at 200MHz FSB.

 

[Jeff7181]

Do you have that? If so, have you tried it above 200 Mhz? Cause I'm running happily at 221 Mhz and would like to keep running at that speed, or even higher if the RAM can run in sync.

 

[cpars]

:evil:
Beware of the buffalo 3700, I had a terrible time with mine from newegg and have submitted RMA. Popped my Corsiar back in and all is fine again.

 

[Blooz1]

Have you considered Twinmos/Winbond? I'm running PC3200 at 2-2-2-5, 11x200, without a hitch.

 

[Wurrmm]

I would personally go with twinX memory. I have the TwinX512 PC2700PT kit and it works great on my A7N8X deluxe. Can't really go wrong with any of those choices though.

 

[Jeff7181]

I'm looking for something that will hit 221 Mhz without having to push back the RAM timings so far it negates the advantage to running a 221 Mhz FSB with the RAM is sync

 

[jpetermann]

Twinmos/Winbond... I have the 3200ddr 256mb sticks that hit 474 at 2.5-3-3-6...

PJ

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: pastorjay
Twinmos/Winbond... I have the 3200ddr 256mb sticks that hit 474 at 2.5-3-3-6...

PJ

Sounds like what I'm looking for... is the price reasonable?

 

[Jeff7181]

More input people! Come on =)

 

[jpetermann]

You can find the Twinmos/Winbond

Twinmos/Winbond

PJ

 

[Jeff7181]

Noticed my A7N8X isn't listed as compatible with that RAM... think that'll be a problem? Or is it not listed only because they haven't done extensive testing to confirm that it's 100% compatible?

 

[drewdogg808]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Noticed my A7N8X isn't listed as compatible with that RAM... think that'll be a problem? Or is it not listed only because they haven't done extensive testing to confirm that it's 100% compatible?

they probably just haven't done the testing. twinmos/winbond seem to work great in nf2 boards.

 

[Jeff7181]

Was looking at HyperX reviews on newegg... doesn't look like people like it... say it doesn't run at it's rated speed.

 

[drewdogg808]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Was looking at HyperX reviews on newegg... doesn't look like people like it... say it doesn't run at it's rated speed.

i was considering hyperx originally too, but some nf2 boards were having issues in dual channel with it.

pj: i noticed you previously had 2x512mb pc3200 twinmos/winbond...but now running 2x256mb, is it bc of the higher oc'ing that you changed from 1 gb to 512mb?

 

[screw3d]

The TwinMOS at memoryX really sounds like good stuff. But have anyone here tested those stuff, particularly the ones "manufactured by M-tec" ? I know ther's another thread about this somewhere, but no one has really tried these out.

 

[jpetermann]

pj: i noticed you previously had 2x512mb pc3200 twinmos/winbond...but now running 2x256mb, is it bc of the higher oc'ing that you changed from 1 gb to 512mb?

I am testing several different types of ram right now... I do like the Twinmos/Winbond stuff VERY much, but I wanted to try some of the new Winbond CH-5 chips that I found at Hardcorecooling...I may go back to the Twinmos in the end... I was able to get a little higher overclock with the 256 over the 512, but that is normal...

PJ

 

[Shimmishim]

if you go with the pc3500 from kingston... beware...

if that asus board you have is a rev 2.0, the ram won't work with your system...

kingston and abit/asus realize there are issues but no one is doing anything at the moment to address the issue..

it's quite sad...

so avoid it at all costs (for now at least)

 

[drewdogg808]

Originally posted by: pastorjay

pj: i noticed you previously had 2x512mb pc3200 twinmos/winbond...but now running 2x256mb, is it bc of the higher oc'ing that you changed from 1 gb to 512mb?

I am testing several different types of ram right now... I do like the Twinmos/Winbond stuff VERY much, but I wanted to try some of the new Winbond CH-5 chips that I found at Hardcorecooling...I may go back to the Twinmos in the end... I was able to get a little higher overclock with the 256 over the 512, but that is normal...

PJ

how high were you able to get the 2x512 twinmos? i've been testing a few ram myself lately....buffalo/winbond, twinmos/winbond, corsair xms. some initial reports were really good for the ch-5 chips, but i thought the consensus was that they oc about the same as bh-5s.

 

[jpetermann]

how high were you able to get the 2x512 twinmos? i've been testing a few ram myself lately....buffalo/winbond, twinmos/winbond, corsair xms. some initial reports were really good for the ch-5 chips, but i thought the consensus was that they oc about the same as bh-5s.

Well, I have a Canterwood board now, and I only run it 1:1 until I get my 800 fsb chip. I had it up to 450 ddr with no problems... just did not take the time to test it since I had to sell to buy the CH-5 stuff. It could have gone higher... that was at 2.5-3-3-7 I believe, could have gone higher with more vdimm... I was at 2.6

PJ

 

[Jeff7181]

What do you guys think of the Twinmos/Winbond PC3700 stuff? Would it be worth the extra cash?

*EDIT* Also, if I buy any RAM with the Winbond BH-5 chips, is it going to be good stuff? Or does the manufacturer make a big difference? Cause there's tons of Winbond BH-5 RAM on eBay a lot cheaper than from MemoryX... but it's not Twinmos... seems to be generic stuff.

 

[mroleg]

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[Jeff7181]

I'm kinda torn right now between Twinmos/Winbond and Corsair XMS... supposedly XMS will run CAS 2 at 200 Mhz, while most have to be backed down to 2.5 above 166.

 

[jpetermann]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
I'm kinda torn right now between Twinmos/Winbond and Corsair XMS... supposedly XMS will run CAS 2 at 200 Mhz, while most have to be backed down to 2.5 above 166.

I think you will find that the Twinmos/Winbond will run cas2 at 200 easy... you can always get a "bad" stick that won't... but for the most part, I think you will be impressed. Plus, prices just took a huge drop at MemoryX. 512mb sticks of the Twinmos/Winbond are down to $89!

PJ

 

[Technonut]

I have been running 2 256MB sticks of single sided TwinMOS PC3200 (Winbond BH-5) @ 461MHz 2-7-2-2 / 2.8v Memtest86 stable.... Good stuff.