I'm baffled by the RAM choices available.
Looking at just the Corsair line off NewEgg (2x512Mb):
ValueSelect PC3200 = $159
XMS PC3200 = $220
XMS PC4000 = $249
I'm looking at two basic choices:
Normal Choice (conservative overclock by 10%):
3200+ Winchester = $265
ValueSelect PC3200 = $159
Total = $424
The 3200+ CPU will very likely make it from 2.0GHz to 2.2GHz.
The ValueSelect may or may not OC from DDR400 by 10%, but probably will.
Curious Choice (conservative overclock by 22%):
3000+ Winchester = $179
XMS PC4000 RAM = $249
Total = $428
The 3000+ processor may or may not make it from 1.8GHz to 2.2Ghz, but probably will. Anand reached 2.6 Ghz with two different chips.
The PC4000 RAM will run without problem at 488 Mhz.
--------------------------------------------------------------
The same price for both, and roughly the same performance.
But, it seems to me that Curious Choice is a better long term choice.
1) I get faster RAM (DDR500), and much more potential headroom. If the CPU can go higher (end goal would be 2.6Ghz), the RAM won't be a limiting factor.
2) If I need to buy a new motherboard sooner than expected, I can very likely still use the PC4000 RAM.
3) PC4000 is roughly equivalent to expensive 2-2-2 PC3200 RAM.
4) I don't need to overclock the RAM, which should be more stable.
I read through the RAM tests on AnandTech, and see a lot of emphasis upon latencies, and not much upon using faster RAM that is essentially the same price and essentially the same performance.
Thus the eternal question, am I missing something?
Thanks,
bo3bber
---------------------------------------
New build spec (high performance and value):
ASUS A8V Deluxe 2.0
AMD Athlon 64 3000+ socket 939
1 Gig (512x2) Corsair XMS PC4000 RAM
GeForce 256Mb 6800 GT
Audigy ZS Gamer
PC Power and Cooling 425 PSU
WD Raptor 74 Gig
Samsung 172x LCD
= approximately $2200
Looking at just the Corsair line off NewEgg (2x512Mb):
ValueSelect PC3200 = $159
XMS PC3200 = $220
XMS PC4000 = $249
I'm looking at two basic choices:
Normal Choice (conservative overclock by 10%):
3200+ Winchester = $265
ValueSelect PC3200 = $159
Total = $424
The 3200+ CPU will very likely make it from 2.0GHz to 2.2GHz.
The ValueSelect may or may not OC from DDR400 by 10%, but probably will.
Curious Choice (conservative overclock by 22%):
3000+ Winchester = $179
XMS PC4000 RAM = $249
Total = $428
The 3000+ processor may or may not make it from 1.8GHz to 2.2Ghz, but probably will. Anand reached 2.6 Ghz with two different chips.
The PC4000 RAM will run without problem at 488 Mhz.
--------------------------------------------------------------
The same price for both, and roughly the same performance.
But, it seems to me that Curious Choice is a better long term choice.
1) I get faster RAM (DDR500), and much more potential headroom. If the CPU can go higher (end goal would be 2.6Ghz), the RAM won't be a limiting factor.
2) If I need to buy a new motherboard sooner than expected, I can very likely still use the PC4000 RAM.
3) PC4000 is roughly equivalent to expensive 2-2-2 PC3200 RAM.
4) I don't need to overclock the RAM, which should be more stable.
I read through the RAM tests on AnandTech, and see a lot of emphasis upon latencies, and not much upon using faster RAM that is essentially the same price and essentially the same performance.
Thus the eternal question, am I missing something?
Thanks,
bo3bber
---------------------------------------
New build spec (high performance and value):
ASUS A8V Deluxe 2.0
AMD Athlon 64 3000+ socket 939
1 Gig (512x2) Corsair XMS PC4000 RAM
GeForce 256Mb 6800 GT
Audigy ZS Gamer
PC Power and Cooling 425 PSU
WD Raptor 74 Gig
Samsung 172x LCD
= approximately $2200