RAM

[sonac]

I'm planing to buy a new computer (MSI Neo2 platinum + AMD64 3500+ combo). I want to buy a descent pair of PC4000 ram (choosing between Corsair XMS 4000 pro and Geil 4000 Ultra Platinum, others are not available in my country...well there is twinmos twister 4200, but i read somewhere, that it's bad for overclocking on amd64 mobos). Please share your experience with me
PS: Which frequency does Corsair 3200LL reach on this mobo, this one is also an option.

 

[Concillian]

From the latest Anandtech memory review:

All of the memory could also do DDR466 on the Athlon 64 platform, but often required slightly slower timings or a bit more voltage. The only Samsung memory that achieved DDR500 on the MSI Athlon 64 was the OCZ PC3200 Platinum Rev. 2 - none of the other Samsung-base DIMMs could reach this milestone. In addition, the OCZ, which reached DDR557 on the Intel board, could not reach much higher than DDR500 before we got failed boots.

The only memory that duplicated the Intel results on Athlon 64 was the Crucial Ballistics PC3200, based on Micron chips. Across the entire range from DDR400 to DDR514, the Ballistix performed at the same voltages and timings that it displayed on the Intel test bed. This performance reminds us that Micron memory chips are also used in OCZ 3500EB and 3700EB, which also perform as well on Athlon 64 as they do on an Intel board.

For now, we would recommend Crucial Ballistix or OCZ 3500EB/3700EB as first choice on Athlon 64 motherboards. If you prefer one of the memories using Samsung chips, then the OCZ PC3200 Platinum Rev. 2 was the only Samsung memory to work reliably at DDR500. The evidence leads us to believe that the Micron chips perform much better on Athlon 64 than Samsung chips, but this is something that will require more investigation. We are putting together a more in-depth look at the performance of a full range of memory types on Athlon 64 in an upcoming review.

Based on that, I'd go with the Crucial Ballistix

If you go to the Crucial site, it looks as if they will ship just about anywhere.

 

[sonac]

Thank you!
/me is already ordering 2x512MB 3200 Crucial Ballistix ram ^^

 

[Concillian]

Well, they have PC4000, which is what you said you wanted. In reality, they're probably the same modules just one is called PC3200 (CL2) and the other PC4000 (CL2.5)

 

[DoobieOnline]

Hey sonac, be really careful about expecting the Ballistix PC3200 to perform like it did in the AT review. Almost everyone who has picked up the PC3200 has not been able to OC very much, even with relaxed timings. Spend the extra $6 per stick and get the PC4000 if you want to be able to hit up to 250FSB. I have a strong feeling that Crucial sent some hand-picked PC3200 to AT for the review and that it actually should have been marked PC4000. Here's a good review of the PC4000 - LINK. Good luck!

doobie

 

[sonac]

Thank you for this tip, 6 euros per stick isn't much if the qualitiy is good (still cheaper than pc4000 rams in Slovenia ) I have another question: Do these DDR500 Ballistix also use micron chips? And if they don't, do they also perform good on AMD64 paltform?
TY

 

[DoobieOnline]

In the review I linked, they said the chips are Micron MT46V32M8TG-5B which are hand-picked to run at 4ns (DDR500). I should have mine on Friday and will post how well they work with my new A64 setup.

doobie

 

[imported_juanflaiter]

I would buy any memory that has Winbond BH5 (5ns), BH6 (6ns), CH5 or Samsung DCCC

 

[DoobieOnline]

Well, I received the gig of Ballistix PC4000 a day early so I'm trying it out on my P4 rig tonight. I'll use the numbers I get tonight to compare it to the A64 rig I'm building this weekend.

The great news is when I boot with SPD settings, it sets the timings to 2.5-3-3-6 running at 250MHz (running dual-channel 1:1 with a 2.8C at 3.5GHz) and only takes 2.65V. My gig of Geil PC4000 needed 2.85V to hit 250MHz and the timings were 2.5-4-4-7 so there are definite improvements with the Ballistix. I tried to match the numbers from the AT review and couldn't get there. 2.5-2-2-5 wouldn't boot at 250MHz even with 2.75V. I tried all that before I saw the settings from SPD and I'm pretty happy with 2.5-3-3-6 so it's staying there for now.

I'll post more when I get the A64 rig set up this weekend.

doobie

 

[Zebo]

Ballistix is the best mem out right now since it uses an even better module than OCZ EB's, the former best. Search more xtreme forums 270+ is no problem with good timings.

Add to the fact micron makes he most compatable memory in the world according to toms (only mem 100% is is 15 mobo/ram roundup), made in USA, and is resonably price w/ free shipping and 30 no questions asked guaranty...it's a no brainer.

 

[imported_Aelius]

Originally posted by: Zebo
Ballistix is the best mem out right now since it uses an even better module than OCZ EB's, the former best. Search more xtreme forums 270+ is no problem with good timings.

Add to the fact micron makes he most compatable memory in the world according to toms (only mem 100% is is 15 mobo/ram roundup), made in USA, and is resonably price w/ free shipping and 30 no questions asked guaranty...it's a no brainer.

Actually this statement is only half true for A64 systems. Ballistix (high end ones) have been tested to work at their stock settings on A64 but refused to overclock. This is not an issue on Intel boards.

They are still better than other PC4000+ RAM that pretty much refuses to overclock and usually refuses to run at its stock speed.

EB is still the best for for A64 if you can overclock it (needs lots of juice).

Waiting on OCZ to review their new RAM to see how that goes.

 

[DoobieOnline]

Well things didn't turn out so well with the gig of Ballistix PC4000 and A64 setup. I am running 9 x 250 with the 3200+ 1MB chip, but the Ballistix refuses to get over 205~210MHz with two sticks installed so I couldn't run it 1:1. It's running right now at 205MHz, 2-2-2-10-1T at 2.7V and it's screaming along at that speed. It has to be an issue with the A64 mem controller because the Ballistix will run 250MHz, 1:1, 2.5-3-3-6, 2.65V totally stable in my P4 rig.

Here's an interesting note using only one 512MB stick - this setup posted and got into Windows at 240MHz, running 1:1 with the cpu at 10 x240 and was able to run IE and surf. As soon as I fired up any benchmarks, the system would hang but I later found out the cpu was only completely stable up to 2.25GHz at 1.55V so it's possible the Ballistix was stable at 240MHz even though the 3200+ 1MB wasn't. The Soltek nForce3 250GB board I'm using maxes out at 1.55 Vcore and 2.8 VDIMM, but other than that it's a truly great board.

I had a gig of Geil Ultra PC4000 lying around so I tried it and it worked great even with two sticks installed. It needs more voltage than the board can supply, but it would run 1:1 up to 225MHz with 2.8V. The Ballistix gives me better scores running with tighter timings at 205MHz, though.

Anyway, running the 3200+ 1MB at 2.25GHz (9 x 250, 4X HT), the gig of Ballistix PC4000 at 205MHz (2-2-2-10-1T), and a BFG 6800 Ultra OC (default 425/1100) I hit just over 83 FPS in Doom 3 at 1280 x 1024 and High Quality. That was enough to make me happy.

doobie