Wouldn't it be better to buy cheaper, faster RAM?

bo3bber

Junior Member
Oct 31, 2004
17
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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.

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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
 

Losty

Golden Member
Oct 23, 2000
1,136
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well i read in one of the post about memory choices and it stated that the lower latency memory isn't quite worth the high increase in price. The poster recommended higher latency memory that runs higher freq at stock like your curious choice.

i think it also stated something about lower latency not having that much effect on the performance of athlon chips. I maybe mistaken.

I'm in the middle of purchasing memory and I am lost. I don't know what to get .... i want to get a athlon64 2800+ and chaintech vnf250 and oc it to about 225-240, but i dont' know what memory to use.


Losty
 

imported_Computer MAn

Golden Member
Sep 30, 2004
1,190
0
76
To answer losty's question latency does not matter as much for A64's because they have the memory controller on die instead of on the northbridge like a P4. So instead of having to go through the northbrdge to get instructions the cpu has it built in.
 

Mik3y

Banned
Mar 2, 2004
7,089
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Originally posted by: Computer MAn
To answer losty's question latency does not matter as much for A64's because they have the memory controller on die instead of on the northbridge like a P4. So instead of having to go through the northbrdge to get instructions the cpu has it built in.

:thumbsup:
 

monkelyoy

Member
Jul 14, 2002
45
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I am running my Athlon 3000+ at 2430 with PC 2700 DDR RAM due to the memory divider. I would see how high you could overclock your CPU before investing significantly in new RAM.
 

bo3bber

Junior Member
Oct 31, 2004
17
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0
My apologies for not being clear enough.

I'm currently specifying parts for a new computer that I plan to build in the next month. My older computer is seriously older (3+ years, Athlon 1.0Ghz!), and thus there are no parts that are worth using in the new computer.

Since I have to buy new RAM anyway, I'm thinking that having that extra headroom will be worth the $100 price difference.

I won't be able to determine if it was worth it, until I get all the parts and try it.... So, just trying to make an educated guess as to what will work best, what provides the highest value.

For future upgrades, it might not make sense. If I need to get a new motherboard in a year because a new CPU requires it, it'll probably be DDR2, hence providing no upgrade path for RAM either. All I know from past experience is that trying to allow for an 'upgrade path' seems to be a fools errand. It always seems to require changing Mobo/CPU/RAM. It seems to be difficult to predict the future...


Would it just be a waste of $100, or is there potential for greatness there?

Thanks for the suggestions,
bo3bber