Best choice of RAM for EVGA 780i

[ghost_uwi]

Hey was looking for the best choice of RAM for the EVGA 780i?

533MHz DDR2
667MHz DDR2
800MHz DDR2
1200MHz DDR2

those were the frequencies it supports.

Btw i am not an expert at RAM selection so any advice is welcome.

 

[boonality]

What processor will you be using? Will you overclock? What do you do with your computer? How much do you plan to have? 1GB? 8GB?

 

[ausch30]

What CPU will you be using?

 

[Waspy]

I am considering purchasing this board. If I answer those questions, could I hijack this thread for a few and get a few recommendations from you guys?

If it was an eVGA 780i mobo with a 45nm quad core (QX9650), 4GB of RAM preferably in 2x 2GB. Want do some SLIGHT overclocking without upping voltages. Machine must remain stable. Machine to be 30-40% gaming, 20% video watching, rest "normal" use of email/web browsing/some programming/some web site work/Word/etc. Note: using a very high res. monitor (30").

 

[ausch30]

boonality posted while I was typing. JEDEC is the governing body which sets standards for memory and their current top speed for DDR2 is 800@1.8v. Most memory manufacturers sell their RAM at it's overclocked rating, take this for example http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148069, it is DDR2 1066 5-5-5-15 2.2v while it's actual JEDEC specification is more likely DDR2 800 4-4-4-12 1.8v or something along those lines.

What does all this mean? You can buy some quality DDR2 800 and relax the timings and increase the voltage and will likely be able to reach the same speed of the higher prices RAM but it's not guaranteed. Also when your looking for RAM don't just look at the speed but also the timings and voltage needed to reach that speed.
Take this for example
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211066
It is rated at DDR2 800 5-5-5-18 1.8v while this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146565
Is rated for DDR2 800 4-4-4-12 2.2v
At first the Crucial might look like the better option due to it's lower timings but when you look at the voltage the Crucial is sold at it's overclocked speed and is pretty much maxed out while the A-Data should have some headroom and will likely be able to achieve faster speeds and or lower timings.

 

[ghost_uwi]

lol theif hmmm amazing i using the same specs as Waspy
my CPU is qx9650
4 to 8 gigs of ram
want overclocking as a possiblity
its for hardcore gaming,movies and intense processes

 

[boonality]

Good info. *Goes back to reconsider memory choice for new computer*

 

[boonality]

its for hardcore intense processes

Eh?



Some good quality DDR2 800 should suffice as the best option. I belive I'm going to choose DDR2 1066 but I keep computers for 6+ years before I "upgrade". Which consists of donating it and building another.

 

[ghost_uwi]

lol rightttttt

yeah so what ram u recommend ??
and why was the CPU so important.

 

[ausch30]

I would suggest somthing like this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231122
It has good timings, 5-5-5-15 @1.8v, which you can likely get to about 4-4-4-10 with a slight voltage increase and with an Extreme CPU you won't be needing super high FSB speeds since you can adjust the multiplier for overclocking. A FSB increase to 1600 wil run 1:1 with DDR2 800 which should make these modules perfect for your system.

 

[ghost_uwi]

sweet any other options not that i have a problem with AUsch30 suggestion i just want to look at a few and make a choice.

 

[ausch30]

Another thing to consider is the fact that the 780i just as the 680i has an issue with high FSB speeds with quad core CPU's so keeping the FSB relatively low while increasing the multiplier should give you the best overclocking results. Intel chipsets don't have this issue which is why they are a better option for overclocking non-extreme CPU's. If you were using a non-extreme CPU on an Intel board you would be looking for something that could run in the 1066 or so range to run along with a 500+ FSB but since you best option would be to keep the FSB fairly low you should get something around DDR2 800 with low timings.

 

[ghost_uwi]

thx a bill

 

[ghost_uwi]

ok well i will go with that ram cause it looks to good to be true extra cheap and 4 gigs.
btw can u explain what the fsb's relation to the CPU.

 

[boonality]

I would be aware of that G.SKILL memory on an NVIDIA board. Read the reviews. It seems the stuff works fine on intel chipset boards but not NVIDIA... seems really wierd to me but i wouldn't want the hassle.

 

[ghost_uwi]

ok so this means i would encounter problems ?? any solutions??

 

[boonality]

You might not, I was just saying that after reading the reviews, people with 780i chipsets were coming forth with issues with that memory. You can always do what's recommended by buying the memory that is listed in the QVL of your motherboard.

 

[Waspy]

Is there another name brand, say Corsair, which would be a good choice as well?

 

[ghost_uwi]

yeah what waspy said

 

[ausch30]

I looked through the reviews of the RAM I suggested and there were several P35's and a few X38's and 680i's and none of them listed any issue at all with compatibility. I agree that Nvidia and more specifically Asus has had issues with memory but the G.Skill seems pretty good. It's also a good idea to check out the QVL but just remember that companies don't have the time or resources to test every stick of RAM available with every board.

 

[ghost_uwi]

ok curious where will i find the QVL list ??

 

[boonality]

My only suggestion would be to check the voltages of the ram you might buy vs the voltage of the memory in the QVL and you should be ok

 

[ausch30]

ok curious where will i find the QVL list ??

EVGA Motherboard Memory Compatibility
*other memory modules may also work, the following are known compatible memory kits*


780i/680i Series Memory support
SLI Ready memory
Above 1066 MHz(Above PC2 8500)
Corsair TWIN2X2048-10000C5DF
Corsair TWIN2X2048-9136C5DF
Corsair TWIN2X2048-8888C4DF

1066 MHz(PC2 8500)
OCZ OCZ2N10662GK
OCZ OCZ2N10661G
Corsair TWIN2X2048-8500C5D
Corsair TWIN2X2048-8500C5
Kingston KHX8500D2K2/1G
OCZ OCZ2N1066SR2GK
OCZ OCZ2N1066SR1G
PNY D22GX85GMR

900 MHz(PC2 7200)
OCZ OCZ2N900SR2GK
OCZ OCZ2N900SR1G
OCZ OCZ2N9002GK
OCZ OCZ2N9001G

800 MHz(PC2 6400)
Corsair TWIN2X2048-6400C3DF
Corsair TWIN2X2048-6400C4D
Crucial BL2KIT12864AL804
Crucial BL12864AL804
Crucial BL2KIT12864AA804
Crucial BL2KIT6464AA804
Crucial BL12864AA804
Crucial BL6464AA804
Kingston KHX6400D2LLK2/2GN
Kingston KHX6400D2LLK2/1GN
Patriot PDC22G6400LLK
PNY D22GX64GMR-4

Standard Memory

Above 800 MHz(Above PC2 6400)
Kingston KHX9600D2D/2G
Kingston KHX9200D2/512
Kingston KHX8000D2K/2G
Kingston KHX7200D2K2/2G
Patriot PDC21G8000+XBLK
Patriot PDC21G8500 ELK
Crucial BL2KIT12864AL1005
G.SKILL F2-8000CL5D-4GBPQ
Mushkin XP2-1066

800 MHz(PC2 6400)
Mushkin XP-6400
Mushkin XP2-6400
OCZ OCZ2G8002GK
OCZ OCZ2P800R21G
OCZ OCZ2T8002GK
Corsair XMS6405v4.1
Corsair TWIN2X2048-6400
G.Skill F2-6400PHU2-2GBHZ
G.Skill F2-6400PHU2-2GBNR
G.SKILL F2-6400CL4D-2GBPK
G.SKILL F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ
Team Xtreem PC2-6400 800MHz 3-3-3-8
Team Xtreem PC2-6400 800MHz 4-4-4-10
Patriot PDC22G6400ELK
Geil Ultra GX22GB6400UDC
Super Talent T800UX2GC4

667 MHz(PC2 5400)
Corsair VS512MB667D2
Buffalo D2V667C-1G/BJ
Patriot PDC21G5300LLK
PQI 5400 Turbo
Kingston KHZ5400D2K2/1G
Geil GX21GB5300SX
Muskin xp2 5300 2x1gb
Mushkin HP2-5300

533 MHz(PC2 4200)
Kingston KVR533D2/512R
PQI MAB412UOE 512MB DDR2 533
OCZ DDR2 OCZ2533512V

 

[ghost_uwi]

THANK you

 

[endorphines]

I've got 4gb (2 x 2gb) of DDR2 800 OCZ Vista Performance Platinum running at 888mzh 5-4-4-15 and 2.1v. http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/PID-MX19221(ME).aspx
$80 is hard to beat. It's totally stable, and passes every torture test i could find. best part is even though it's at 2.1v that's a factory rated over volt so it's warranty's still good. i got it down as far as 3-4-4-12 at 2.15V but it wasn't very stable... i think since i've got it overclocked it's at it's limit at it's stock latency timings.
Just my two cents, but it's an unbeatable price and pretty smokin fast performance.