Please interpret these numbers for me (RAM question)

[Dave Richardson]

I am speccing out a PC in full for the first time in years. The last one I did was 5 or 6 years ago. I am using that one now - though most components have been changed out at least once. My eldest lad wants me to build him a new decent gaming PC. He wants it yesterday. Sigh. So I'm having to get to grips with all the new technologies all at once before yesterday.

I am looking at RAM, and have kind of settled on Ballistix 2GB Kit "BL2KIT12864AA804" at a price from Crucial of 238.51 GBP inclusive of taxes and delivery. However its out of stock and won't be back in till maybe early January next year in the UK. Can't wait that long or my youngster might explode. The specification and cost may be a little over the top for what I want but I believe in paying a bit extra for memory in exchange for stability long term.

I could buy immediately a 2GB kit from Crucial "CT2KIT12864AA80E". The cost of this one is £209.14 including delivery and taxes.

This memory is going on a MSI P965 Platinum board which I already have. The processor will be a 6600. There will be no overclocking. SLI won't be needed. I am looking at DDR2 PC-6400 memory.

What are the implications to me of these differences in the spec for the two sets of memory please.
1) 1.8v vs 2.2v
2) CL=5 vs 4-4-4-12
3) <Nothing> vs SLI Ready (Does this actually mean anything or is it marketing-speak)
4) Heat spreader vs No heat Spreader.


Thanks in advance to anyone taking time out to answer.

 

[oynaz]

If you do not plan on overclocking, any memory will do. So don't worry about it.

 

[biostud]

Originally posted by: oynaz
If you do not plan on overclocking, any memory will do. So don't worry about it.

exactly

1. higher voltage often increases stability during overclocks, for non overclocking stability is the same.
2. Under .1% difference in speed
3. Marketing
4. might improve stable overclock of memory by a few Mhz, for standard use no difference

 

[Lemon law]

Baring events like lightning strikes or like system shattering events, memory comes from the factory as good or with a defect(s) somewhere. Which is why you should run something like memtest86 on your ram immmediately after purchase---and if it passes memtest86--you know you have some good sticks of ram that should give you no trouble down the road.---and makes life easier if you find defects and have to return it for a refund.

 

[oynaz]

QFT, but remember that memory can still be bad even if it passes memtest86

 

[Dave Richardson]

Thanks people. I expected the answers you gave but just wanted to be sure.

On the question of RAM and factories - do they do any kind of testing at the factory. I would expect cheap stuff to be shipped out with only a few tests per batch but at £50.00 per GB I would expect each item to be tested before despatch. Or am I being too sweet and innocent?

 

[Roguestar]

Crucial is fantastically reliable. I use them for my PC and we order their RAM for anything we use in work (civil service IT dept, over 3000 machines) and we've yet to have an arbitrarily malfunctioning piece of RAM. They deliver next day (in fact in less that 24 hours last time I ordered) at a decent price and with a lifetime warranty. I don't know it they test each actual stick before they send it out but if you choose your RAM with the memory suggester thing for your motherboard they'll garuantee it'll work with it.

 

[IEC]

Originally posted by: Roguestar
Crucial is fantastically reliable. I use them for my PC and we order their RAM for anything we use in work (civil service IT dept, over 3000 machines) and we've yet to have an arbitrarily malfunctioning piece of RAM. They deliver next day (in fact in less that 24 hours last time I ordered) at a decent price and with a lifetime warranty. I don't know it they test each actual stick before they send it out but if you choose your RAM with the memory suggester thing for your motherboard they'll garuantee it'll work with it.

I would agree, Crucial is really great about quality control and compatibility - I've yet to have a stick that won't work. Same with Corsair. G.Skill on the other hand...

 

[midnilux]

I use corsair "value ram" ($99 per 1GB stick) and I overclocked my core 2 duo by almost an extra 1.5ghz and they have me no problem. Kingston's value ram sucks complete ass though, even though its about the same price.