Memory purchase question

[wvercimak]

I plan to update my Motherboard within 6 to 9 months. But I'd like to update my RAM now on my existing board. The Corsair recommended RAM for my current board is PC2-5400C4.

I'm trying to determine if it makes sense to purchase the RAM specific for my current Motherboard or purchase RAM that I could use now and later down the road as well. I realize RAM is changing by the month and in 9 months DDR3 might be worth the cost but budget wise I want to take smaller steps. Upgrade RAM, then Upgrade Motherboard/CPU P35 chipset Core 2 Duo e6400ish path once PCI-e 2.0 hits the mainstream, then upgrade Video Card (currently ASUS 850XT).

Current MB: ASUS P5AD2-Deluxe
MAX Memory type: (PC2-5400 max 675 MHZ memory) 4 1GB DIMMS

I currently have two 512 MB and two 256 MB XMS2 PC2-5400C4 DIMMS. So I plan to remove and replace the two 256 MB DIMMS with 1 GB DIMMS. That should give me 2.5 GB of memory (Vista Ultimate and Battlefield 2142 performance is my goal).

For $70 I can pick up:
CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 675 (PC2 5400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

For $87 after rebate I can pick up:
CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400 - Retail

Please feel free to comment on what you would do.

Thanks everyone!

 

[XMSYellowbeard]

Based on your MOBO/chipset and the memory you already have, I'd suggest the PC5400.

 

[Mondoman]

That DDR2-675 is hard to beat at the price (actually, it's currently $69 at zzf w/free shipping), and will work well with a future 1333MHz FSB CPU as well. I'm currently running it at DDR2-666 with an e6420 OC's to 1333MHz FSB.

 

[deusex]

The XMS2