RAM Upgrade Timings->Price Ratio Question

phaxmohdem

Golden Member
Aug 18, 2004
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www.avxmedia.com
I have a file server based on an Intel DQ965GF motherboard.

Presently it has 2GB of PC2-4300 (533) DDR2 RAM (4x512MB sticks). It is RAM I pulled from another system that was running sluggishly, and when I upgraded it the old system rand much better... Now my file server is a bit sluggish (no surprise) so I want to eliminate that bottle neck in hopes that it will improve RAID performance a bit, as well as overall system responsiveness.

On Newegg I have found two affordable solutions:

G-Skill 2GB Kit 5-5-5-15 for $44.99 Free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820231098
-and-
A-Data 2GB Kit 5-5-5-18 for $42.99 Free Shipping + $15 MIR ($27.99 AR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820211066
-EDIT-
Mushkin 2GB Kit 4-5-4-11 for $54.99 Free Shipping + $10 MIR ($44.99 AR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820146673

Which kit would you choose? Will the 18 timing on the A-Data be a noticeable difference from the lower 15 of the G-Skill?


(Other System Specs of note:
CPU: Core2 Duo E6400 2.13gHz,
System HDD 2x 80GB RAID-1
Storage Drive 3x 500GB RAID-5
Video Card: 32MB PCI Radeon 7000)
 

nefariouscaine

Golden Member
Dec 4, 2006
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IMO - I would go with the A-Data kit. I've installed a few of those in other peoples boards and they run just fine at stock timings/voltage. That Mushkin is almost sure to want a little extra juice and I'm willing to bet that your board doesn't have additional options to increase that over 1.8v. The G.Skill might run at 1.8v but that A-Data is hard to beat at the price.

And no you shouldn't notice the increase in tRAS to 18 vs 15