Best overclocking memory under $150

[Yellowhello]

I need some 800MHz 2 x 1GB ram for under 150 dollars. i have these in mind:

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory

I reason is that I have a feeling that my ram is holding back my CPU overclocking potential.

[Capper]

Crucial memory almost always overclocks extremely well, I have a couple of their kits here around the testbench, as does One4 and I think i speak for both of us when I say you can't go wrong with their stuff.

On a side note, you may want to look at this OCZ kit, which is also very inexpensive and overclocks extremely well.

OCZ Platinum Revision 2 DDR2 800 Memory Kit Review

[Yellowhello]

Does the OCZ kit have Micron D9 ICs? I've been told that those ICs are the best for overclocking. I know that that both the G.Skill kit and the Crucial kit both have D9 ICs.

OK, so I just read here that a really overclockable IC is made by Elpida. any mem with Elpida ICs?

[Capper]

We really try to dissuade people from IC hunting, companies change ICs often, mainly because prices change and they are always looking for the best pricees.....

Typically, I'd recommend looking at a specific brand and model.

[gvblake22]

Both of those kits you first linked to are great options and I would recommend them any day. And as Capper said, companies are always chaning the IC's used on certain memory kits to fit supply and demand, so it often self defeating to try and pick a memory kit based on what you might get under the heatspreader. That said, The Micron D9 based IC's have been the ones that most people are all about. They seem to be very versatile and will overclock very high with increased voltage (but with increased voltage comes shorter lifespan). Crucial is part of Micron, so it is very likely that you will get Micron based IC's on the Crucial memory. You are also just as likely to get the good Micron D9 chips on the high-end Ballistix memory. But that particular DDR2-800 G-Skill kit has always been said to feature Micron D9 based IC's too, so either is a great choice.

[werty316]

I would go for the Crucial kit since it uses the D9 chip and the G.Skill does not.