What memory should i get ?

[Losty]

Hey guys!

I've been trolling around looking for something memory to get for my new system but i have no idea what to get. If i could get your input... i'd appreciate it.

I'm planning on getting:
chaintech vnf-250
athlon64 2800 retail

I am also planning to oc a bit so i wanted to know what memory is suitable... probably just a 512 stick for now. What is this dual channel stuff and will i need it? pc3200 is what the mobo recommends right?
should i get a pc4000 if i'm oc or is pc3200 ok? I don't want to spend more than $100 for a 512 so those cl2 low latency crazy ram sticks won't do for me ...

hopefully i'll just run it @225-240 (is this reasonable?) and witha 1:1 (that's the best setting right?)

so ... let me know what you think i should get ... i wanna order it asap
thanks

losty

 

[imported_Computer MAn]

You can not use dual channel on a skt 754 cpu. All it does is give more memory bandwith. A64's are not bandwith starved so it wont make much of a differnce. And if you get PC3200 be aware that not every stick will do 230. My Value Select will do 230 but only at CAS3 and 2.8 vdimm. If you want a little more assurance that it will do those speeds get faster ram. If you are looking for good cheap ram I recommend this. It will most likely do 225 at CAS 3.

 

[ts3433]

Dual channel mode is not supported on S754. No need to worry though. If you plan to run the HTT that high with 1:1 CPU:RAM then it may be wise to get PC3500-4000. Definitely get a gig though, no matter what--you will see more performance from running 1GB of PC3200 at 5:6 than 512MB of PC4000 at 1:1.

 

[Hajime]

You may also want to look into some Crucial ram.

I've had obscene luck with OC'ing Crucial PC3200 - Corsair is also excellent, as another poster has noted.

 

[Losty]

well thanks for the reply guys...
so i dont' need dual channel memory and it doesn't work on my mobo anyhow right?

computer man ... you've got you system running at 267 with corsair value select pc3200 .. that runs stock speed at 200 right? that's a pretty high oc for pc3200 ... how much did it cost you?

ts3433 really? 1gb of memory will run faster than 2 x 512? is that what you are saying? or are you saying that more memory will fun faster?

i don't think i noticed much of a difference with cas3 and 2 with my older memory modules so i think i'm fine with running it at a high latency for higher clock speeds

losty

edit: computer man ... how come your 3000+ runs with a 9 multiplier ... isn't it 10?

 

[ts3433]

There are no such things as dual channel DIMMs. Memory makers sell memory in "dual channel pairs" that are just tested to be compatible in DC--you would probably be fine just buying two identical sticks of RAM if you were running DC, anyhow. Such RAM will work in the S754, just not in DC.

I'm sorry, that wasn't what I meant. I was under the impression that you were under a bit of a budget and aiming solely for 1:1 in an OC, and thus about to go for just 512MB of fast RAM versus a gig of stock RAM. (Come to think of it though, a single 1GB DIMM should allow you a better overclock on a S754 than 2x512, though otherwise they should perform about the same.)

(Edit: To answer your question to ComputerMan, A64s are multiplier-unlocked downward--that's how Cool 'N Quiet works.)

 

[Losty]

wow that was a quick repsonse...

I actually wanted to get 512 b/c i do not think i need more than that on my system. I have 768 right now and i'm fine with the memory amount. I did want to oc my system and have read that the memory could hold back my oc'ing results. So, yeah i wanted to get pc3700 or so for oc'ing, but if i could have better performance with 1gb of regular memory @ lower clocks speeds than i would chose that instead ... if it cost less to get a 1gb of pc3200 compared to 512 of pc3700/4000.

man i still dont' know what to get ... but computer man's pc3200 is running well over 240 ... i'll be happy hitting 240

thanks for replying

Losty

 

[imported_Computer MAn]

Oh my I have a 3:4 ratio on the ram so it is really only running at around 200mhz. Sorry for the confusion. Like ts3433 said with A64 Cool N Quiet when enabled will lower the multiplier on your processor so that it runs slower when you don''t need the speed. Like browsing these forums but speeds up when you play games. Since cool n quiet lowers multipliers A64's are unlocked downwards. This is how I got a 9 multiplier.

 

[Losty]

OK

You're running a 3:4. Lets say your memory is running 200mhz. Your FSB is still 267.
So you're still running a computer as though it was a 2.4ghz that is not oc (except the diff in fsb), is that right?

I was kind of confused about the 3:4 and 1:1 but i think i ended up reading 1:1 is better.
If i could set it to 3:4 and have it run 200mhz (which is what it's suppose to run) and have a faster cpu at the end ... i can definitely live with that.

so technically i don't need to oc' my memory to get a high oc... kinda like a memory lock like the agp/pci lock?

Correct me if i'm wrong

thanks!

-Losty

 

[imported_Computer MAn]

Yes you do not need fast memory to get a high overclock. My memory is not the greatest but it has not hurt my OC.Just set up a divider and your set.

 

[Losty]

what about the slight dely since it's not sync? I think i'm going with that corsair value select ... 1 to start with maybe get another if i feel i need it.

is that link you provided the cheapest out there? 80 seems pretty good ... although i got my lil bro one 512 pc3200 partriot for 79.99 with 20 MIR at fry's yesterday ...

Thanks guys.

-Losty

 

[Losty]

hey computer man ... what is the diff between the memory you linked for the corsair and the memory here

is it the same exact one except it's 2 sticks instead of one so it's cheaper?

Thanks

-Losty