Updating my RAM. Help & Thoughts

Joined: Jun 24, 2006 Posts: 517 Location: Holmfirth

At some point in the not to distant future I will be looking to update my RAM.

I am looking at something like:-

CORSAIR CGMT2X4G800 PC2-6400 DDR2-800 DIMM RAM Memory Module Kit - 4GB (2x 2GB)

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/corsair-cgmt2x4g800-pc2-6400-ddr2-800-dimm-ram-memory-module-kit-4gb-2x-2gb-03753549-pdt.html

KINGSTON RHD2-1066AK2/4G PC2-8500 DDR2-1066 DIMM RAM Memory Module Kit - 4GB (2x 2GB)

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/kingston-rhd2-1066ak2-4g-pc2-8500-ddr2-1066-dimm-ram-memory-module-kit-4gb-2x-2gb-03735525-pdt.html
or
Geil GX24GB8500C5UDC Ultra Plus Orange Aluminum / PC2 8500 / 4GB / 1066MHz / DDR2 / 240pin DIMM / Dual Channel Computer Memory Kit

http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/-/2159/1426/-/13608465/Geil-GX24GB8500C5UDC-Ultra-Plus-Orange-Aluminum-PC2-8500-4GB-1066MHz-DDR2-240pin-DIMM-Dual-Channel-Computer-Memory-Kit/Product.html?searchtype=genre

I am currently running Geil 6400

I do not know whether to go for the KINGSTON OR Geil(would be cheaper option,Is it better?). I was just wondering on your thoughts and help! Smile

I would also be upgrading to win 7 at some point.

Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 1:40 pm

What motherboard do you have chunky?

Joined: Jun 24, 2006 Posts: 517 Location: Holmfirth

Also looking for a new fan to support, Core 2 Duo E7500 @ 2.93 GHz and xfx radeon HD4850 1g Graphics card. Smile

I Do NOT want to go down the water cool system. ATM running a bog standard fan and a portable fan (My legs are COLD Laughing

)

Motherboard is:-

http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support/Motherboard/BIOS_Model.aspx?ProductID=2456

Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 2:49 pm

If your going to go for win 7 (x64) I would look to get 6gb of RAM in the mix. How much RAM do you have atm with the existing geil and what size sticks?

If you have 2x2gb sticks I would suggest possibly trying to get another 2gb of what you already have as I have a feeling you will not see a vast improvement by buying the slightly faster memory. Also the fastest your board can handle is DDR2 800.

As for cooling, you seriously have a portable fan?

lol!!!!

Fans come down to price I have used Akasa in the past and currently have a Coolermaster so I recommend both of these brands.

Joined: Jun 24, 2006 Posts: 517 Location: Holmfirth

I have 2x1gb sticks Geil 6400, I know that the kingston will run on my machine.

The memory kit supports DDR2 speeds of 1066MHz (PC8500), 800MHz (PC6400), 667MHz (PC5300), and 533MHz (PC4300). And with an additional 4GB of fast memory, your PC will be able to run games, creative software, advanced features, digital home, web hosting and more!

I was just wondering if the geil will.

And YES I do use a portable fan, but not as big as that. In conjuntion with a basic fan in my computer....

Joined: Jun 24, 2006 Posts: 517 Location: Holmfirth

Could I not get the
CORSAIR CGMT2X4G800 PC2-6400 DDR2-800 DIMM RAM Memory Module Kit - 4GB (2x 2GB)
and run that with the geil 6400 2x1gb sticks and make that up to 6GB?

Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 5:29 pm

First thing id think about when buying ram is speed/frequency and latencies.

RAM speed/frequency basically put; the higher the frequency the faster the ram, but always make sure your motherboard can handle the speed the modules were designed to run at.

Latency. basically put, you have two different RAM kits, both run at 1600Mhz. but their latencies are different. The kit with latencies of 7-7-7-18 will run faster than the kit at 8-8-8-24.

Voltage is also a concern as the higher the frequency, so too the voltage.

Looking at the 3 you've got your eye on, and your motherboard model, id personally buy the Corsair kit as it runs at 800Mhz, the supported frequency of your motherboard. To run the other two modules you'd have to overclock the system a little and if your were going down that route id buy the Geil modules.

Joined: Jun 24, 2006 Posts: 517 Location: Holmfirth

This is the ram I am using at the moment

http://www.memoryc.com/products/description/1Gb_GeIL_DDR2_PC2_6400_Ultra_CL4_Dual_Channel_kit/index.html

Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 6:36 pm

The problem when you start mixing ram modules of different speeds and latencies, most the time, is the higher frequency modules run at the same speed as the lower frequency to keep things in sync.

Personally, id ditch your old modules and replace them with something like this:

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/4GB-%282x2GB%29-Corsair-TwinX-DDR2-XMS2-PC2-8500-%281066%29-240-Pin-Non-ECC-Unbuffered-CAS-5-6-6-18-EPP

2 x 2GB kit with low latencies and base DDR2 voltage- would fit the bill perfect.

The cheaper option and if you wish to keep your current RAM modules id get these:

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/2GB-%282x1GB%29-Corsair-TwinX-XMS2-DDR2-PC2-6400-%28800%29-240-Pins-Non-ECC-Unbuffered-CAS-4-4-4-12

Its a 2 x 1GB kit, which means you'd have 4GB RAM in total. The latencies and voltage of this kit matches your current Geil modules, so no down clocking to get them in sync.

Its really what you can afford.

P.S. XP and Vista/Win7 32 bit operating systems can't fully use 4GB, the most they can use is 3.5GB

Joined: Jun 24, 2006 Posts: 517 Location: Holmfirth

I was looking to run win 7 in 64 bit, would the first one u put up run it, the 8500?
Or should i get 4g of the 4600? To make mine up to 6GB. Would like to go down the 8500 option.

Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 8:30 pm

Pretty much, the bigger your RAM is, the more applications you can run without having to use the page file, and that equals the system being more responsive when under heavy load, i.e. the bigger the cupboard, the more food you can store.

Faster frequency RAM means that the application/game being used will run faster than lower frequency RAM, i.e. more FPS because calculations are being sent quicker.

Id go down the 6GB option if your video/photo editing or running a dedicated server, these type of activities require alot of RAM to run effectively.

If your using the computer for day to day stuff and Gaming then the 4GB 1066Mhz (8400) would be an improvement-
I've currently got 2 x 2GB of 1600Mhz DDR3 running on Windows 7 64 bit and I hardly ever see memory usage go above 3.5GB, even when running a game :O

Joined: Jun 24, 2006 Posts: 517 Location: Holmfirth

Many thanks, will go down the 4G route, 8500 as you sugessted wicker.

The fan that I am looking at getting is

http://www.microdirect.co.uk/Home/Product/45115/Arctic-Cooling-F8-PWM-Case-Fan-700-to-2000-RPM

Yes I know it is smaller tha the one I am using at the moment(see brune pic)!! Laughing

Joined: Jun 24, 2006 Posts: 517 Location: Holmfirth

Also found these:-

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/4GB-(2x2GB)-Corsair-TwinX-XMS2-DDR2-PC2-6400-(800)-240-Pins-Non-ECC-UnbufferedCAS-5-5-5-18

http://www.microdirect.co.uk/Home/Product/21226/Corsair-memory-4GB-TwinX-XMS2-6400-DDR2-Kit--2-x

Latency 5-5-5-18

http://www.microdirect.co.uk/Home/Product/17793/Kingston-memory-4GB-Kit--2x2GB--HyperX-800MHz

Latency 5-5-5-15

http://www.microdirect.co.uk/Home/Product/17017/OCZ-RAM-Memory-4GB-Kit--2x2048--Vista-Performance

Latency 5-5-5-18

http://www.microdirect.co.uk/Home/Product/38508/OCZ-Memory-2GB-Value-Series-DDR2PC-6400-800MHz

Latency 5-6-6-18

Would have to buy 2 of the latter.

Are they all quicker or slower than the 4-4-4-12 CAS?
Now thinking of using 6400, if 8500 will not work? (see wickers post)
Mainly use computer for gaming.
Which would you recommend if you had to get one of them.

Would stick with 4Gb and ditch the ones that i am using at the moment.

Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 4:25 pm

the pc8500 will work chunk, just at the slower speed that your m/b supports (pc6400)
the corsair xms2 pc6400 is whats in rogue_jnr's pc. will do the job fine.
If you wanna o/c the motherboard a little then get the pc8500 items so you can make use of the speed. 4 gig of either will do you fine. the memory will support any operating system. the only difference is between 32 or 64 bit. each section of memory has an address, 32 bit can only address 4 gigs worth of sections. however 512mb of that will be the on board memory of your graphics card, leaving 3.5 gig foor you m/b ram. so with the 64 bit operating system your getting, it can address x amount of memory sections. far more than you'll ever need. therefore making full use of the memory your going to fit. hope that helps.

Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2010 2:35 am

might be worth seeing if these will fit
http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/partspecs.aspx?IMODULE=CT3KIT102472BB1339

bargain price, only £1755 !!! dont miss out Laughing