What is the real difference between GENERIC and MICRON RAM ?

Thor_Sevan

Golden Member
Oct 14, 1999
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What is the real difference between GENERIC and MICRON RAM ?
Is the difference only for overclocking ?
Is it also true that the Asus K7M is limited to 112 mhz bus speed ?
I am asking this because I can't make a choice of 256 mb generic or 256 mb micro. I currently have 192 generic... and they are working fine for 110 mhz bus speed but not higher (k7m the cause maybe ?). So... I don,t know what to choose. Micron is 10 $ more than generic.

Thor
 

Smith

Member
Oct 14, 1999
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Well i think Micron is really Crucial ? Anyways, the difference I see is that Crucial is lifetime
warrenty generic may not be. Also the actual workmanship and memory yield will be of better quality.
 

duragezic

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
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Related question: I have Micron generic (that's what Sunshinestar says it is). What's that? Is it cheap Crucial or what? :confused:
 

John

Moderator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Generic memory can use 'off brand' chips and a cheap PCB. However you might get a decent generic stick.

Generic Micron memory uses a 3rd party PCB. Sometimes it can have less than 6 layers and inefficient traces.

Since memory is extremely inexpensive, get major brand memory w/ a 6 layer PCB from a reputable vendor.
 

WHipLAsh13

Golden Member
Jan 17, 2001
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If it is generic &quot;micron&quot; ram then the actual chips on the board are make by micron but not put on the board by micron. Most company's selling &quot;micron&quot; memory offer a lifetime warranty. Companies like Crucial manufacture the entire stick and are well known for their quality memory.

WHipLAsh


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office boy

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 1999
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Micron makes chips these chips can be used with micron PCB to make Micron Memory, or with any other Manufacturers PCB, If a generic PCB is used, then you have generic Micron Memory. (Micron Chips are good, but don't under estimate the importance of a good PCB).


And I guess you could say that the difference is almost ALWAYS related to overclocking, because IF you plan on running your memory at it's rated spec then you can pretty much buy whatever you want... I tend to get upper-end memory, (not the best mind you (I'm not made of money)) so that I can overclock it, and so that in the future it has a decent resell value and/or is still usable in next gen computers.
 

JackMDS

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 25, 1999
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The difference lies mainly in One Word Probability.

When use in a normal ways, i.e. no Overclocking etc.

The probability that OEM and Brand Name will work the same is over 98%.

When using the Memory in unusual setting i.e. Overclocking, bizarre Motherboards, or squeezing lower CAS.

The probability of Brand Name to work well is higher then OEM.

How high you ask? ? Some Reviewers will sell their soul to be able to answer this question.

And Yeah, Brand Names comes in Cooler Packaging.
 

esung

Golden Member
Oct 13, 1999
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K7M: fire up your Softfsb and see.. I couldn't OC much due to my CPU (K7-600)

Crucial: They are a Micron Company, selling entire memory module, which usese Micron memory chips. Basically Crucial is like Mushkin, Corsair, or Kingston that sell Branded memory modules with their own PCB, usually (not always) have better quality, and therefor better OC ability.

Some generic memory module uses high quality memory chips from those big memory chip makers, like Micron, Infineon, and Mosel Vitalic. Some of them use cheaper chips that made from the rest of the memory makers in Korean, Taiwan, Japan and where ever. Those are not necessary bad, since they all have to pass their designed spec, but
not necessary reach high FSB or low latency (Overclockability) that
a lot of people wants.

Like JackMDS said, it's just the probability. and peace of mind (for those that have long warranty) I've had good success rate with Generic stuff, but if I really want mission critical stability or OCing it,
I'll probably choose the big guys, (not just quality, but life time warranty as well)