Which MB is best when 2 DIMM-slots are occupied?

[Matt]

I'v been looking around to find some good info on KT333/400 platforms regarding using several memories.
I know the inherent problems with using only 1 stick of memory on KT 400 and 2 sticks on KT333, however does anyone
have first hand experience regarding using two high quality (CAS 2 333Mhz DDR) sticks with aggressive memory timings on these
platforms? Which motherboard would be the best one to use?



/Matt

 

[Insane3D]

I know the Epox KT333 boards, the 8K5A series, have no problem at high speeds with two dimms installed. I have one here right now doing 172mhz , CL2, Turbo settings just fine.

 

[Matt]

I've been thinking about the EPOX boards. They seem to be doing fairly well. Do you have any opinion regarding the ASUS A7V8X. I've been thinking about getting a new system with the XP2400+ and prob two 512Mb sticks

/Matt

 

[CaptnKirk]

I've been running 3 sticks deep on an ABIT KX7-333, 256DDR for a total of 768. I plan to keep adding 512's up from Bank 1 up to Bank 3, and moving a 256 stick up, until I get all 4 banks populated - to see if it will run or crap out. If all 4 Banks will run, I'll pull the 256 out of Bank 4, and replace it with a 512, which will total 2048MB, or 2GB functional. I know that Abit says that the 4th Bank needs E.C.C., but it should recognize and run with the faster un-buffered PC2700 DDR RAM. It will take a while longer to find out, as I'm running a month at a time before I up the volume, so I can get the 'feel' of how is is working.

I only use Crucial or Samsung, but I'm not too thrilled with the Samsung performance, and am switching back to Crucial.

I WILL NOT buy any of the 'generic' of even the re-packaged overclocker special RAM, as it is usually Samsung Chipset on a PC Board overclocked.

 

[Matt]

I've had my eyes on a pair of 512Mb Crucial sticks, however I've been thinking of Corsair. I don't want or even expect memory to be the limiting factor in this equation.

/Matt

 

[CaptnKirk]

READ THIS and draw your own conclusions.

 

[Matt]

Hmmm... Interesting results. Do you think that they are valid considering Corsair at least from the past has a very good reputation?
Actually I'm considering buying the Samsung memory then since it has a very good price here compared to both Crucial and Corsair.
I've seen quite a few conflicting results regarding heatspreaders on memory sticks. I saw one review a few months ago (Unfortunately don't remember which site) where they tested memory with and without the heatspreaders and performance was in general better with them on.


/Matt

 

[CaptnKirk]

Corsair has a good reputation built on the fact that they try to use the best memory chipsets available at the time that they build RAM. Sometimes it's Micron and sometimes it's Samsung. Micron reserves its premium chipsets for themselves, which they sell as Crucial. Likewise Samsung reserves their best for themselves, hence TRUE Samsung.
Then the re-screens (chipsets that fall below an approximate 95% performance efficency rating) become available to their competitors.

These 2nd source manufacturers are free to overclock, or even call their finished product anything they want, as the JEDEC (The governing board that sets the standard for chipset requirements) does NOT have any documentation in place for ANY RAM above PC2700. (even though Samsung does produce their own PC3200 - again, there is no set standard)

I personally do not buy products that have synthetic ratings, as I beleive it is hype when there is NO requirement to meet.

My experience with electronics equipment leads me away from any product using a 'heatspreader' to acheive functionality, as the cost is life expectancy at elevated temperatures. These types of equipment (heatspreaders) maintain thermal stability across an area, they do not actually cool the equipmenet, as a 'coldplate' or a heatsink does.

Best bet is to just go with either the Crucial or the Samsung. Trust your gut feeling on this one.

 

[Matt]

Right, Cptn. I might just do that. Thanks for the info. ;-)

/Matt