RAM Suggestions

[g0M3z]

Hi all - I am looking at getting some new RAM as I am very sick of my current 256MB Generic DDR266. I am looking to spend ~$200 but could go slightly higher if needed. My current system specs are as follows:

- Motherboard: Abit NF7
- CPU: Barton 2500+
- HSF: Thermalright SLK-700

I am looking to upgrade to 512MB o' DDR400 or 2x256MB o' DDR400. For that price on PriceSpy I have seen GeIL DualChannel kits, TwinMOS (With Winbond Chips) DualChannel kits. And for 512 sticks, GeIL, Kingmax, TwinMOS. But...for the same price I could get a stick o' A-Data Vitesta 512MB DDR500. What should I do? Opinions and suggestions please :D.

// g0M3z

[Konev]

if you can afford it then go for the twinmos DDR400 gig kit. great deal.

[g0M3z]

A gig of RAM would be great but sadly my pocket isn't quite deep enough to afford it :(.

[Made_IN_China]

Well are you going to be overclocking it or not? Because if you are i wouldnt reccomend it for great overclockability (did i spell that right?).

[g0M3z]

Yes Made_IN_China, I do plan on overclocking :).

[Forgiven]

Then Geil is the way to go...since mushkin corsair, ocz and kingston are so expensive at the moment

[g0M3z]

[ "GeIL DDR 512Mb DUAL CHANNEL DDR KIT PC3200 512Mb DIMM 184pin DDR SDRAM DDR400 PC3200 CAS 2.5-7-4-4 2T 2x256Mb" - $207.95 ]

Sound good to you?

[dustyslapper]

Sounds fine.

If you ever think that you mught want to add more ram in the future though, I'd buy a 512mb piece. Just keeps those slots free, because 512mb is not really near enough these days. Not to mention that DC isn't the be all and end all for athlon performance as we well know.

[g0M3z]

[ "GeIL DDR 512MB VALUE EDITION PC3200
512MB DIMM 184pin DDR SDRAM, DDR400, PC3200, CAS 2.5 6-3-3 2T, ALUMINIUM PLATE" - $195.95 ]

How about that :D?

[g0M3z]

do any of you think it would be worth the $12 increase to get the DualChannel Kit?

[Forgiven]

Yes.. the dual channel kit give a better performance... you can be up to 5-10% performance using intel. Not sure about AMD.. I think it will be around 3-5%

[tanivula]

still deciding are we g0M3z :)

looking at the two GEiL products you are looking at, i would go with the value (single stick) number..

a) its cheaper..

but more importantly

b) the timings on it are tighter than the dual channel kit. (which is important for AMD systems).

also

c) it doesnt use up 2 slots. can be important if your going to be requiring more ram etc etc.

it must be noted that it is easier to overclock in single channel rather than dual channel. so yeah.

saying that. if you went with the dual channel kit (total of 512) and wanted more ram, i know its possible to get a single stick of 512 and run that in dual channel with the 2 sticks.. apparently its doable... i have seen it with my own eyes. :p well actually no, but my friend with an ePox 8rda3+ says its possible according to the manual, also considering he has done it too :rolleyes:

[g0M3z]

ok cheers for that, looks like I'll go with the single stick o' GeIL...if anyone has any further advice or comments please fire away.