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jaykimf
Joined: 24 Apr 2004
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 Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 10:38 am Post subject: RAM |
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I'm thinking about getting a new computer with 1 gb RAM and then adding another GB, so I was looking at tiger direct to get some ideas about prices. It seems the prices are all over the place, ranging from $68.99 for the Crucial to $174.99 for PNY. This is for 1 Gb of dual channel DDR2 PC5400. http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?CatId=2365&Nav=|c:2261|c:2263|&Sort=3&Recs=10#
What is the difference? And really, how much difference does it make, which RAM you use? What is the difference between good RAM and bad RAM and how do you tell the difference? Wouldn't it be better to get the relatively cheap RAM and use the money for a better CPU or GPU? Assuming of course that the cheap RAM is at least reliable if not the best performer. Any RAM advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. |
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Demophobe
Joined: 17 May 2004
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| Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:44 pm Post subject: |
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From another thread...
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RAM speed is and was overrated. The thing to keep in mind is you want as close to a synchronous system as you can. This means RAM that is running in spec with your FSB. An 800 spec RAM will only show a noticeable difference in the area of stability, as it pertains to you. Overclocking 667 RAM can result in system instability, and one may need to go to a higher spec to alleviate the stress on the RAM.
I bought PC4500RAM for my setup, as I knew I would be overclocking. PC4200 RAM would be too stressed and the timings would have to be too loose to achieve stability, so I went with higher spec RAM. At stock speeds, there are absolutely no gains from higher spec RAM.
Therefore, I surmise that you won't see any difference at all from putting new RAM in your current configuration. Look at the timings. Tight RAM timings come into play when doing a lot of encoding, and even then, time saving is only on the perceivable level when doing huge crunches. In the real world (gaming, surfing, Word) a 3-3-3-6 RAM won't feel much (if any) different from a 2-2-2-5 RAM. Gaming? Well, faster is better, but there is a point of no return on certain hardware. RAM is one of those.
If you start to get instability in an overclock, then upgrade. If you are doing lots of encoding, then upgrade. If you are doing lots of online comparative butt-sniffing with synthetic benchmarks, then upgrade (this is one area where RAM timings are important). If you are bored and have an excess of cash and looking for every little way to squeeze an extra cycle out of your RAM, then upgrade.
Honestly, it sounds like you want to keep your rig cutting-edge, which is understandable. However, a quick reminder that it's a costly endeavor and you will never see an end to it may be in order. However, if you must upgrade, look more at timings than speed, and if you are going to overclock and how high you think you will go, then buy accordingly. |
So, cheaper RAM isn't such a bad thing, but cheap RAM can be. If you want stable, generic RAM, get Samsung. Crucial, Mushkin, PNy...pretty good names.
What do you do with the computer? As noted in the quote, you won't notice a great difference unless you are doing a lot of rendering/encoding work for sound or video.
Do keep in mind that if you buy 1GB now and want to add more RAM later, you would be best to get the exact same kind. For all the advances in tech, mainboards are still fussy that way. Best to buy both GBs now or at least buy a fairly common RAM so you can get more of the same later.
Also, very cheap RAM is prone to errors. Shoot for the middle of the road. If 1GB is $150.00 and another is $70.00, it would be a good idea to look for $110 RAM. The most expensive RAM has you paying for the enthusiast product; every little tweak and millisecond has meaning. Paying the bottom of the barrel prices will get you poorly made RAM, errors and certainly the slowest timings.
So, look for RAM with reasonable timings, a good brand name and middle pricing. "Mainstream" consumer RAM. |
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luvnpeas
Joined: 03 Aug 2006
Location: somewhere i have never travelled
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| Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 3:26 am Post subject: Re: RAM |
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| jaykimf wrote: |
| And really, how much difference does it make, which RAM you use? What is the difference between good RAM and bad RAM and how do you tell the difference? |
No, it can make a big difference. More crashing/freezing/quitting is the main problem with bad RAM. It's a touchy job, because it is often hard to detect--something crashes twice a month instead of once a month, and maybe the cause is that widget you installed around the same time instead. But low-quality RAM is defintely a bad deal at any price. |
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Demophobe
Joined: 17 May 2004
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| Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 6:01 am Post subject: Re: RAM |
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| luvnpeas wrote: |
| jaykimf wrote: |
| And really, how much difference does it make, which RAM you use? What is the difference between good RAM and bad RAM and how do you tell the difference? |
No, it can make a big difference. More crashing/freezing/quitting is the main problem with bad RAM. It's a touchy job, because it is often hard to detect--something crashes twice a month instead of once a month, and maybe the cause is that widget you installed around the same time instead. But low-quality RAM is defintely a bad deal at any price. |
So, bad RAM is not good. Check. |
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jaykimf
Joined: 24 Apr 2004
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| Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 10:04 am Post subject: |
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OK, but then how do you tell whether a certain RAM is bad? You mentioned that Crucial is a pretty good brand, but that was the cheapest one at Tigerdirect. Of course it's possible that tigerdirect simply doesn't carry any cheap low quality RAM (at least in that category) Can you assume that because its Crucial that it is reasonably good quality?
After looking again I see that the crucial price involves a rebate that requires buying Vista. Without that rebate the price is almost the same as Corsair or OCZ ~$85-90. On the other hand, all 3 brands have another option that costs ~$25-30 more. I guess you would have to assume that the lower priced options are somewhat inferior in some way, but are they good enough or just bad?
Anyway, I don't do anything very demanding with my computer. The only game I play is Padouk and that runs fine on my 4and a half year old Pentium 4 laptop. Startup, the hard drive and DVD reader are pretty slow. Running a virus scan takes forever and puts the brakes on everything else, but overall it serves my purposes pretty well. The main justification for buying a new computer is that with a wife and 2 kids, waiting in line to use the computer is getting pretty old. As long as we're getting one, I'd like to get something that is pretty decent . I don't mind spending more for some insurance against what I might want to use it for in the future. Anyway, I'm inclined to go with the cheapest RAM that is of reasonably good quality and put the savings into a better CPU. Is the cheaper stuff from Crucial or Corsair good enough?
Thanks again, |
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Demophobe
Joined: 17 May 2004
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| Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 4:06 pm Post subject: |
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| jaykimf wrote: |
OK, but then how do you tell whether a certain RAM is bad? You mentioned that Crucial is a pretty good brand, but that was the cheapest one at Tigerdirect. Of course it's possible that tigerdirect simply doesn't carry any cheap low quality RAM (at least in that category) Can you assume that because its Crucial that it is reasonably good quality?
After looking again I see that the crucial price involves a rebate that requires buying Vista. Without that rebate the price is almost the same as Corsair or OCZ ~$85-90. On the other hand, all 3 brands have another option that costs ~$25-30 more. I guess you would have to assume that the lower priced options are somewhat inferior in some way, but are they good enough or just bad?
Anyway, I don't do anything very demanding with my computer. The only game I play is Padouk and that runs fine on my 4and a half year old Pentium 4 laptop. Startup, the hard drive and DVD reader are pretty slow. Running a virus scan takes forever and puts the brakes on everything else, but overall it serves my purposes pretty well. The main justification for buying a new computer is that with a wife and 2 kids, waiting in line to use the computer is getting pretty old. As long as we're getting one, I'd like to get something that is pretty decent . I don't mind spending more for some insurance against what I might want to use it for in the future. Anyway, I'm inclined to go with the cheapest RAM that is of reasonably good quality and put the savings into a better CPU. Is the cheaper stuff from Crucial or Corsair good enough?
Thanks again, |
I hear you on the line up for the puter. I have my system, my wife has a comp and the kids have theirs. I handed them all down to them; my wife has my last gen system and my kids have my setup from 2 cycles ago.
Anyhow, about the RAM. Could you please link the RAM you are interested in? Discussing all aspects of all RAM is just too open and I haven't the time or inclination to go past what I have posted without a direct subject.
Crucial are generally pretty good. It's like buying any brand name; you are assured a certain level of quality. However, even Crucial make some truly inferior RAM, I would suspect.
Again, please link to the RAM you are considering. What I have posted to this point is a more than adequate guide so that if you Google the RAM you are thinking about and look closely at the specs, you will see how good it is.
I think the best thing to keep in mind is that you want to buy in the middle. Don't getr the cheapest RAM, but don't get the most expensive (within the speed range you are looking for). Think mainstream...middle of the herd. |
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jaykimf
Joined: 24 Apr 2004
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Demophobe
Joined: 17 May 2004
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| Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 3:05 pm Post subject: |
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Well, they are all pretty slow timings...4-4-4-12 for the Crucial and 5-5-5-15 for the Corsair, but that's why it's cheap.
I guess I would go for the Corsair and hope the timings can be tightened up a bit.
I would personally buy RAM in Korea. GEIL or Kingmax have pretty reliable stuff. I am using Kingmax and a friend has GEIL...no problems on both counts. No need to order mediocre RAM when it's readily avaliable in Korea. |
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Wrench
Joined: 07 Apr 2005
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| Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 3:44 pm Post subject: |
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| I'd get Gskill its available here. |
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