RAM advice needed for AM2 chipset.

[Montek]

What memory this this chipset supports, and what should i go for lower CL times or higher MHz?

Also what you think about manufacturers like Adata and V-Data their memory is reliable or not?

 

[covert24]

Personally i would go with DDR2-533 ram at the LEAST. IF you can of course go with the DDR2-800. And also once you choose your mhz then go with the timings. you want a CL4 set. Adata is marginal and i would not recommend unless a last resort. And from what i have been reading Patriot and G.Skill are the most bang for your buck modules out there right now when it comes to DDR2.

 

[Montek]

Forgot to tell its for non gaming pc, and i doing well on my main pc with PC 2100 ram so don't think i need as fast ram.

 

[DrMrLordX]

First off, you can't draw any conclusions about AM2 memory performance based on experience you've had with DDR memory.

I would recommend DDR2-800 5-5-5-15 2T as a minimum. If you have the choice between tighter timings or higher speed, go for the higher speed unless you have absolutely no intention of overclocking.

If you will not be overclocking, find the DDR2-800 with the best possible timings you can (preferably 3-3-3-8 1T and no more than 2.1v vdimm).

If you start overvolting your RAM without overvolting your CPU, you may get into trouble, so watch out.

 

[Montek]

Damn its for internet pc i thinking to get Kingston DDR2 PC2-3200 400MHz 512MB CL 3 in case it worn on AM3.

 

[drakore]

Get a minimum of 2 gb's DDR2-533 is pretty damm cheap

 

[covert24]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: DrMrLordX
First off, you can't draw any conclusions about AM2 memory performance based on experience you've had with DDR memory.

I would recommend DDR2-800 5-5-5-15 2T as a minimum. If you have the choice between tighter timings or higher speed, go for the higher speed unless you have absolutely no intention of overclocking.

If you will not be overclocking, find the DDR2-800 with the best possible timings you can (preferably 3-3-3-8 1T and no more than 2.1v vdimm).

If you start overvolting your RAM without overvolting your CPU, you may get into trouble, so watch out.

</end quote></div>


apprently you have no idea what you are talking about being that the only DDR2 memory with CL3 on newegg is THESE two sets. please don't post if you have no idea what you are talking about. You also just repeated what i said in a different form. Thanks

And as drakore and I said get a minimum of DDR2-533 2gb memory if your just going to be messing around on the internet.

 

[DrMrLordX]

Hey, he didn't specify what he would be using the machine for until after I posted . . . he wanted to know which was better, memory speed or lower timings, so I told him. However, due to the fact that most AM2 motherboards have no ratio beyond 1:2, he can't go for more speed on his memory past DDR2-800 without increasing his HTT, so all he can do to improve memory performance at that point is to go for tighter timings unless he wants to overclock.

DDR2-800 3-3-3-8 1T is doable, even on memory that isn't specifically rated for those timings. And, as you pointed out, there are two products that are specced for timings very close to that anyway on Newegg alone. One of the two products (the OCZ Flex XLC kit) is even afforable.

What exactly from my post made me sound like I didn't know the subject matter at hand?

Originally posted by: Montek
Damn its for internet pc i thinking to get Kingston DDR2 PC2-3200 400MHz 512MB CL 3 in case it worn on AM3.

If it's just for an Internet PC, go for some DDR2-800 5-5-5-15 and be happy with that. In fact, you can get just get this stuff:

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=T6UB1GC5

and be happy. It should hit DDR2-800 no problem, and you might even be able to tighten up timings a bit at that speed. It's cheap, too.

 

[Montek]

Originally posted by: drakore
Get a minimum of 2 gb's DDR2-533 is pretty damm cheap

That does not automatically mean i have to buy extra 1.5 gig just because its cheap, i can buy mouse, keyboard, network card and probably dvd-rom for that money that i spare for unneded ram. Theres was talk that u dont need more than 512 mb-ram like 4 years ago not even for games, now you say i need 2 gig for non-gaming rig, dude give me break what have changed during this 4 years programs probably not increased their memory usage, except few but this few only use probably 20-40% more memory,overall memory used when i run my programs around 300-350 mb ram max.

 

[Montek]

Originally posted by: drakore
Get a minimum of 2 gb's DDR2-533 is pretty damm cheap

That does not automatically mean i have to buy extra 1.5 gig just because its cheap, i can buy mouse, keyboard, network card and probably dvd-rom for that money that i spare for unneded ram. Theres was talk that u dont need more than 512 mb-ram like 4 years ago not even for games, now you say i need 2 gig for non-gaming rig, dude give me break what have changed during this 4 years programs probably not increased their memory usage, except few but this few only use probably 20-40% more memory,overall memory used when i run my programs around 300-350 mb ram max.

 

[nullpointerus]

Originally posted by: Montek
What memory this this chipset supports, and what should i go for lower CL times or higher MHz?

IMO you should go for lower CL times since AMD's current processors aren't exactly bandwidth-starved.

Or go 2x256MB DDR2 CL4 low-bandwidth and the two DIMMs will be used in dual-channel mode w/ double their bandwidth--best of both worlds for your situation if you can find a good price on those DIMMs.

EDIT: Here's a good brand at a decent price (obviously you need two of them to reach 512MB):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820145528

Also what you think about manufacturers like Adata and V-Data their memory is reliable or not?

Maybe...but personally I would go with Corsair or Kingston value RAM just in case.

However, for web browsing, one does not exactly need tons of reliability, so go with a cheaper brand that has good reviews on Newegg or something.


EDIT: Darned quote tags are messed up again. Is there some law against fixing forum problems?

 

[DrMrLordX]

Originally posted by: Montek

That does not automatically mean i have to buy extra 1.5 gig just because its cheap, i can buy mouse, keyboard, network card and probably dvd-rom for that money that i spare for unneded ram. Theres was talk that u dont need more than 512 mb-ram like 4 years ago not even for games, now you say i need 2 gig for non-gaming rig, dude give me break what have changed during this 4 years programs probably not increased their memory usage, except few but this few only use probably 20-40% more memory,overall memory used when i run my programs around 300-350 mb ram max.

If you're just running a basic XP box, 512mb-1 gig will do you just fine. I still recommend some of that Super Talent DDR2-667 from eWiz 'cuz it's cheap and good. There are 512mb DIMMs of that as well that cost a bit less.

However, if you want memory you can just pop into a future system (like an AM2+ one, let's not even go into AM3 like you mentioned) you might want more than less. Running Vista with less than 2 gigs could be a painful experience. Furthermore, DDR2 will be phased out in favor of DDR3 eventually, so DDR2 prices may never get much lower than they are now. Who knows, I could be wrong.

Originally posted by: nullpointerus

IMO you should go for lower CL times since AMD's current processors aren't exactly bandwidth-starved.

While this is true, keep in mind that running DDR2 (or DDR) at higher speeds while maintaining the same timings results in lower latency as well. It is the latency reduction that you want (and/or need) to get the most out of an AMD chip, AM2 or otherwise.

I, and others, have observed that the memory controller on existing AM2 chips (Windsor and Brisbane alike) tends to do better with faster memory speeds than tighter timings.