Another "What RAM" thread (hopefully simple question)

Munky1080 · 9 Nov 2007 at 12:37

Basically I have the rig in my sig, and I can get to 305Mhz FSB. I'm currently using pc3200 DDR1 at 190Mhz (as it runs on a divider.) What speed ram should I be buying if I want the ram to run in a 1:1 ratio with the FSB. I want DDR2, with the ability to upgrade motherboard, GPU and CPU to a quad core early next year.

Will_3rd · 9 Nov 2007 at 12:41

The Geil 2GB stuff is very cheap at the moment, obvious choice.

simonnance · 9 Nov 2007 at 12:51

last i checked, the Asrock 4CoreDUAL-VSTA doesnt OC that well with DDR2. It also doesnt give enough voltage for most "enthusiast" RAM.

TBH I'd change your GFX first, then go for RAM/Mobo, you'll get a better performance boost with the improved graphics (1GB ram isnt THAT bad really) and wont risk your CPU overclock.

Munky1080 · 9 Nov 2007 at 15:46

My board seems better than most, as I can get 305FSB. I'm hoping to be able to keep the FSB at 285-290Mhz after the clock. so after I get the new RAM I need it to run at 570-580Mhz, (isn't RAM speed "doubled" because of being dual-channel?) That GEIL looks well good; as it's 800Mhz, does that mean it'll work up to a FSB of 400? If so, i've just found myself a little early christmas present!

Cob · 9 Nov 2007 at 17:21

Yip it'll work at upto and a bit above a 400mhz FSB. Tho I'm not sure if the motherboard can run it that high.

simonnance · 9 Nov 2007 at 17:30

Munky1080 said:
My board seems better than most, as I can get 305FSB. I'm hoping to be able to keep the FSB at 285-290Mhz after the clock.

The problem is, I got 305FSB with my E6400+Geil Value DDR1, and then couldnt clock to save my life with my Crucial DDR2 CAS3 kit. It just didnt like it.

A large component of that is that the low/medium/high voltages on the board correspond to something like 1.8/1.9/2.0 volts or something like that, so if you have ram that needs more voltage than that to stay stable then you have a problem.

I had problems running 5-5-5-15 @ 266Mhz on 2.0V, but when i changed my mobo i had no prob at all...... That was an older Dual-VSTA.

"your mileage may vary" is all i'll say. Some people have no doubt had luck clocking that board with DDR2, but most people seem to get a lot higher with DDR1.

Personaly, i'd upgrade the GFX first........

Munky1080 · 9 Nov 2007 at 18:12

The problem is, I don't have that much £ to burn. GPU's are more expensive than the RAM

Cob · 9 Nov 2007 at 18:21

The X1950 Pro is still pretty decent.

2gb of memory will be a good upgrade.

Munky1080 · 9 Nov 2007 at 23:57

simonnance said:
A large component of that is that the low/medium/high voltages on the board correspond to something like 1.8/1.9/2.0 volts or something like that, so if you have ram that needs more voltage than that to stay stable then you have a problem.

So if I got RAM that requires lower voltages, I should be ok then? I'm looking at the GEIL CAS5 now, as it's about the same price, but the CAS4 says it needs 1.9-2.3v, wheras the CAS5 says it needs 1.8-1.9v.