high performance memory..

[CaptNKILL]

Hey, Im looking to replace some "less-than-perfect" PC-2700 with some GOOD stuff. I bough 256Mbs of Samsung PC-2700 about 7 months ago, which BTW, is the best cheapo ram ive ever used. I added another 256Mbs of GEIL PC-2700 a month and a half ago...... GAH! This stuff is NOT as good. I should have known not to go cheapo (256Mbs for $69 BEFORE the memory prices dropped... it was about $20 less than most brands), and the reviews said that it was good, but appearently the quality varies a LOT with these low cost brands.

Anyway, I was long past my warranty when I realised that my months of stability problems were most likely caused by low quality RAM(rather than cooling). Im running things fine now with ALL the memory timings set to the slowest (most stable) and the FSB set to 133 (default). Anyway, im on a tight budget, but what brand\model memory can I get that is RELIABLY fast and stable. What I mean by reliably is that Ive seen plenty of RAM that is awesome *IF* you get the MXDC12FXABC123 model, but it sucks any other time.

I dont want that.

I want a brand\model that is almost ALWAYS good, but wont cost me $60 more than other brands.
Here is what im looking for:
512Mb stick of PC-2700- or faster depending on the price)
Good overclockability\timings- I want Ultra setting, Cas 2, 1t... and still have at least SOME overclocking head room (I want to take a stab at serious overclocking with my next CPU upgrade.... ive never had good enough RAM to do it)
Under $120 (USD)

At newegg.com there is some Corsair XMS memory that fits into the above, and costs $120. Im looking for something cheaper with similar capabilities. $120 is freaking expensive considering how a single stick of a "decent" generic brand costs a little over HALF that price.

Thanks for the help ahead of time guys. If you need more info just ask :)

[CaptNKILL]

Doh... my specs arent in my sig...
Here:
Gigabyte GA-7VRX (KT333)
Athlon XP 1800+ (palamino)
512Mbs PC-2700 (duh :)
EVGA Geforce 4 Ti 4400 (overclocked... a lot :)
Turtle Beach Santa Cruz
Windows 98SE
DirectX 9.0

[CaptNKILL]

(specs should be in sig now)

One more thing, Im also looking for a good cooling\modding store online. I really REALLY want to get some more fans (and one of those big dual exhaust fans for a 5.25" bay) but everywhere I go the damn things are so expensive to ship!

3dcool.com has some really nice equipment but it costs almost $10 shipping for a 5.25" bay cooler... and the cooler only costs $13! $23 isnt too bad, but still, its a fan. Not a case or a monitor. I feel like im getting ripped off paying that much for shipping (especially when the item itself isnt anything expensive\big). Also, 80mm fans from there are $7! Plus shipping!

If anyone knows of a good place to get sweet cooling\modding equipment, id be VERY greatfull.

[jAkUp]

i would suggest corsair memory... i have 2 sticks, and i think they are great... kinda expensive, but you get what you pay for... they even come with heat spreaders :) as for fans and stuff... they sell basic fans and stuff at newegg... for more advanced stuff, maybe you can try www.frozencpu.com

[CaptNKILL]

hey thanks for the input guys. I just checked FrozenCPU and they seem to have a lot of cool stuff, but the prices are a lot higher than the other places ive been. I wish newegg had one of those huge bay coolers, Ive looked there a million times and they never have one.
Thats the only time newegg has ever let me down in 4 years, they dont have that big beasty bay cooler :(

Since Corsair XMS memory seems to be the best, how is NORMAL Corsair 2700? Newegg has 512 of that for a LOT cheaper. I know its not supposed to be really high-end like XMS, but is it still really good? Or is it hit and miss like every OTHER kind of ram (not including XMS). Reviewers at newegg seem to give normal Corsair mem mixed reviews, some saying it doesnt OC at all, some saying its amazing....

I wish the best didnt cost so much :)

[jAkUp]

have you tried www.googlegear.com they usually have pretty good prices on things...

[CaptNKILL]

Ive shopped at Googlegear before. Not a bad store. They have low prices, but I think their shipping is steap to make up for it.

They have almost the same prices on memory and almost the same fans\cooling as newegg. :\

And how about that "normal" Corsair memory?

[Smokey]

If you want the tight timings like you said, then the expensive stuff is the only stuff you can get :p

Corsair XMS or OCZ EL , either pc3200 or pc3500 CL 2-2-2 timings.

OCZ should be cheaper than Corsair!

http://www.ocztechnology.com/images/PC3200Copper-s.jpg

OCZ Tech (http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/memory.php)

[de><ta]

I would suggest 3500's, i have two sticks of that
and they are the best. I have used them only twice, once i my friend monster rig and the other time on one of my old computers. They improve performance a lot!!! I cant exactly describe in technical terms but on ut2k3 my friend fps (he has a 9700 and 2gh) was averaging 70 (full setup) with the two 3500 his system was running ut2k3 at 88 fps.

They cost a fair bit, but they are worth it in the long run. I got mine from newegg, i should have got them from ebay, they seem to be cheaper there.

[CaptNKILL]

wow, that OCZ memory is a lot more expensive than Corsair XMS :\

Harder to find too.

Anyone have any input on the "normal" 2700 from Corsair? Im really interested in that because of the price.

EDIT: Wait, forget that. I just checked newegg and the OCZ ISNT as expensive there. And the Corsiar non-xms memory is still $111. So.... $122 for XMS isnt much different, I must have looked at Crucial memory and got the two confused (the names are similar).

So, it looks like I get my same old cheapo RAM or I spend $120..... I think I'll skip the mem upgrade for now. I need my cash for a vid\cpu upgrade this summer (I want to get the most out of Deus Ex: Invisible War!!!!!!)

Thanks for the help guys.

[Shinri Hikari]

I tried the cheap 3500 samsung and it never got past my burn-in test, piece of junk. Point being that the cheap stuff does not last.:mad:

[kyleb]

i figure i should stick up for geil. i heard good things about them and got some of the 400mhz stuff recently which i have had running 430mhz cas2 just fine although i don't recall all the settings off hand. however, i run it constantly at 408mhz 2:2:6t sence i don't have my spaceheater (palomino:D ) unlocked at the moment and it gets a bit hot in my little minitower.

i understand your current situation casts a bad light on geil, i just wanted to point out my experiance to the contrary. also, did you bother to check stablity with just the geil stick? i had a similar issue with some xms when i added a stick of crucial, both worked fine at the beter timeings seprately but when paired toghter things went down hill.:mad:

[NickSpolec]

Dude, OCZ rocks.

I have a 512mb stick of OCZ 2700 Ultra Rev 3.2.

I have it running at 187mhz (DDR374) FSB, at Cas 2, 2, 5, 2, 1T.

[R.Carter]

Yup. Bad or flaky memory can cause all kinds of problems and its usually the last thing people test.

You can use free memory testing programs like Memtest86 (http://www.memtest86.com) to check your memory if you are seeing stability problems.

Anyways, I'd imagine the regular Corsair memory should be okay. It's just not as fast as the XMS stuff.

Mushkin (http://www.mushkin.com), OCZ (http://www.ocztechnology.com/), Corsair (http://www.corsairmemory.com) and Crucial (http://www.crucial.com/) tend to be pretty good and reliable memory suppliers.

They might not be the cheapest but as you've found out you usually get what you pay for.

But when overclocking you always risk running into problems. After all, the memory only has to meet its rated speed.

[Riptide]

A couple things to add to this... Corsair recently revised their XMS line.

I bought three sticks of this about three months back. It was $165 + .50 shipping. It is now much cheaper.
http://www.googlegear.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=80060

Below is the new stuff. Came out about two months ago and has tighter timings (but you'll pay for it ofcourse).
http://www.googlegear.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=80060-12

BTW, memtest works GREAT. I have discovered a compatibility issue with it, however. Shouldn't affect the masses though. When run on my Compaq Proliant 800 dual PIII server it causes the system to reboot. It apparently doesn't like the PC133 ECC memory that comes with those servers.

[CaptNKILL]

Hey, I just found this:
http://www.excaliberpc.com/default.php?cPath=163_165

How is Kingston HyperX memory? Preferebly the PC-3000 (because its such a great price). I just ordered myself a 1700+ JIUHB (302) from there. It seems to be a great store. I would deffinitly buy that RAM there if its decent. I dont expect XMS quality for that price, but it deffinitly looks yummy (I like the name :).

If anyone has used this or knows anything about it (a link maybe?) that'd be great. RAM isnt my top priority right now, but it would deffinitly help out with the OCing.

Oh yeah, when OCing the FSB, which is more likely to OC better:
2x 256Mbs
or
1x 512Mbs
I would rather have the 512 because if (hehe) I ever got an nForce, I could get ANOTHER 512 so I would have a gig of RAM -AND- the dual channel thing. But right now, 256 would be fine.... in fact, I could just get one 256 to replace this "less-than-perfect" GEIL ram. I could put the GIEL in another comp (along with my current 1800+).