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Ram question with a EPoX EP-9NPA+ SLi mobo

B

BigCoolJesus

Banned
OK, so i finally decided on my motherboard, the EPoX EP-9NPA+ SLi.

Now, since im going to be getting an 3700+ (San Diego) i will naturally be overclocking it, but RAM has been a concern for me.

At first i went for the Ram with the best timings, and i found some Patriot RAM (pc3200) with timings of 2-3-2-5.



But now i question whether i should sacrafice the timings for higher speed RAM (such as PC3500, but the only kind of that in the 1gig stick range is some cheap Gigaram stuff)?


so, is it worth sacraficing timings and getting higher speed RAM (which in turn will guarantee better stability of the RAM at higher FSB's)???

if so, whats a good kind of RAM to get (needs to be a 1gig stick and under $150)?


thanks
 
With AMD processors and motherboards, memory timings are most critical so you want to get memory with lower timings then getting faster memory. With overclocking you can only go so far so get memory that will offer you both high speeds and low timings to take advantage of every bit of your memory.

I hope this helps.
 
Originally posted by: crimson117
1024mb performance dimm for < $150 per stick? Check the RTPE. ChiefValue currently has Corsair PC-3200 2x1024MB XMS C2 Platinum for $251.49; it'll do 2-3-3-6.
Click to expand...


Thanks, but crucialLabs already answered my question.

Besides, i can get a stick of 1024mb Patriot memory for $114 and it has timings of 2-3-2-5 (better then the corsair)
 
Originally posted by: CrucialLabs
With AMD processors and motherboards, memory timings are most critical so you want to get memory with lower timings then getting faster memory. With overclocking you can only go so far so get memory that will offer you both high speeds and low timings to take advantage of every bit of your memory.

I hope this helps.
Click to expand...

actually, this information is incorrect.

Text


memory timings mean almost nothing on the athlon 64
 
Originally posted by: nick1985
Originally posted by: CrucialLabs
With AMD processors and motherboards, memory timings are most critical so you want to get memory with lower timings then getting faster memory. With overclocking you can only go so far so get memory that will offer you both high speeds and low timings to take advantage of every bit of your memory.

I hope this helps.
Click to expand...

actually, this information is incorrect.

Text


memory timings mean almost nothing on the athlon 64
Click to expand...



wait, so what was that article saying other then not to waste money on high end ram (which im not, the Patriot RAM is some of the cheapest 1Gig stuff out there)??

are you trying to tell me to forget timings and go with speed??
 
Originally posted by: nick1985
forget timings and go with amount of RAM. more the better...
Click to expand...


ok, by amount you dont mean capacity, you mean speed (ie, PC3500, etc)??

i already have the right amount, im gonna get 2x 1GB no matter what, i just have to decide if its better to go for faster timings or better speeds......
 
I recommend avoiding the Patriot RAM. I had a dual channel set installed in a machine (the 2-3-2-5 version) and one of the sticks died after about three months. I then had another VERY EXPENSIVE set of 1 Gig XBLK Patriot Dual channel that refused to run at the rated timings of 2-2-2-5 with my San Diego. That is not a good track record in my book.

I picked up a set of OCZ Platinum Rev. 2 and have been good ever since. I can overclock it to 240Mhz with 2.5-3-3-8 1T and get a rock stable 2.64Ghz on air. It is $168 on NewEgg.

I have most of my customers machines running with Winbond based G.Skill 2-2-2-5 rated dual channel sticks (512Meg each) and that memory has also proven to run well at the advertised timings. It does not overclock worth a damn at all, though. Cannot even get 20Mhz more out of that RAM, no matter what timings I use. The G.Skill simply hates overclocks. At default, though, the stuff is good. $147 on NewEgg (currently out of stock).
 
It's very hard to beat Corsair Value Select or Kingston Value RAM. Both will run at 275MHz FSB at 5:6 memory divider. The penalty of the divider amounts to about 5MHz FSB.
 
 
i want 2 Gigs.
whether i buy a 2Gig set (2x 1Gig) or by seperate 1Gig sticks


so the Kingston ValueRAM is the best one out of all of those (despite timings)??


will it let me overclock my 3700+ decently?
 
Originally posted by: CrucialLabs
With AMD processors and motherboards, memory timings are most critical so you want to get memory with lower timings then getting faster memory. With overclocking you can only go so far so get memory that will offer you both high speeds and low timings to take advantage of every bit of your memory.

I hope this helps.
Click to expand...


Incorrect. Read THG's memory guides

There's like a 2 - 3 % decrease as you drpo to 2.5 CAS and then to CAS 3.

SAVE MONEY. Get MORE ram or a BETTER video card. You can spend $105 for Value VX or $180 for full blown VX. $75 will upgrade you from an from a 6800GT to an Ultra. =)
 
Corsair VS or Kingston Value RAM would be best. Again, the performance penalty of Value RAMs with 5:6 memory divider and 2.5-3-3-8 timing is only about 80MHz (CPU core speed). That's not a lot of speed for so much more $ on premium RAM.

If you have an Intel platform, then the faster RAM will be more beneficial.
 
Well its looking like ill be going with the Corsair, but just to ask, what would you pick out of the 2 (kingston or corsair)??


also, would just any pair of heat spreaders do the trick for the ram?
 
I have both. The Kingston will overclock up to 281MHz FSB. My Corsair will only do 275MHz. I would go with the cheaper RAM. If you're going with the Kingston, then manually set the RAM to 2.5-3-3-8-1T. The default setting is 3-3-3-8-1T.

The heat spreader may reduce cooling efficiency. It's best to allow cold air to pass over the individual chip. The big Zalman 7700Cu would be the ideal RAM cooler.
 
Originally posted by: furballi
I have both. The Kingston will overclock up to 281MHz FSB. My Corsair will only do 275MHz. I would go with the cheaper RAM. If you're going with the Kingston, then manually set the RAM to 2.5-3-3-8-1T. The default setting is 3-3-3-8-1T.

The heat spreader may reduce cooling efficiency. It's best to allow cold air to pass over the individual chip. The big Zalman 7700Cu would be the ideal RAM cooler.
Click to expand...

really, a heat spreader wouldnt help any?

and i already bought a heatsink, the Thermalright XP-90C with a 92mm fan
If i position it over the RAM (assuming theres enough clearance) will that provide sufficient cooling?


even if that doesnt, the intake fan on my case is square in the middle, so its directly over where the RAM would be, that would be good enough wouldnt it?

 
Originally posted by: BigCoolJesus
Originally posted by: furballi
I have both. The Kingston will overclock up to 281MHz FSB. My Corsair will only do 275MHz. I would go with the cheaper RAM. If you're going with the Kingston, then manually set the RAM to 2.5-3-3-8-1T. The default setting is 3-3-3-8-1T.

The heat spreader may reduce cooling efficiency. It's best to allow cold air to pass over the individual chip. The big Zalman 7700Cu would be the ideal RAM cooler.
Click to expand...

really, a heat spreader wouldnt help any?

and i already bought a heatsink, the Thermalright XP-90C with a 92mm fan
If i position it over the RAM (assuming theres enough clearance) will that provide sufficient cooling?


even if that doesnt, the intake fan on my case is square in the middle, so its directly over where the RAM would be, that would be good enough wouldnt it?
Click to expand...



bump to the cooling question
 
Originally posted by: BigCoolJesus
Originally posted by: furballi
I have both. The Kingston will overclock up to 281MHz FSB. My Corsair will only do 275MHz. I would go with the cheaper RAM. If you're going with the Kingston, then manually set the RAM to 2.5-3-3-8-1T. The default setting is 3-3-3-8-1T.

The heat spreader may reduce cooling efficiency. It's best to allow cold air to pass over the individual chip. The big Zalman 7700Cu would be the ideal RAM cooler.
Click to expand...

really, a heat spreader wouldnt help any?

and i already bought a heatsink, the Thermalright XP-90C with a 92mm fan
If i position it over the RAM (assuming theres enough clearance) will that provide sufficient cooling?


even if that doesnt, the intake fan on my case is square in the middle, so its directly over where the RAM would be, that would be good enough wouldnt it?
Click to expand...

Don't position it over your RAM, it's supposed to cool your CPU. 😉

If you want a HSF that can help cool your RAM, get a Zalman 7700 series HSF. But in all honestly, most cases nowadays are well-ventilated enough that you should be fine.
 
well the overhang on the XP-90 can be positioned anywhere (up down left right) so i figured it might help to position is over the RAM (since the RAM slots on the Epox are next to the CPU)


but i definatly dont want to get heatspreaders??
What about active cooling (ie, thermaltakes heatspeaders with a 40mm fan attached)?
 
Originally posted by: The Pentium Guy
Do you want 2 gigs of 1 gig? If you want 1, get the Corsair VS. If you want2, get the Kingston ValueRAM.
Click to expand...

Why get the Corsair VS if going for 1 stick and Kingston if going for 2 sticks? What's the theory behind it?

I appreciate ur response. =p
 
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