Which are good quality brands of memory to get and which brands are ones to avoid? I've heard that Corsair and Crucial are very good? What about Samsung, Mushkin, TwinMOS, Micron, Premium, SimpleTech, OCZ, and etc...? Are any of those good brands? And are there any other good brands or brands you should avoid?
Question about memory brands
- Thread starter Link19
- Start date
Muskin, TwinMOS, and OCZ are also good brands that can be trusted. Samsung I have not heard much about. The rest you mention all sound generic.
Alot of ram makers rebrand Samsung ram. Samsung ram has a good price/performance ratio and I've never had problems with them.
Samsung RAM seems to perform well. Currently I have pc3200. Made by Crucial. I have 512mb of it. It works really well. Currently ocing it as well.
i have a ocz and crucial stick apiece and they work great.
both have outstanding tech support if you ever need it. (and RMAing with them is EXTREMELY easy!)
plus, both have lifetime warranties.
both have outstanding tech support if you ever need it. (and RMAing with them is EXTREMELY easy!)
plus, both have lifetime warranties.
If it is high-end RAM I like the Crucail Ballistix right now for 149 per 512MB (It isn't available at newegg in 1GB packs). If it is everyday RAM I LOVE!!! the Corsair Value Select CAS2.5 and at 81 bucks per 512MB or 158 per 1GB it is a steel!, however it doesn't OC very well, but it works with anything.
KD
KD
All the brands you listed w/ the exception of Premium are decent name brands, Mushkin should be ranked up there w/ Corsair and Crucial as they make a very good product including some very high end memory w/ good support w/ TwinMOS I'd watch out and see who's chips they are using, so it kinda depends on a product by product basis, Samsung and Micron are both Memory chip makers who happen to make their own Dimms in general they are both pretty good and have good price performance and FYI Crucial is a subdivison of Micron. Another decent brand is Buffalo.
Micron makes silicon chips and sells them to others as well as Crucial (a div of Micron) - Crucial makes modules from the chips. So a memory module with Micron chips on it isn't necessarily a Crucial or a Micron made module.
. The same with Samsung. Samsung makes both chips and modules and are among the best in both categories. Companies like Corsair buy mainly Samsung chips to put on their own modules. They hand test and sort the chips to make their hi-spec and value grade modules.
. Those are among the top brands. I have no idea what chips Mushkin normally uses but they also have a good rep. OCZ has had a spotty rep in the past - I've heard they have improved but don't know from personal experience.
. If you stick with Crucial, 100% Samsung or Corsair, you are unlikely to have made a disappointing choice.
.bh.
p.s. Even though you didn't mention Kingston, in the past you could occasionally find 100% Samsung in their packages as they will make or buy from others depending on market factors at the time. I have personal bad experience with their Value modules. One of three was DOA, another died an early death, and a third has hung in there - I'm glad I followed my own advice and always run at least two modules so in case one dies, I won't be SOL. But it has only been approximately one year with them... No more KVR for me even though they were fairly quick about replacing the dead one! I haven't tried their high-end stuff.bh.
:sun:
. The same with Samsung. Samsung makes both chips and modules and are among the best in both categories. Companies like Corsair buy mainly Samsung chips to put on their own modules. They hand test and sort the chips to make their hi-spec and value grade modules.
. Those are among the top brands. I have no idea what chips Mushkin normally uses but they also have a good rep. OCZ has had a spotty rep in the past - I've heard they have improved but don't know from personal experience.
. If you stick with Crucial, 100% Samsung or Corsair, you are unlikely to have made a disappointing choice.
.bh.
p.s. Even though you didn't mention Kingston, in the past you could occasionally find 100% Samsung in their packages as they will make or buy from others depending on market factors at the time. I have personal bad experience with their Value modules. One of three was DOA, another died an early death, and a third has hung in there - I'm glad I followed my own advice and always run at least two modules so in case one dies, I won't be SOL. But it has only been approximately one year with them... No more KVR for me even though they were fairly quick about replacing the dead one! I haven't tried their high-end stuff.bh.
:sun:
ANother band I forgot to mention. Is Geil a good brand? I just found a Geil 256MB DDR DIMM for a very good deal. I also found a good deal on a PNY DIMM? Is PNY a good brand?
It's kind of like Chevy cars, they make the Corvette, but they where also responsible for the Chevette. Almost all manufactures make good and not so good RAM, the Crucial that a mention before is about the best made, but then again they have some not so good cheap RAM, you get what you pay for.
As far as GEIL, over all I like them, they make an Ultra pc-4000 that I have used that I really liked, as for their other stuff I can't say. You more or less need to pick the specific model of RAM not the manufacture. In the PC-3200 2-2-2 category, it won't much matter who you buy; Crucial, Corsair, Mushkin, Kingston, GEIL, OCZ...etc....they are all going to be good. If you are going with Value RAM, stay with a good name company; Corsair, Crucial, Kingston, Mushkin...etc...
KD
As far as GEIL, over all I like them, they make an Ultra pc-4000 that I have used that I really liked, as for their other stuff I can't say. You more or less need to pick the specific model of RAM not the manufacture. In the PC-3200 2-2-2 category, it won't much matter who you buy; Crucial, Corsair, Mushkin, Kingston, GEIL, OCZ...etc....they are all going to be good. If you are going with Value RAM, stay with a good name company; Corsair, Crucial, Kingston, Mushkin...etc...
KD
Interesting topic here.
The question being: which brand is the best.
Basically there are two types of memory modules: original and non-original brand. Original modules are modules manufactured by the original chip makers. For example, Micron builds an IC chip, and then manufactures the module. The module becomes Micron on Micron, or Micron original. For other third parties, other than Micron, that build "major-brand" modules, the modules they build are considerd 'on third'; Micron on third, for example. Manufacturers who label their own chips and build modules are considered as OEM (original Equipment Manufacturers) manufacturers. Typically OEM manufacturers will use "non-major-brand" chips to build thier modules, often refered to as UTT (UnTesTed chips). UTT chips cost less than major chips, but the quality is not as good, because major-brand chips are more thoroughly tested.
Original modules typically always have better quality and performance at standard latency.
Also one more factor to consider: Latency. Original modules follow standard latency. For DDR400 the standard latency is CL3 (3-4-4 or 3-3-3), for DDR333 CL2.5, for DDR266 CL2.5 or CL2.0. Typically retailers will buy original chips and manufacture the modules themselves. To market the modules, the retailers will lower the latency, and this is ultimately what the consumer pays for. Not such an easy task to do. Many retails perfrom extensive testing finding the right chips, PCB board, & best safe operating latency. The testing will be done on specific systems and they will guarantee safe operating latency for certain motherboards. Thus, you could run into issues using mothrboards that are not recomended.
The largest Memory manufacturer is Kingston. Kingston, Crucial, Mushkin, OCZ, Corsair and Geil for example, are all memory module manufacterers, and do not typically sell original modules to the retail market. In addition, they do not manufacture memory chips. Only a handful do: Samsung, Micron (Crucial), Infineon, Hynix, Mosel, Elpida, and Nanya are the largest chip manufacterers; there arent many others.
If we are talking about original modules, Samsung original is the most sought after modules. The returns on Samsung modules is much lower than most other brands. If we are talking about market share, Samsung owns close to 30% making them #1, so it makes sense that Samsung can maintain such a facility that offers high quality memory. Micron and Infineon owns about 20%. Right now Sansung is #1, Hynix #2, and Micron Infineon both competing closely for #3 spot in the DRAM market.
The question being: which brand is the best.
Basically there are two types of memory modules: original and non-original brand. Original modules are modules manufactured by the original chip makers. For example, Micron builds an IC chip, and then manufactures the module. The module becomes Micron on Micron, or Micron original. For other third parties, other than Micron, that build "major-brand" modules, the modules they build are considerd 'on third'; Micron on third, for example. Manufacturers who label their own chips and build modules are considered as OEM (original Equipment Manufacturers) manufacturers. Typically OEM manufacturers will use "non-major-brand" chips to build thier modules, often refered to as UTT (UnTesTed chips). UTT chips cost less than major chips, but the quality is not as good, because major-brand chips are more thoroughly tested.
Original modules typically always have better quality and performance at standard latency.
Also one more factor to consider: Latency. Original modules follow standard latency. For DDR400 the standard latency is CL3 (3-4-4 or 3-3-3), for DDR333 CL2.5, for DDR266 CL2.5 or CL2.0. Typically retailers will buy original chips and manufacture the modules themselves. To market the modules, the retailers will lower the latency, and this is ultimately what the consumer pays for. Not such an easy task to do. Many retails perfrom extensive testing finding the right chips, PCB board, & best safe operating latency. The testing will be done on specific systems and they will guarantee safe operating latency for certain motherboards. Thus, you could run into issues using mothrboards that are not recomended.
The largest Memory manufacturer is Kingston. Kingston, Crucial, Mushkin, OCZ, Corsair and Geil for example, are all memory module manufacterers, and do not typically sell original modules to the retail market. In addition, they do not manufacture memory chips. Only a handful do: Samsung, Micron (Crucial), Infineon, Hynix, Mosel, Elpida, and Nanya are the largest chip manufacterers; there arent many others.
If we are talking about original modules, Samsung original is the most sought after modules. The returns on Samsung modules is much lower than most other brands. If we are talking about market share, Samsung owns close to 30% making them #1, so it makes sense that Samsung can maintain such a facility that offers high quality memory. Micron and Infineon owns about 20%. Right now Sansung is #1, Hynix #2, and Micron Infineon both competing closely for #3 spot in the DRAM market.
Try PDP Patriot. 1 GB (512X2) Dual Channel PC3200 DDR 400 Cas2. #PDC1G3200LLK. MADE IN THE USA! Lifetime warranty, Shipped $170. This is a classic example of the little guys trying harder and putting out a superior product! The "Big Guys" get fat and lazy with their so called quality name. This stuff rocks! By far the best ram out there in it's $ bracket....hands down!
PDP (Patriot) does offer major (and generic) brand chips on a 6-layer PCB. I sell their products in my shop and have had excellent results. Their memory does come at a very attractive price, especially the 1GB DDR modules.
Oyeve
Lifer
- Oct 18, 1999
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I dont care which brand but I care about the chips. The only chips I trust are Samsung, Hynix and Micron. Oh, and of course Infineon! 
Oh, and the German made Siemans is also very good.
But, if I were to buy branded I would only by from Crucial or Edge. There are so many overrated and super expensive brands out there that are rip-offs. Check out Edge. I have many PCs running edge memory and they use Samsung memory and excellent PCB. All of their sticks are blue edged ( guess thats why they are called edge ) Check em out HERE.
Oh, and the German made Siemans is also very good.But, if I were to buy branded I would only by from Crucial or Edge. There are so many overrated and super expensive brands out there that are rip-offs. Check out Edge. I have many PCs running edge memory and they use Samsung memory and excellent PCB. All of their sticks are blue edged ( guess thats why they are called edge
) Check em out HERE.TRENDING THREADS
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