Ram decisions

[gwhea38411]

As you can see by my specs, I owe 14u2c as well as other forum members a thanks. I'm now moving on to the ram. Based on the specs, are there any suggestions one would make. I'm also looking for an explanation of the differences in ram.

[Capper]

You have actually put together a very nice little system!
A lot of people are really pushing the 2GB memory kits....we have reviewed several right here. With that processor, you'll probably end up on a divider if you go 2GB..... the Corsair 4000PT, the Mushkin PC4000, and the OCZ PC3200 EL Platinum are very good kits..... as is the Corsair 3500LLPRO. We have reviews of all of them up on the site. I'm also currently working on a review of a G.Skill kit that is O/Cing very well
I really recommend 2GB because it is more cost effective, and you are set for a year regardless of games or apps.

[gwhea38411]

Excuse my ignorance, but does a kit mean dual 1gb modules? Whats the difference between pc3200 and pc4000? And what is a divider?

[Capper]

LOL....you aren't ignorant!!!! Everyone starts somewhere, and you just picked the right place.
A kit usually means a matched pair of memory modules.......when someone says a 2GB kit, they mean 2 1GB sticks, a 1GB kit is two 512MB modules.
PC3200 is DDR400 memory...basically your baseline kit.
PC4000 is DDR500, or a good overclocking kit
PC3200...........DDR400
PC3500...........DDR433
PC3700...........DDR466
PC4000...........DDR500
PC4800...........DDR600

Basically your CPU FSB/HTT ratio dictates your clock speed. If your CPU FSB is set to 200, your memory is running DDR400......if your FSB is set to 250, your memory is running DDR500.....(if your memory divider is set to 1:1, wait and we'll get to that)

Since not all memory is created equally, it is rated to a speed, like those listed above. When your memory runs either at a higher frequency or a lower frequency then your processor, you can use a divider to get the best performance.
For example, You have an Opteron 165 (I use one for all my memory testing). I can run it at 300FSB without problems...the issue is not many kits can run that (300FSB x2 = DDR600), so I use a divider to get the most out of the system (Because, in all honestly.....good old CPU power means more than anything else). So, lets say you have a PC3200 kit, you can set the memory divider to DDR133, 140, or whatever you need to get the most out of your processor, while also having 100% stability from your memory.
Keep in mind that you can get a decent overclock out of most any enthusiast memory kit, so even if it is rated only to PC3200, you can usually relax the timings and use less of a divider for your memory.
In your case, I'd probably recommend the Mushkin 2GB PC4000 kit...... its inexpensive, overclocks well, and you might be able to run it at a 1:1 divider up to 260-270.....which is pretty good.
Please don't ever feel like any question is stupid, we are here to help you and will answer any question we can.

[gwhea38411]

BTY, tried posting last night after you did but had trouble logging in. Let me digest that for a day or two. Is the memory divider found in the BIOS and how is it used? Since I plan to overclock, reading your post, sounds as though the pc4000 would be the way to go? If I chose the pc4000/DDR500, does that mean I can only OC the FSB to 250mhz?

[gvblake22]

Originally Posted by Capper

Please don't ever feel like any question is stupid, we are here to help you and will answer any question we can.

Indeed! :)

Very well written Capper, lots of good info there.
I would also recommend looking into the G.Skill kit. I've heard good things about that memory. Judging by the system you already have, you are looking for something pretty close to the best of the best, and you probably want it to be a top performer for some time to come. If this is the case, then 2GB of system memory would be the way to go. If however you are looking to save as much money as possible while still keeping a high performance rig and/or have no problem with doing an upgrade in the future, then a 1GB kit would probably be fine. You will usually find more 1GB memory kits with tighter timings than you will 2GB. The 1GB kits can sometimes can overclock better than the 2GB kits too, just because there is less density.
If it makes any difference, X-bit labs did a nice Roundup of 2GB DDR SDRAM Memory Kits for Overclockers that might be worth a look. But just as Capper discovered and mentioned, they also gave the OCZ PC4000 EB Dual Channel Platinum Edition their top choice and also noted that the Corsair TWINX2048-3500LLPRO kit was very good too. Looks like you wouldn't go wrong with either of those kits. If you are looking to overclock the crap out of your 2GB memory kit, it looks like getting something rated at DDR500 would be the way to go.

[Capper]

Originally Posted by gwhea38411

BTY, tried posting last night after you did but had trouble logging in. Let me digest that for a day or two. Is the memory divider found in the BIOS and how is it used? Since I plan to overclock, reading your post, sounds as though the pc4000 would be the way to go? If I chose the pc4000/DDR500, does that mean I can only OC the FSB to 250mhz?

No, it just means that its rated to DDR500.... most of the time it will scale well past that.
It depends on the board as to where in the BIOS the memory divider is...once you get yours, we'll go through all the BIOS settings and help you get set up

[gwhea38411]

Looking at the specs for my Asus A8N32-SLI, I see the standard is DDR400 (PC3200). Why Would I want to go with the PC4000?

[killswitch83]

because you can OC your processor and get DDR500 in the process. Note that just because a mobo says it's rated at DDR400 doesn't necessarily mean that's all it can handle. Case in point: my DFI NF4 Ultra Infinity. I understand from a fairly reliable source (wink, wink) that it can break the 300 FSB mark with the right memory. That said, the A8N32-SLI is a good overclocker from what I understand, and considering you have an Opty of all processors, I believe you'll be able to get a great OC on your processor and get DDR500 (maybe more), and that's without a memory divider! btw, listen to Blake when he says he recommends the G-Skill kit, as they've been known to put some really good memory chips in their kits (some of them even had what I considered a legendary memory chip, lol: Winbond BH-5, chips that looooove voltage and get great timings). Of course, you'll more than likely find Samsung TCCD chips in some G-Skill models now, which is also a very good chip type that doesn't need much of a voltage bump to get tight timings. Also to be mentioned is that the G-Skill RAM will save you around 30 bucks (around $197 for the G-Skill RAM vs $227 for the OCZ RAM). Good value and timings is what should be desired, but once again, as I've said before, if money is no object, then by all means go with the XTC PC-4000, but for the value, the G-Skill PC-4000 is great RAM. :D

note: prices are without rebates, but the savings are still substantiated

[Tyreal]

Darn it! You beat me to it.