RAM: DDR400+ worth it?

[Nutrageous]

Hey all.

I'm thinking about going with an Abit IC7 and 2.4C for my next machine, but I'm trying to figure out what the best RAM to use is.

I probably won't be overclocking right off the bat, but I might try to in the future. I don't really want to spend over $200 for RAM, and I'd actually like to keep it below $150 if possible (but I don't mind a little more if gains are really worht it.)

Memory prices seem to go up exponentially as you approace the new PC4000 DDR500 modules... Where does it stop being "worth it?"

It seems like you could buy 1GB(2x512) of DDR333 RAM for about the same price as 512MB(2x256) of DDR500...

So is one of those extremes more advantageous? Is there a happy medium? My hunch is telling me to buy 2x256MB sticks of DDR400 or DDR433, but I have no idea, and so I come to you all...

With the above price limits, what would you buy?

 

[tbates757]

If I were you I would go 2x256 of PC3500, probably OCZ Enhanced Latency... DDR333 won't be able to fully take advantage of the 2.4C so get at least PC3200... PC4000 is a waste of money right now in my opinion, it's not worth the extreme price tag

 

[Slammy1]

Yeah, I have to agree. You can go lower price with the HyperX, but PC3500 is the right memory for the 2.4C. I'm close to max on an air cooling solution, I think. At 280FSB on a 5:4 at 2-3-3-6 with HyperX. I can go higher, but I'm reluctant to lower my RAM timings since I end up with only a slight improvement in benches.

 

[quam]

How about with a 2.6C, for overclocking (1:1)? Thanks.

 

[screw3d]

Originally posted by: quam
How about with a 2.6C, for overclocking (1:1)? Thanks.

For that, I won't go any lower than PC3200. Since you're overclocking, get anything above that.

 

[oldfart]

PC3700 - 4000 is a ripoff. It runs with VERY relaxed timings to get that label. With the slow timings, it is no faster (sometimes slower) than PC3200 - 3500 running tight timings. You are better off with PC3200/3500. You can run a 5:4 ratio, tight timings and get ~ the same performance as the $$ stuff.

 

[Sunny129]

Originally posted by: Duonger
Have you considered a Mushkin 3500 2-2-2 timing? Just a suggestion....

yeah, for roughly $230 ground shipping you can get 2 x 256MB sticks of this stuff. i know you said you want to spend no more than $200, but if you're going to spend the extra $$$, Mushkin makes the best memory on the market. or you could get 2 x 256Mb of the Mushkin PC3200 2-2-2 for $190 @ newegg.com.