RAM Upgrade Questions

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w0lf42

Member
Jul 24, 2000
139
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I'm looking to pruchase 2 x 512MB RAM for an EPoX EP-8K7A. The Mainboard supports PC2100/PC2700/PC3200 and the prices seem similar. So, I thought I would purchase PC3200. Crucial has two options:
  • DDR PC3200 ? CL=3 ? UNBUFFERED ? NON-ECC ? DDR400 ? 2.6V ? 64Meg x 64
  • DDR PC3200 ? CL=3 ? UNBUFFERED ? ECC ? DDR400 ? 2.6V ? 64Meg x 72
What is the best options for this board and for upgrading?

 
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SuperSilicon

Member
Dec 16, 2005
119
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Check the manual, or manufacture website for positive information.

Crucial is excellent memory, I have never had a problem with crucial,corsair,kingston.
 
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Wolfshanze

Senior member
Jan 21, 2005
767
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Don't budget your memory... Try and get CL-2 memory, or at least CL-2.5... CL-3 memory from ANY manufacturer is going to be SLOW!
 
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hans007

Lifer
Feb 1, 2000
20,212
18
81
Originally posted by: SuperSilicon
I will reccomend this memory to anyone, quality not to mention Lifetime Manufacturer Warranty

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145450#DetailSpecs

Thats whats in my current machine.
Click to expand...

$106 for 1 gb of ram is awful though.


if you want to get crucial get the non -ecc if it costs less. if you get ecc and your board doesnt support it, it will just run like ecc as far as i know.


frys had a sale the other day 2 gb of corsair cl3 value select was $99 after $40 rebate. even befoer the rebate it was very good.
 
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w0lf42

Member
Jul 24, 2000
139
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So, is ECC better than non-ECC?

What is the real speed difference between CL=3, CL=2.5, and CL=2?

Thanks,


Mark
 
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hans007

Lifer
Feb 1, 2000
20,212
18
81
Originally posted by: w0lf42
So, is ECC better than non-ECC?

What is the real speed difference between CL=3, CL=2.5, and CL=2?

Thanks,


Mark
Click to expand...

ecc boards have 9 chips on them the 9th for error correcting.

i suppose it is "better" but your chipset has to support it, and memory errors rarely if ever happen , its more of a server / workstation thing.

i would say the speed difference between CL3 and 2.5 and 2 is not that big. maybe from 3 to 2, and you might notice say a 1-2% difference in frame rates in 3d games.

but CL2 ram tends to cost quite a bit more than CL3. you could just buy more ram, or apply the money somewhere else for a more significant upgrade.
 
PingSpike

PingSpike

Lifer
Feb 25, 2004
21,766
615
126
Originally posted by: Wolfshanze
Don't budget your memory... Try and get CL-2 memory, or at least CL-2.5... CL-3 memory from ANY manufacturer is going to be SLOW!
Click to expand...

I don't think he would even notice the difference.
 
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Wolfshanze

Senior member
Jan 21, 2005
767
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0
CL stands for CAS (Column Access Strobe) Latency, which is the amount of time that it takes to retrieve data from the module. CL2 and CL3 refer to the amount of clock cycles that it takes before the initial stream of data is sent. CL2 modules wait two clock cycles before sending data. CL3 modules wait three clock cycles before sending data. CL2 modules are faster since they only wait two clock cycles and therefore are usually more expensive.

Depending on what your system is doing, the latency in memory can be a non-factor, or significantly increase performance... it really just depends on what you're doing, but it DOES play a factor in overall system performance, and it's percentage can vary depending on the task at hand.
 
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