SORRY " Spectek DDR400 memory "

[oymd]

Sorry to post this here, but it seems no one is reading the memory forum...

Is Spectek good ram, I heard they are Micron, I know they are not Kingston of Crucial, but I can get them for a real good price. I am looking at the 256 MB DDR400 modules?

And since I WILL NOT OVERCLOCK anything, will it really differ from Kingston VALUE RAM KITS?

How's their quality control??

http://www.spectek.com/default.asp

Thanks

 

[ChipDeath]

If you're not overclocking, and not expecting 2 modules to work in dual channel mode (in a motherboard that supports it), then you shouldn't have any problems. If the RAM won't run at the rated speed (200Mhz / 400DDR in this case) then it's defective and you should send it back.

You only really need high quality expensive modules for overclocking or for reliable dual channel operation.

What motherboard are you planning to use them in?

---
Epox 8RDA+ rev1.1 w/ Custom NB HS
XP1700+ @205x11 (~2.26Ghz), 1.575Vcore
2x256Mb Corsair PC3200LL 2-2-2-4
Sapphire 9800Pro 420/744

 

[oymd]

I bought this Canterwood board...Its a GIGABYTE 875P...GA-8IK1100(Rev 2.0)

http://tw.giga-byte.com/MotherBoard/Products/Products_Spec_GA-8IK1100 (Rev 2.0).htm

and yeah....I intend on running dual channel DDR400.

 

[ChipDeath]

They might work. But dual channel's quite stressful on the RAM. If it's a certified 'dual channel' kit, then it should work, but otherwise it could be risky.

Might get away with slightly relaxed timings or something.

---
Epox 8RDA+ rev1.1 w/ Custom NB HS
XP1700+ @205x11 (~2.26Ghz), 1.575Vcore
2x256Mb Corsair PC3200LL 2-2-2-4
Sapphire 9800Pro 420/744

 

[oymd]

Well...I bought two sticks of Spectek memoery...2x256MB DDR400.....and just for the sake of testing them...cuz my power supply and case has not arrived yet...I went over to a friend who has a similar setup...
A canterwood gigabyte GA-8NXP board but he has KINGSTON VALUE RAM KIT instead....also 2x256

We took the 2 sticks of kingston out...and put the spectek in....

the rig posted properly...but when trying to get into windows it ALWAYS RESTARTS.....

So i ran MEMTEST68 off a bootable CD....it showed like a GAZILLION errors...

When i run each spectek stick ALONE...everything is fine..and MEMTEST68 finds no errors....even when i run BOTH sticks...but in channels 1&2...no errors..and boot up is ok....

THEY ONLY REFUSE TO RUN IN DUAL CHANNEL MODE??????

SHOULD I RETURN THEM??

I am sure there is something i am missing...since Spectek is a division of MICRON..i doubt the ram is shitty...just not overclockable....so what is wrong with DUAL CHANNEL??

"Might get away with slightly relaxed timings or something"
What do u mean by relaxing timings?

 

[jammydodger]

If it works in single channel mode at its rated speed, and is not certified to run in dual channel mode then what grounds would you have to return it? They will just send you the same RAM back.

You were told that dual channel mode stresses RAM and only good quality RAM can run in reliably.

<font color=blue>P4c 2.6@3.25
512Mb PC4000
2x120Gb 7200.7 in RAID0
Waterchill KT12-L30
Abit AI7
Radeon 9800Pro
</font color=blue>

 

[ChipDeath]

SHOULD I RETURN THEM??

unless they were specifically sold to you as dual channel kit, then you can't really.

You can try a couple of things which <i>might</i> help:
<b>1)Relax memory timings</b>
In your BIOS, there are settings for the memory called stuff like CAS, RAS, TRAS, and something else I can't remember atm. basically lower timings=more performance, higher timings = more stability.

set CAS to 3, and the others to something fairly high 4-4-8 maybe?

<b>2)Increase VMEM.</b>
Overclockers frequently have to provide more voltage to parts to make them stable at higher speed. although you're not actually running the RAM faster than it's rated for, you might still find a little extra voltage will help your RAM be stable.

<font color=blue>The problem with increasing Voltage to any component is that it will <i>always</i> result in increased heat output, and a greater chance of frying it. it would also void the warranty if you ran it overvolted (although there is no way they could really prove that you did)</font color=blue> I just thought I'd cover my own a$$ there . That said, most RAM runs by default at 2.5 or 2.6V (IIRC), and you could maybe try up to 2.7V-2.8V without much risk. Options for changing Memory voltage are also in the BIOS.

I suspect you'll not have any joy with those sticks in dual channel, even if you do try what I said above - the most sensible thing to do is either run in single channel mode (no biggie - 5-10% performance decrease depending on the app - I use a single-channel P4 2.8C system at work and it's very quick still), or pay the extra for some certified dual channel stuff.

---
Epox 8RDA+ V1.1 w/ Custom NB HS
Summer's here! so ease off the overclock...
XP1700+ @166x12 (~2Ghz), 1.475 Vcore
2x256Mb Corsair PC3200LL 2-2-2-4
Sapphire 9800Pro 400/730

 

[oymd]

Thanks guys for all your replies...

They were not bought ONLINE...but at my local supplier...and the guy told me they can run at DUAL Channel...well...I went back to him...gave them back...and bought a KINGSTON VALUE RAM KIT...its CL3...2x256MB....guess these will work...

Is this KIT overclockable at all??

My rig:
P4 3.0GHZ on a Gigabyte 875P/ GA-8IK1100

Can i get like 3.2~3.4GHZ on air with this value ram??

Thanks

 

[jammydodger]

If its value RAM at CL3 then it prob wont overclock for [-peep-], no harm in trying I suppose just do it a bit at a time.

<font color=blue>P4c 2.6@3.25
512Mb PC4000
2x120Gb 7200.7 in RAID0
Waterchill KT12-L30
Abit AI7
Radeon 9800Pro
</font color=blue>