Which of these DDR2 is the better choice?

[asintu]

I need 2 sticks of 2gb DDR2 and here's my choices, all being about $100.


Corsair XMS2 (DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820145194

Patriot Extreme Performance (DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820220269

Patriot Extreme Viper (DDR2-1066, 5-5-5-15)
http://www.ncix.com/products/i...LK&manufacture=Patriot

Crucial Ballistix Tracer (DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820148076 (model is good, but 2gb instead of 4gb...couldn't find it)

OCZ Platinum (DDR2-1000, 5-5-5-18)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820227280

 

[n7]

Those are all good kits, though i'd definitely not get the Corsair at that much higher price until seeing results of it OCing.

Here's likely the best deal for higher end 2x2 GB:
G.Skill
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820231145

This Crucial is better for those looking to maintain CAS 4 to around DDR2-900+ (won't happen with all the PSC kits).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820148183

If you don't mind MIR, i've seen good results with this kit as well:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820144120

 

[asintu]

Originally posted by: n7
Those are all good kits, though i'd definitely not get the Corsair at that much higher price until seeing results of it OCing.

the corsair xms2..i can have it for 99.99 here in canada after MIR. All the ones that i listed I found them around $100..so considering price is not an issue, which would be the better performing one alongside an E8400?

 

[n7]

Boo on you for not mentioning Canada.

I'm Candian as well...here you had me picking thru newegg for you instead of NCIX's sales 😛

 

[asintu]

Originally posted by: n7
Boo on you for not mentioning Canada.

I'm Candian as well...here you had me picking thru newegg for you instead of NCIX's sales 😛

ya, ncix for me.

 

[n7]

Assuming you're OCing...9x450 would be a nice target.
That's DDR2-900 1:1
Or if you get lucky with the RAM & have a mobo that does 5:6, then that's DDR2-1080 (would be very nice 🙂)

Still like suggesting this Crucial, as it could likely do DDR2-900 4-4-4.
http://www.ncix.com/products/i...ECHNOLOGY&promoid=1078

Granted it will take some luck, but with the PSC-based (Powerchips) kits, that's very unlikely to happen.
They're great for high speeds though.

Great value here: http://www.ncix.com/products/i...87&manufacture=MUSHKIN
This should do well over DDR2-1000 @ 5-5-5, & it's nice n cheap.

G.Skill DDR2-1000 - $105
http://www.ncix.com/products/i...e=G.SKILL&promoid=1078

OCZ DDR2-1000 @ $100 AR
http://www.ncix.com/products/i...cture=OCZ%20Technology

Sorry, still won't recommend that Corsair unless you really like rebates & Corsair.
If i start seeing that it OCs well (which certainly is possible), then sure, i'll change my tune.
Till then, i'm happier to suggest kits w/o huge MIRs that i know OC well 🙂

 

[asintu]

Originally posted by: n7
Assuming you're OCing...9x450 would be a nice target.
That's DDR2-900 1:1
Or if you get lucky with the RAM & have a mobo that does 5:6, then that's DDR2-1080 (would be very nice 🙂)

Still like suggesting this Crucial, as it could likely do DDR2-900 4-4-4.
http://www.ncix.com/products/i...ECHNOLOGY&promoid=1078

Granted it will take some luck, but with the PSC-based (Powerchips) kits, that's very unlikely to happen.
They're great for high speeds though.

Great value here: http://www.ncix.com/products/i...87&manufacture=MUSHKIN
This should do well over DDR2-1000 @ 5-5-5, & it's nice n cheap.

G.Skill DDR2-1000 - $105
http://www.ncix.com/products/i...e=G.SKILL&promoid=1078

OCZ DDR2-1000 @ $100 AR
http://www.ncix.com/products/i...cture=OCZ%20Technology

Sorry, still won't recommend that Corsair unless you really like rebates & Corsair.
If i start seeing that it OCs well (which certainly is possible), then sure, i'll change my tune.
Till then, i'm happier to suggest kits w/o huge MIRs that i know OC well 🙂

thanx for the reccomendations.

What's the difference between these 2 ballistix?

regular: http://www.ncix.com/products/i...e=CRUCIAL%20TECHNOLOGY

Tracer:
http://www.ncix.com/products/i...e=CRUCIAL%20TECHNOLOGY

Which one would be better?

What's this red Tracer? Is it any different?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820148180

 

[n7]

Regular = no LEDs.
Tracer = LEDs
Red Tracer = Red w/ LEDs & newegg exclusive

IOW, there's absolutely no difference between any of them except for stupid lights & colors.

 

[asintu]

Originally posted by: n7
Regular = no LEDs.
Tracer = LEDs
Red Tracer = Red w/ LEDs & newegg exclusive

IOW, there's absolutely no difference between any of them except for stupid lights & colors.

sweet..ill probably get some ballistix then since its 4-4-4-12 and good price too.

 

[asintu]

I've read some more about different memories and it's more complicated than I thought. Are voltages of up to 1.9V a safer/more stable bet? How about timings?
Can we start from square 1? I want some 2x2gb ddr2 memory that will run very stable with e8400 and vista64. I'll be getting my stuff from ncix.com

 

[n7]

Eh?

You can safely run DDR2 usually to around 2.1-2.2V before i'd get worried about vdimm.

If the manufacturer rates the RAM for 2.1V, that's a safe vdimm for it.
Same with 1.9V, etc.

Timings?
Lower is obviously better, though the different isn't huge.

As for being stable with your system, any 2x2 GB kit should run stably, whether it's the cheapest kit or the best one.
It's just a matter of correctly setting the voltage & sometimes the ratios for it to run at.

I recommend kits that also overclock well, so if you do overclock your system, the RAM will have no trouble keeping up.