The ECC/Non/Registered/Unbuffered thing has my mind blown

[tkrogers]

Ok, I've learned a lot about for my first build from this forum and many other sources...but I still have a lot to learn yet. So far, I've decided to go with:
Athlon 64 3500+ Venice
Asus A8N-E NFUltra Mobo
XFX GForce 6200 w/ Turbo Cache

I figure I have some time yet to decide PSU,Case and such. So, if any of this is unadvised please let me know. But my real issue is memory. I'm so lost about what I need and what I should get. The specs for the ASUS says this:

4 x 184-pin DIMM Sockets support max. 4GB DDR400/DDR333/DDR266 ECC/ non-ECC un-buffered DDR SDRAM memory
Dual Channel Memory Architecture

So, do I go with ECC or Non-ECC and Registered or Un-buffered? And is value ok to go with or should I stick with higher end products?

 

[theMan]

first of all, this should be in the general hardware section. anyway, you have to get un-buffered ram. that mobo has a specific list of compatible ram. look on the internet, get some of that.

 

[mechBgon]

You must use unbuffered (which is the opposite of Registered) and you can use either ECC or non-ECC. Most people building a gaming rig choose non-ECC because it's less expensive and slightly faster, and they aren't building mission-critical servers where the Error Checking & Correcting capability would matter to them.

For this motherboard, the popular Corsair ValueSelect PC3200 512MB modules are specifically not recommended in Asus's Qualified Vendor List in a single pair, although strangely enough they'll pass if you use two pairs (four modules for a total of 2GB). Kingston's ValueRAM KVR400x64C3A/512 passes in single-, dual- and quad-module configurations in Asus's QVL, and isn't too pricey, so you might think about going with them.

Also, if it helps, I made a photo guide to computer assembly and also some security stuff too: link to that

 

[tkrogers]

Sorry for posting in the wrong spot. I figured tech support was a good spot to ask...chalk that up to lack of experience.

MechBgon thanks a ton for that link. I know it will help me. And of course thanks for answering my Q.

And you know, I've spent most of my night looking for that specific list of compatible ram and still havn't found anything on the Asus site. I'd really appreciate a link to that if anyone has it.

One more thing...just for my own sanity. Are my choices, so far, at least looking/sounding like I'm doing the right things?

 

[mechBgon]

The amazing Google to the rescue! http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=site%3Aasus.com+a8n-e+qvl The site:asus.com thing is super-useful when a site like Asus is a super-slow loader for us poor 56k dial-up users. The document says it's for the A8N-SLI but it applies to the A8N-E as well.

Also, don't feel bad posting that here, it's close enough

 

[tkrogers]

LOL I found that right away but didn't figure it would work since it wasn't exactly what I needed. Oh well....hey I'm learning more all the time with this. Thanks again.

 

[nweaver]

as long as you are learning, we usually cut you slack....if you are slipping backwards, like me, then you might be considered flamebait