Opinions on RAM

[DT2]

I've been looking for some OCZ RAM to upgrade my system from 4Gb to 8Gb.
Problem is I can't find any of the stuff I need, so I kinda settled on putting 8Gb of new stuff in. Trouble is, what to buy?
I've narrowed it down to either Corsair xms3 1600mhz, cas 9-9-9 or G.Skill Ripjaw 1333mhz, cas 8-8-8.
Do any of you use either of these, and if so what do you think of them?
I'm looking to chuck this in with a phenom 2 x6 1090T cpu.


DT

[JoeBloggs]

I'm presuming DDR3? Tri Channel?

Also what budget?

[DT2]

Sorry - yes DDR3 Dual channel. My m4a89gtd pro doesn't support tri-channel.
budget not important, but would like to not spend like its going out of fashion.

DT

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1506510695...84.m1423.l2649

or

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...odid=MY-050-GS

or

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...=8&subcat=1517

[JoeBloggs]

Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-15000C9 1866MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMZ8GX3M2A1866C9) [CMZ8GX3M2A1866C9] seems really reasonable

edit: if your in Leeds you could drive here get it £5 cheaper. http://www.cclonline.com/product/625...-Red-/RAM0342/

[SYNACK]

Looks like the CPU's integrated memory controller only supprts up to 1333mhz anyway so the speed would be down to the CAS however the differences there are not that great unless your really after every tinly little bit of performance. I have used Corsair stuff lots and never had any real hassle with it but have never used G.Skill so know nothing about it directly.

[JoeBloggs]

DT2 - are you wanting to just buy an additional 4GB of RAM? Or buy 8GB?

If you are adding additional, it's best practice to use the exact same RAM, or at least speed, timings etc

[DT2]

Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-15000C9 1866MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMZ8GX3M2A1866C9) [CMZ8GX3M2A1866C9] seems really reasonable

edit: if your in Leeds you could drive here get it £5 cheaper. Corsair Vengeance 8GB Memory Kit (2x4GB) PC3-15000 1866MHz DDR3 DIMM (Red) - CMZ8GX3M2A1866C9R - CCL Computers

I'm trying to stick with whatever's on the M/B's Qualified Vendor List, as in the past it's been flaky when I've strayed away from this compatibility list...
I need (or would like) this: F3-12800CL7D-4GBRH(XMP) (G.Skill) if you can get it....

I would like additional - but I have OCZ 3x16004gk - and it's like hens teeth.
otherwise i'll be replacing it

[SYNACK]

DT2 - are you wanting to just buy an additional 4GB of RAM? Or buy 8GB?

If you are adding additional, it's best practice to use the exact same RAM, or at least speed, timings etc

Best practice but not nessisary, RAM will quite happily step down to the speed of the slowest chip and usually you'll get more benifit from having an extra 4GB of RAM on top of your 8GB than a slight clock step down, Just keep it in sets of two so it can run in dual channel and you'll be fine. By the sounds of it there is already 1600mhz stuff in it so speed is not an issue and is stepped down for the CPU anyway.

If it is unstable upgrade the BIOS this solves enumerable issues with RAM caused in general by older or rushed out BIOS code.

[DT2]

So, I checked out some CPU/memory tests: Best DDR3 SDRAM for AMD Phenom II X6. Page 2 - X-bit labsBest DDR3 SDRAM for AMD Phenom II X6. Page 2 - X-bit labs and think I'd be better going for the 1600mhz xms3 - even with latency of 9-9-9-27 its faster than 1333mhz running 7-7-7-21.

DT

[Dos_Box]

I've narrowed it down to either Corsair xms3 1600mhz, cas 9-9-9 or G.Skill Ripjaw 1333mhz, cas 8-8-8.

I think I'm getting old. Anyone here remeber when you just asked for plain ond RAM, as in 'I'd like 3 sticks of DDRII 400 please stout yeoman of the computer shop', 'Type? Erm, black with the green PCB please'.?
To me shopping for RAM is like shopping for baked beans. You don't buy the cheapest, but there is no way I'm justifying 75p a tin!

[DT2]

I think I'm getting old. Anyone here remeber when you just asked for plain ond RAM, as in 'I'd like 3 sticks of DDRII 400 please stout yeoman of the computer shop', 'Type? Erm, black with the green PCB please'.?
To me shopping for RAM is like shopping for baked beans. You don't buy the cheapest, but there is no way I'm justifying 75p a tin!

Hell yeah, I remember speccing up a new system with an Athlon XP 1800 and DDR2 333 (pc2700) - and that was the dogs danglies at the time....
Hell I even remember getting an intel x286 with windows 3.11 for xmas...... then later upgrading to a x486 DX with win95!!

Jeez, I'm really not as old as you would think....

DT

[SYNACK]

So, I checked out some CPU/memory tests: Best DDR3 SDRAM for AMD Phenom II X6. Page 2 - X-bit labsBest DDR3 SDRAM for AMD Phenom II X6. Page 2 - X-bit labs and think I'd be better going for the 1600mhz xms3 - even with latency of 9-9-9-27 its faster than 1333mhz running 7-7-7-21.

DT

If your CPU only supports up to 1333 then that is a pointless metric to belooking at. Are you overclocking it to actually get 1600mhz out of it or something?

As it steps down fine I'm not saying don't get the 1600mhz, just that it may not do you any good speed wise over 1333

[DT2]

I'm going to be doing a certain amount of fiddling - and teaming whatever memory with the 1090T Black edition.
The CPU will support 1600Mhz overclocked, so I expect to be doing a bit of buggery pokery with the northbridge settings to get the best out of the memory. I'm not really looking at squeezing a miserly 5% out of the cpu, just optimizing the memory usage.
I'm still not decided on what RAM to go for though, JoeBloggs - do you stock this: eBay - The UK's Online Marketplace?

Damn, if only there was less choice!!!! It Might not be so difficult!

DT

[DT2]

Winner: Corsair XMS3 1600Mhz

At this price I really can't argue - It's cheaper than a lot of the 1333Mhz stuff I've been eyeing up.
CCL can you beat this for me?

DT

[Arthur]

Winner: Corsair XMS3 1600Mhz

You can get 2x4GB for £35.93 on Amazon's website.