RAM reccomendations for the A8N-SLI please

[tinydancer]

Can someone make a RAM reccomendation for me if using the new A8N-SLI. I'd like 2 gigs but I think I'll only be able to afford 1 gig. So, is it better to get 2 X 512 or 1 stick of 1 gig so I can add another stick later? I don't know much about all this so If you could tell me pins # and DDR? and PC######?
Thanks for the help

 

[stelleg151]

I would get 2x512, as you wont really need more than a gig for a little while. Then you can get 2x1 later and have 3 gigs, or get 2x512 and have 2 gigs later, either way getting 2x512 is fine now, and dual channel will help you now. you want 184 pin DDR.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Personally I wouldn't do 2gb! unless you are running a game server or something.

There is quite a performance hit by going the 2gb, and the current games and apps are not even fully utilizing 1gb

Overall system performance is reduced running 2gb because.
1. there are 2 ways as you mentioned to get 2gb, 4x512 and 2x1024
2. 4x512, the current motherboards can only run 4 sticks with the command rate set to 2T in the bios, the performance loss going from 1T to 2T is significant.
3. 2x1024, currently the 1024mb modules can only run with very lax timings (3-4-4-8) compared to
(2-2-2-5) for 512mb modules. On A64 systems this doesn't reduce the overall performance as much as option 2, but it does reduce performance.

 

[gobucks]

does anybody know if Asus has pretty good memory compatibility? I just bought a gig of PQI PC4000 ram for $200 from newegg. If it works, it's a great deal, but it's not listed in the QMA, so i guess it's a bit of a gamble.

 

[tinydancer]

so what PC#### do you guys reccomed? Is it only PC3200? I dont understnd what the different numbers mean.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Ram is rated by the speed it runs. For this board you want at least PC3200

If you want to overclock you can use faster rated ram.
PC3200 ddr400 = rated at stock FSB/HTT 200mhz
PC3500 ddr433 = FSB/HTT 217mhz
PC3700 ddr466 = FSB/HTT 233mhz
PC4000 ddr500 = FSB/HTT 250mhz

It gets more confusing because some of the products labeled as PC3200 have higher rated chips in them.
example: the TCCD chips in OCZ and PQI PC3200 are rated at ddr500 and will run higher FSB/HTT than some PC3500-3700 ram.

Ram is also rated by memory timings, the lower the timings the faster the overall system performance.
example: PC3200 (2-2-2-5)fastest (2.5-3-3-7)mid (3-4-4-8)low

 

[eddo26]

ocz

 

[SRoode]

I'm new to the AMD thing myself, and I'm in the middle of a new build. I have some questions too.

From what I understand, the FX series have unlocked multipliers, but require registered RAM. The Winchesters (e.g., the 3500+) have locked multiplers, but do not required registered RAM. So, if I'm right so far, if I decide to go with the FX, I need to buy registered RAM, and should concentrate more on rating (i.e., DDR 500 vs DDR 400) than latency because I can overclock the memory. If I decide to go with the Winchester, I can buy unregistered memory, and should concentrate more on latency than rating because of the lock on the multiplier....

Am I on track?

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Originally posted by: SRoode
I'm new to the AMD thing myself, and I'm in the middle of a new build. I have some questions too.

From what I understand, the FX series have unlocked multipliers, but require registered RAM. The Winchesters (e.g., the 3500+) have locked multiplers, but do not required registered RAM. So, if I'm right so far, if I decide to go with the FX, I need to buy registered RAM, and should concentrate more on rating (i.e., DDR 500 vs DDR 400) than latency because I can overclock the memory. If I decide to go with the Winchester, I can buy unregistered memory, and should concentrate more on latency than rating because of the lock on the multiplier....

Am I on track?

Not quite. the FX cpus are made on two platforms skt 939 and skt 940
skt 939 uses unregistered memory
skt 940 uses registered memory

FX55 skt939
FX53 skt939 and skt940
FX51 skt940
Athlon64 3000-4000 skt 939 (Winchester,NewNastle, and Clawhammer)
Opetrons skt940

For the A8N-SLI you would use unregistered ram regardless of CPU

And what you should be looking for is the best combination of speed and latency.

In the opinion of most reviewers the best ram for skt 939 are based on the samsung TCCD chip which is rated at ddr500 and is capable of running FSB/HTT 275mhz+ ddr550

OCZ EL PC3200 platinum rev. 2
OCZ EL PC3700 platinum
PQI turbo PC3200 platinum
Mushkin Lvl 2 PC3200
Corsair PC3200 XL XMS

 

[SRoode]

Thanks for the info GD! I was unaware of the 939/940 memory difference. I'm VERY glad I don't have to buy registered memory no matter which way I go!

For the OCZ, do you mean Gold Rev. 2? I've been looking at OCZ5001024ELDCGER2-K and it looks good to me (DDR500, 2.5-3-3)

 

[GuitarDaddy]

The gold rev. 2 is ok gold rev. 3 is better. But neither on are the TCCD chip

Here are the ones I'm talking about. They are the same chip, but OCZ top bins the best chips for the PC3700
OCZ EL PC3200 Platinum rev. 2 (2-2-2-5)
OCZ EL PC3700 Platinum (2-3-3-8)

 

[SRoode]

Thanks GD, I really appreciate the info. I think I'll go with the 3700, it's on sale now too!

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Good choice! When I bought mine the PC3700 wasn't available so I got the PC3200 from Newegg for $279

You may want to check this out! This place has been listing the PC3700 on ebay, and the last two have ended at less than $270, but Newegg would most likely get it to you quicker.
OCZ PC3700 Ebay

 

[iscsidude]

Just curious.
Does the "Qualified Vendor List" at the ASUS Web Site:
http://usa.asus.com/products/mb/qvl/A8N-QVL.pdf
simply tell you what they have tested.

In other words, can I be comfortable in buying memory not on their list? Thanks...