Should I return to Fry's a $69 PC3200 that does 5-3-3-2.5 and goes up to 214MHz?

[WoundedWallet]

The 16th post on this thread has new info about the settings

I bought this chip at Fry's because I needed something quick, and if it didn't work well I could always return it.

Now after all the test done I'm still conteplating whether I should return it or not.

I've tested for errors with 3-3-3-8 at 200MHz and it passed the tests.

I can push it to 211 with 2.7Volts, but I didn't test for stability.

I know I can boot with 2.5-3-3-8, but I can't remember at what speed.

Now what? Is there performance vs price chart somewhere?

I paid $69 for it and from what I read it seems that I won't be getting much faster for twice as much. Is that so?

Should I just shut up and be happy that I got lucky with a cheap chip?

Thanks

title edited
twice

 

[SinfulWeeper]

ahh...
ahh...
I guess so...

 

[nick1985]

those are pretty slow timings

 

[WoundedWallet]

yes I know the timings are slow, but according to this thread, that's what they are supposed to be.

Now what? How much faster will I get if I pay 2 to 3 times as much as the $69 + tax (no shipping) from Fry's?

I'm memtesting it right now at 2.5-3-3-8 running at 200MHz and 2.6 Volts. So far it shows no errors.

I'll listen to anything. I've been trying to find a good reason to return it. So far the only think I can think of is the warranty (+- 96 hours)

But that's not pushing me over the edge, yet.

Push me!!!

edit fixed typo on the voltage from 1.6 to 2.6.

 

[pelikan]

I would raise the voltage and see how tight you can run the timings.

 

[SinfulWeeper]

WoundedWallet,

Before going to the store to buy some cheapo no name brand memory because it saves you a buck or two. Try checking in over here.
Name branders for less than no name branders regularly occur

 

[WoundedWallet]

pelikan, the lowest numbers I can get are 2.5-2-3-5 at 2.7 volts. Jacking up the voltage to 2.9 didn't allow me to lower the RAS-to-CAS delay to 2.

But my question remains unanswered, so I'll change the thread title to see if it works better.

And SinfulWeeper, give me a break.... I was here before the Hot Deals forum existed. I know where to get well priced RAM. I didn't go to Fry's to save me a few bucks. I went there for instant gratification. I didn't want to wait the three day delivery time to test my new board. And now I'm just trying to find out whether it makes sense to return it or not. Why do you waste your time to say something so silly? I thought that your first answer was an attempt to answer my question, but now I can imagine that it was just as senseless.

I still didn't get any attempt to answer if having another 10-20 MHz on FSB and a little tighter memory settings will be worth spending another $70 on a better chip.

 

[SinfulWeeper]

In that case, no I do not agree.
http://www.ocsystem.com/geil51pc40dd.html
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?description=20-141-412

Now those are for under $86, PC3200 chips and 512MB of it. I am not certain of the size you bought, but my guess is a 1GB stick. Or how else would you save $70 for 10-20MHz.

Now those are just things off the top of my head w/o shopping around, but the HD forums like I said provide much better prices.
The real question is, are you happy with the memory? I myself would not be, but then again I am one of those people who goes out and buys Corsair Ram because of its proven reliability and performance.
When I build a computer for someone, the crappiest ram I will put in is Kingston Valueram if there are no deals present. If there is, they get the better stuff.

So it really does not matter how I feel about the memory, but you.
I myself would not get the type you got. Then again I do a lot of DC projects. I need better memory. High CAS setting are not acceptable for my use, but for other it works fine.

 

[SinfulWeeper]

BTW, I am not sure about the PCB, but Samsung PC3200 memory can be found for $69.

 

[RadioactiveMagpies]

200 mhz at 5-2-2-2(the good stuff) should give you a 5-7% boost in overall performace compared to 8-3-3-3
It is also twice the price, but you pay for other things like better warranty, service, maybe better stability, and more often peace of mind.

If you can get it stable at 2.5-2-3-5 at 2.7 volts I say keep it.
btw, what test did you run for stability?

 

[WoundedWallet]

Before I go on, I have this feeling that my chips are Samsung. They're completely unmarked, so it's just a feeling.

Now.... Thank you SinfulWeeper!! and Thank you RadioactiveMagpies!!! That's the argument and information I was looking for.

The question now is; SinfulWeeper would you know if either the Geil or the Kingston that you pointed me will be able to do 5-2-2-2? And any idea of what's the max FSB you can get with them? I'm afraid that the only advantage here will be the warranty, which by itself may be worth the extra $17.

This is a 512MB chip and the one I'm considering is a TwinMOS/Winbond, that's why I mentioned the extra $70.

And RadioactiveMagpies; this 5-7% increase sounds nice. But if I can get it stable at 2.5-2-3-5 what would the be the difference to a tighter setting? 2-3%?

Regarding it being stable. I used the full set of tests on MemTest86 at 8-3-3-3 and 2.6 Volts.

Tonight I'll try again with the lower timings and higher voltage.

Thanks again for your input, and sorry SinfulWeeper for being short tempered. There is no good excuse for that.

WW


PS. I don't if it matters, but I get 3065/2783 on Sandra, stable at 400MHz (200x10.5)

 

[WoundedWallet]

Another update. I tried Memtest at the 5-3-2-2.5 settings and I got more errors than a Cubs outfielder

I'm now testing at 6-3-3-2.5 like the Value Geil. So far no errors, but the whole thing will take a few hours to complete.

 

[SinfulWeeper]

I normally test for at least a 6 hour loop before I consider the memory stable. Some people argue that that is too long though...

 

[SinfulWeeper]

http://www.ocsystem.com/oc51pc40fonc.html

Though they do have a low reseller ratings .
But $77 for 512MB CAS2 PC3200... I might even consider it.

 

[WoundedWallet]

Yeah... I saw that sale and thought it was good too. But since you alerted me to their reseller rating I found this gem over there:

"WATCH OUT! I ordered their 512 DDR 400 CAS 2 (PC 3200) RAM, when I received the memory it only shows up as DDR 333. I called and the sales guys actually says "it?s over clocked" ... Over a week later receive the replacement, same crap 333 marked as 400."

There is no consideration....

 

[WoundedWallet]

An update, I tested it at 5-3-3-2.5 at 200MHz and it worked fine.

I can't go to 2 anywhere because either it doesn't boot or gives me errors on Memtest.

My next test will be to up the speed to 210MHz and see if I get any erros. All at 2.7 volts.

Is the stick passing the "worth the money" test so far?

Thanks.

 

[SinfulWeeper]

Yes it is.

For that thing about showing up as DDR333 instead of DDR400... my guess is it is from a n00b that don't know what they are doing. The rest of the bad stuff seems to be company related and not neccissarily product related.
But still... from their company, it really makes me think twice about ordering from them.

 

[WoundedWallet]

Thanks Sinful, but I got tons of errors at 5-3-3-2.5@210MHz. I lowered it to 5-3-3-3@210 and still got some errors. Now I'm trying at 6-3-3-3@210, but I don't feel good about it anybody. There is no Clippers to save me this time

I was just trying to keep my lucky streak going, but I think it's time to fold. I'll probably buy a new chip tonight and stop worrying about it.

Thanks for your input,
WW

 

[The_Lurker]

I'd say keep the ram, the timings dun make that much difference in performance anyways. Right now i've got my cheapo ram at 200mhz (7-3-3-2). Now that gives me about 2.9gb/sec according to Sandra. I can get past 3.0gb/sec if i run it at (5-3-3-2) but it's not stable. Now i'm looking at like a 30mb/sec difference. I dunno how much difference it would make if i run the Ras to Cas at 2 and Ras delay at 2, but when you're spending $60 for a stick of 512mb pc2700, you can't really complain.

So what i'm saying is FSB is more important than Timings. 212mhz @ 3-3-3-8 is definately faster than 200mhz @ 2-2-2-5 (at least so it seems) so i'd say stick w/ the ram, and be happy you got a fairly good stick for a fairly low price.

 

[WoundedWallet]

Well, I bought the Geil PC3500 Ultra Platinum (thanks Sinful for reminding me of Geil) from Newegg for $125 (now at $115 :frown: ). I'm receiving it tomorrow morning (live in LA) and I'll go to Fry's at night to return the cheap stuff.

I got errors at 202MHz in everything all the way to 9-3-3-2.5 inclusive. That means that 200MHz is too close to the maximum this chip will give. In other words, by setting it at 200MHz and 2.5 CL, I'm doing a defacto overclock on the module, since there is no more headroom after that. It will pass the tests at CL3, but that's not what I want.

I'm excited about the new memory. I also got a SLK-900 and a 92mm fan to go with it. Just wish I'll have some time to put it all together tomorrow night.

Thanks guys,
WW

 

[SinfulWeeper]

Hope everything goes good with the GEIL memory .
If it does I might just have to find a stick.

 

[WoundedWallet]

Hope everything goes good with the GEIL memory

hmmmm.....
The memory god must be punishing me.

While the Geil module can make to Windows at 223MHz@6-3-3-2 and give Sandra scores of 3348/3090. When I test it with Memtest86, I get errors on anything over 217MHz@9-5-5-2.

I thought that from the specs I would be able to get 217@6-3-3-2 and have no errors.

Is Memtest86 unreliable?

Still better than the other one, but I got o figure out what's up with this.

I got this chip mostly because of this review, but I'm very far from 495MHz. Heck I can't even do the basic without errors. I wonder if they checked for any errors during the review.....

Damn... I'd hate to start another thread saying "Should I return this $125 PC3500 GEIL that only goes to 217@9-5-5-2 stable?"

 

[THUGSROOK]

when are you guys gonna learn?


X M S

 

[WoundedWallet]

I read many people complaining about Corsair problems with NF7-S and I never even considered it.

Is it not a problem anymore?

 

[smurph98gt]

Ok, so Frys has some of that no-name PC3200 ram for $65 ... I realize I can get better RAM, but will this stuff be decent running on either an EPoX 8RDA+ or Asus A7N8X Deluxe, not overclocking anything? I'm just gonna throw it in there and run with it.