Product Comparison - better value, better performance, etc

shk

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May 27, 2007
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Hey guys, I'm new to the technical aspects of memory, so if my questions seem foolish I apologize.

First, why is the pricing on the memory with the slower timings higher? They both appear identical except for the timings - and the memory that "should" be faster is cheaper. Screwed up pricing or am I an idiot? :D
And is the difference between 4-4-3-5 and 4-4-4-12 significant?
(I see 4-4-4-12's everywhere but 4-4-3-5 sounds like it would be some kind of magically superior module)

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
Timings: 4-4-3-5
Voltage: 2.0V - 2.1V
Price: $105
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231114

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
Timings: 4-4-4-12
Voltage: 2.0V - 2.1V
Price: $110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231065

Next, when comparing the last memory pair with the following, why is it that the higher voltage memory costs $20 extra? I thought memory that is capable of running the same timings at a lower voltage is better...

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
Timings: 4-4-4-12
Voltage: 1.9V - 2.0V
Price: $95
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231087

And could you elaborate as to why the next (seemingly identical) memory modules are priced differently?

CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
Timings: 4-4-4-12
Voltage: 2.0V
Price: $290
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145039

CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
Timings: 4-4-4-12
Voltage: 2.0V
Price: $254
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145038


And as a general ignorant question, do you guys prefer DDR800 or DDR1066 (or DDR1111+)?

I've heard that the modules over 800 are just manufacterer's overclock. And some tell me that they just buy 1066 for the security of knowing it can run at those speeds.

I've done my best to read guides/faqs/etc, but selecting memory still confuses me in this respect. >.<
Any help would be awesome, thank you.
 

skyguy

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Higher voltage RAM costs more because it can take extra juice when overclocking, that's the nutshell version.

Of all those choices, the 2nd G.Skills are the best. The HZ's are very good overclockers, and contain Micron D9 chips. For that price they are simply an awesome deal.

The Corsairs are waaaay overpriced. Definitely not worth it.

The minor, minor difference in timings really won't make a difference, except in benchmarks.

The black G.Skills are definitely the best performers for the money.
 

Mondoman

Splendid
Higher voltage RAM costs more because it can take extra juice when overclocking, that's the nutshell version.....
Not really. Given two DIMMs that can both run at the same speed and latency, the one that can do it closest to the DDR2 standard 1.8V is the better quality DIMM. Unfortunately, it's so hard to make fast DIMMs (e.g. DDR2-1066), that only selling ones that actually conformed to the DDR2 standard 1.8V would price them out of the market of just about everyone.

Thus, they take lower-rated DIMMs and overclock them at the factory, and sell them according to those factory-sanctioned overclocked specs. There's no standard to these factory-sanctioned overclocks, and typically only data for one or two speed/latency/voltage combinations, so it's really tough to compare them from the ratings alone. You have to go by reputation, reviews, and chip content to decide if a given DIMM will overclock well.

Obviously, the fastest speeds/lowest latencies are the scarcest and hardest to reach, and are thus the most expensive. They often take higher voltages to reach; however, the voltage has no direct connection with price or further OCability.
 

skyguy

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Interesting..........thank you for the quick lesson, appreciated. I knew that sticks that can take more volts allow is often needed for higher overclocks.........but I also know that the type/quality/binning of the chips also determines OC headroom. I had assumed (incorrectly) that therefore there must be a correlation between OC headroom and voltage. :oops:

I still say the G.Skill HZ's though ;)

I may not know how they work in detail, but I know how to drive them :D

Thx Mondo.
 

shk

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May 27, 2007
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Ok I was about to post another 10 memory modules to compare but I figured it'd be easier to just ask you guys:

what's your personal top choice?

basic requirements:
-DDR800 or 1066
-very good overclockers
-2gb

None of those $600+ sticks please, I don't need 100,000 mhz just yet. :D
 

skyguy

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-Crucial Ballistix @ 4-4-4-12 (Micron D9GMH)
-Mushkin XP2 @ 4-4-3-10 (Micron D9GMH)
-Team Xtreem @ 4-4-4-12 (Micron D9GMH)


8000/8500
-Crucial Ballistix PC2-8000 @ 4-5-4-11 (Micron D9GMH)
-Team Xtreem 8000 @ 5-5-5-15 (Micron D9GMH)
-OCZ Reaper 8500 @ 5-5-5-15 (Micron D9GMH)
-Cellshock 8000 @ 4-4-4-12 (Micron D9GKX)
-Buffalo Firestik 8500 @ 5-5-5-15 (Micron D9GKX)


Of all those, I love the Team Group just for sheer sexiness bragging rights. For reputation and sheer power though, I'd go for Crucial.....they have the best timings and overhead at each speed.....but they definitely cost more too.
 

billdcat4

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-Crucial Ballistix @ 4-4-4-12 (Micron D9GMH)
-Mushkin XP2 @ 4-4-3-10 (Micron D9GMH)
-Team Xtreem @ 4-4-4-12 (Micron D9GMH)


8000/8500
-Crucial Ballistix PC2-8000 @ 4-5-4-11 (Micron D9GMH)
-Team Xtreem 8000 @ 5-5-5-15 (Micron D9GMH)
-OCZ Reaper 8500 @ 5-5-5-15 (Micron D9GMH)
-Cellshock 8000 @ 4-4-4-12 (Micron D9GKX)
-Buffalo Firestik 8500 @ 5-5-5-15 (Micron D9GKX)


Of all those, I love the Team Group just for sheer sexiness bragging rights. For reputation and sheer power though, I'd go for Crucial.....they have the best timings and overhead at each speed.....but they definitely cost more too.

any of these good?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=1052308477&Description=firestix&name=2GB+(2+x+1GB)