What type of DDR ram is appropriate?

[davidstone28]

I'm just about to order an "EPoX EP-8RDA+ nForce2™ Socket A Mainboard" but I'm not sure what type of DDR ram to buy.

I was about to buy some Crucial DDR sticks:-

512MB CT6464Z335 DDR PC2700 • CL=2.5 • Unbuffered • Non-
parity • 6ns • 2.5V • 64Meg x 64

which seem a bargain at £89.99

but then I saw some Cosair DDR:-

Corsair Platinum Series XMS2700 333MHz CL-2 512MB DDR 'Memory with Muscle' Ultra Fast CMX512-2700C2 333MHz 2-3-3-6-T1 184-Pin DDR-SDRAM DIMM

but its really expensive at £162.14 inc.VAT


Which RAM would be the most appropriate?

 

[Marvt74]

xms memory seems to be only for hardcore overclockers

that £90 seems to be cheap it could be a misprint.
since 256mb is usually about 60-80

is this what youre getting instead of your monitor?

 

[flat-v8]

If you can afford it get PC3200, it should take you a little farther. I have Samsung 2700 and it is very good for overclocking, pretty cheap too. Running 172 FSB on a KX7333 rock solid.

 

[davidstone28]

I thought that PC3200 (or DDR400) was actually slower that PC2700 / DDR333???

Anyways, I would need to need to be running the RAM at the same bus speed as the FSB on the nforce in order to get the full benefits of this twin back thingymimig.

Maybe, I should rephrase the question.....in terms of price / performance, should I go for the Crucial DDR or the Cosair ????

I'm going to be a buying a 266FSB processor but I want to upgrade to a 333FSB processor in about 6-12 months time and possibly a 400FSB Barton type processor about 6/12 months after that.

 

[agw_01]

DDR PC2700 RAM at MicroDirect in Manchester

Click here

Hope this helps. DDR PC2100 isn't much cheaper, and PC2700 will enable you to overclock it easier if you are running on a 266mhz bus.

 

[DuronClocker]

Buy the board and buy some of the Crucial if it really is that cheap compared to the Corsair. Either get 2x256MB sticks or 2x512MB sticks because nForce2 requires two DDR sticks to use the DualDDR feature.

Then buy either an XP1600+ or an XP1700+ with an AGOIA, AGOGA, or AROIA core. Then right when you get the chip, juice up the voltage a bit (maybe 1.8v for starters), and set the FSB to 166MHz (333), and then you will have a chip at between 1.74GHz or 1.83GHz depending on which model XP you get. That way you get a cheap chip on a 333 bus

 

[Todd a]

2x256MB of the fastest you can afford. The Corsar XMS PC-3500 would be nice. Yes teh system will run slower if the bus is set at 333 and the memory is set at 400, but AnandTech managed to get some of their nForce boards 100% stable above 400Mhz bus.

I'd personnally get the XP 2400+ and unlock the last L3 bridge and lower the multiplier. Then you can raise the bus speed as high as you want. These things will do 2.3Ghz or more without much trouble and with a 333Mhz bus or higher, your performance will be stellar. These things are running about $175 (US). Slap in an ATI Radeon 9500Pro and overclock the daylights out of the system.

 

[Marvt74]

TODD A

youve probably just upped his budget about 300 pounds
lol

 

[DuronClocker]

From what I've heard, stay away from the Corsair XMS3500. The XMS3200 is good though.

I would say pick up two 256MB XMS2700 or XMS3200 sticks and clock the hell out of them.

 

[davidstone28]

Thanks for all the replies.

As much I would like to buy some high-spec RAM, the cost forces me to go with the Crucial sticks:-

2 x 256MB CT3264Z335 DDR PC2700 • CL=2.5 • Unbuffered • Non-parity • 6ns • 2.5V • 32Meg x 64 = £105.73 inc VAT
http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/lis...PoX&mfr=EPoX&cat=RAM&model=EP-8RDA+&submit=Go

Together with:-

Zalman CNPS6000CU Copper CPU Cooler £38.76 Inc Vat
Zalman VGA Heatpipe Cooler ZM80-HP £27.68 Inc Vat
EPoX EP-8RDA+ nForce2™ Socket A Mainboard £113.96 Inc Vat
AMD Athlon XP Socket A 2000+ £79.89 Inc Vat

....comes to a whopping £366



Oh well - you get what you pay for!

 

[DuronClocker]

Does that Zalman use a 92mm fan? I bought the CNPS5700Cu because it was originally advertised as an 92mm fan product, until it arrived and was only 80mm. They changed their info on their site because of me

 

[davidstone28]

I think it uses a 92mm fan (although I haven't bought it yet so I can't be sure!) but there's the info from two different stockists:-

1. Overclocking Store:-

Fan Information
Dimensions(mm): 92(L) X 92(H) X 25(W)
Rotational Speed: Silent: 1600 RPM +- 10% Normal: 2800 RPM +- 10%
Noise Level: Silent: 20.0 dBa; Normal 36.1 dBa
Bearing Type: Sleeve

2. Overclock

"Both the CPU and the motherboard chipset cooling is achieved via the 92mm fan"

Maybe its because you order the 5700 instead of the 6000?

Their website does say its a 92mm fan:-
http://www.zalman.co.kr/english/product/cnps6000alCu.htm

 

[DuronClocker]

Yeah, but on the site I ordered from both the 6000Cu and 5700Cu were supposedly 92mm. I have an RMA in to refund me for the 5700Cu because of their advertising error, but I think I'm just going to keep it for now. I'll keep it until I get my waterblock in early January, and then give the 5700Cu to my uncle probably when he gets a P4 system together (wants an upgrade from his P3-1000, ATi Rage Fury Pro)..

 

[davidstone28]

Strange!

Just out of curiosity, how did you find the Zalman? Did it perform well? Was it quiet?

 

[DuronClocker]

It does okay. I haven't checked max load temps on the new board (lower voltage to chip now), but it is fairly quiet. Comes with an adjustablt fan thingy as well. I wish it was 92mm though because I have a bunch of powerful 92mm fans... Oh well, they'll be useful on my radiator...

I'll run SETI for a while and see what kind of temps I'm getting.

 

[DuronClocker]

48*C max load on a P4 2.4GHz with 1.47v. Not all that great actually considering it is an all-copper heatsink. However, the shroud it has is useful and keeps case temps down A LOT because I have it jetting the air straight out of the back of the case. I think I may try to reverse the fans I have and actually have it suck outside air into the case over the CPU. That would raise case temps a bit though I guess..