Finally narrowed my choice but still need help!

hysandrew · 30 Jun 2008 at 22:42

Hi everyone.
First just to let you all know that I am a virgin at this so please bear with me!
Secondly thanks to everyone who has already posted questions and replies on here you have been a great help in getting me to upgrade my system.
Ok here we go!!
I've just purchased a Giga-byte GA-EP35-DS3R motherboard and an Intel E8400 CPU along with an Artic Freezer 7 Pro cooler. This is all going to sit in my Thermaltake Soprano Tower and powered with a Jeantech Storm 700w PSU. The graphics card is an older Connect 3D Radeon X700 and viewed through a Samsung Syncmaster 2232BW!!!!!!!!!!!!
My query, sorry that should be dilema is this. Which memory is best????
After scouring your sites for suggestions I finally narrowed it to a 2X2Gb kit, but which ones I am not sure and hopefully someone can try and help me out.
I've narrowed it down to the following kits (all are DDR2 800 PC2-6400):-
Geil Black Dragon or
Patriot Viper or
Patriot Extreme or
OCZ Reaper or
OCZ Gold!!!

Decisions, decisions, decisions!!!!!! :confused:

I am using just the normal 32 bit XP Pro, and mostly (about 75%) use the PC for rendering videos via Sony Vegas Pro 8 and for photo enhancement via Paint Shop Pro, so stabilty is a must!

Is any of these memory cards suitable for my needs and mostly will it be compatible with the motherboard? Or can you suggest any other different kits.

Sorry to rant on but thanks to everyone in advance to take the time and effort to help me out, it is greatly appreciated

Cob · 30 Jun 2008 at 23:05

All those kits should be fine.

But will you be overclocking? If not then any will do. If you are then you'll want to to be looking at a CAS 4 PC2-6400 kit at the very least.

hysandrew · 1 Jul 2008 at 20:16

Thanks Cob. Overclocking isn't of great importance (yet)! It's just reliability is the main thing at this moment in time as Vegas takes a lot of memory to render (plus time). Do you or anyone else have any personal preference out of my original choice or can you suggest any others for me to consider?
Many thanks

Cob · 1 Jul 2008 at 20:35

You may as well go for the OCZ Vista Gold if not overclocking.

Ferax · 7 Jul 2008 at 14:42

Hi all, long time lurker (>3 years :eek:

), 1st time poster, so thanks for all the info I've picked up over the last couple of builds!

Similar position to the OP here, but planning on taking the e8400 to 4GHz if possible (on an Asus P5Q board). Was looking at the G.Skill 4GB DDR2 PK PC2-8500C5 (even more tempting as on offer atm and have seen some people having problems with OCZ RAM on asus boards), but wanted to ask if you thought it was worth the extra money or just grab the pc2-6400 and clock it? Also, how much difference does CAS4 over CAS5 make?

Many thanks!

Cob · 7 Jul 2008 at 15:00

Well the E8400 has a x9 multi, so you'll need the memory to do atleast 900mhz. Virtually all CAS4 PC2-6400 will do that, so no real need to go for PC2-8500.

Thus usually I would recommend the G.Skill PK PC2-6400 kit, but the PC2-8500 version is a very good price atm (well til Wednesday lunchtime or so).