DDR PC-3200 400mhz RAM - CL3 vs CL2

dubcat

dubcat

dubcat

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Hi - Ive got an old pc which I'm adding ram to. It's a socket 939 mobo which is about to have an amd 4200+ X2 dual core cpu fitted to it.

I need to put 2gb of RAM in to this machine (completely replacing old ram as its 200mhz). Is there a big difference between CL3, 2.5 and 2 latency memory?

I dont know if it's relevant but i'll be using the machine to play warhammer online.

Dub

p.s. wuold I be better off getting 4gb - the mobo has 4 slots but i will be replacing the whole machine in about 6 months.

p.p.s. the OS is obviously xp.

p.p.p.s. can anyone recommend any particular ram? im looking for value for money.
 
dubcat said:
p.p.p.s. can anyone recommend any particular ram? im looking for value for money.
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value has to mean second hand at that range surely? check the MM on these forums, members market, hope you meet the requirements! (will check after submitting this!)

Lower CAS means lower latency and faster, faster of course means better, but tbh marginal performance really unless you stare at benchmarks all day long
 
you need 250 posts for MM and I don't have access to it yet :(
I need 2gb ram and since my mobo requires matched pairs im really looking for 2x 1gb sticks. Not much second hand stuff of that description on that well known auction site.
So I can go for CL3? thanks for that info. I wish I could find some second hand stuff :/
 
Athlon 64's were really sensative to CAS latency (especially if not matched i had one stick running at 2.5 and one at 3 which caused my pc to fail miserably)

1gig ddr sticks are still worth a bit too (i know boo-urns its the main reason i went to ddr2 fairly recently)

Anyway its best to aim for something that can do 2 or 2.5 really as 3 is a fair bit slower (get spamming GD to get on the MM for a better range...)

(discailmer i dont encorage the practice of spamming im mearly encoraging a bit of posting on interesting conversations as a way for helping out someone)
 
thanks for the advice mate - the supply of CL2 is a bit sparse it seems. Loads of 3 out there :( I'm really starting to wish I had not won that auction for the replacement CPU and in fact i had just gone for a full upgrade instead.
 
Hehehe good on you!

what gfx card are you planning on using in it? (just occured to me to ask for warhammer online)

Ah your brave to hold out for 6 months on the upgrade i think, core2 beater will be out and it'll be worth it in the end! (i caved and got core2 from my 939 setup but i half wish i held out....)
 
pingwing said:
Hehehe good on you!

what gfx card are you planning on using in it? (just occured to me to ask for warhammer online)

Ah your brave to hold out for 6 months on the upgrade i think, core2 beater will be out and it'll be worth it in the end! (i caved and got core2 from my 939 setup but i half wish i held out....)
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Hi Ping - thanks for the encouragement :) I'm a bit confused as to what gfx card to get. I was going to try and find a cheap 8800 GT or GTX. However looking at the prices they are going for second hand on the auction site im thinking i might as well just go for the 4850 brand new from ocuk! What do you think?

On another note - my friend did some large scale rvr and he experienced lag wtih a MUCH better system than my half upgraded one. I've got this feeling im going to spend this money on a mini upgrade and end up trashing it all and starting over anyway ><
 
i'd ditch the system and get a new intel one, sell that now as you'll recover some of the cost from it

DDR1 is way too expensive to think about getting more of it.
 
I just bought 2gb of OCZ DDR PC3200 Cas 2-3-2-5 for just over £40 brand new for my work pc :) it is becoming rare so i jumped at it for that price
 
The Athlon 64's are really sensitive to CAS latency and command rate.

I used to have an amd 4400+ dual core with 2 gig of CAS 3 memory and an ATI X1900XT. It scored 14500 in 3DMark03.

I soon purchased some Corsair PC3200 RAM.. 3500LL stuff with timings of 2-3-2-6 1T.

After putting that in, my 3DMark03 score went up to 17000.. which was good at the time :p
 
i still reckon ditching it is the way forward..

i went from opteron 175 to q6600, it's laughably faster :)
 
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