best 2x2gb ram for ~150$

[weinzey]

hi
im putting together a new system and im looking for a good overclockable 2x2gb ram kit for about 150$.
any suggestions?

 

[boonality]

What currency is that? Pretty much every DDR2 2 x 2GB kits are under $150 USD with the exception of the DDR2 1066 Corsair Dominators Even the Corsair 2 x 2GB DDR2 800 XMS2 DHX bla bla bla are under $150

 

[dagger]

You can get 8GB of those for that much money. 5-4-4-12 timing, highly overclockable, good manufacturer support, and perfect reviews.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820144216

 

[weinzey]

4gb should be enough for me. so which kit ist the best/ can be recommended?

 

[boonality]

Dude you need to give up some more information. What motherboard do you have? What speed do you want? Have you looked at the QVL?

 

[dagger]

4gb should be enough for me. so which kit ist the best/ can be recommended?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166
Good timing for 1066mhz, overclockable, good reviews.

 

[weinzey]

im getting an asus formula maximus mobo and im thinking of 800 or 1066 mhz concerning speed

 

[dagger]

im getting an asus formula maximus se mobo and im thinking of 800 or 1066 mhz concerning speed

I recommend 800mhz, it's the best bang for the buck right now. The model I posted can be overclocked to 1066 with some relaxed timings.

 

[Shadow703793]

^ Agreed. 90% of the time 1066Mhz RAM is just factory OCed 800Mhz RAM. Also some motherboards seems to have problems with factory rated 1060Mhz RAM, but not DDR2 800 OCed to the same level. Weird.

 

[badgtx1969]

Crucial Ballistix 2x2GB - $109 for guaranteed Micron D9s

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148183

 

[weinzey]

Crucial Ballistix 2x2GB - $109 for guaranteed Micron D9s

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148183

but im planning to oc, so i need pc2-8500 or is this just another expression for the 1066mhz?

and what does cl5/4 mean exactly?

 

[badgtx1969]

For overclocking DDR2 you should make sure you get Micron D9s, look it up (Micron owns Crucial). Also, as others have said, pc2-8500 is basically factory overclocked RAM. The lower the CAS level, the better.

P.S. - I have gotten my PC2-6400 Ballistix sticks to hit 1200MHZ at 5-5-5-15 using 2.3v. Ballistix have a lifetime warranty and are an incredible value right now.

P.P.S. - Micron D9s can be found in other brands, just check the ram list:
http://ramlist.ath.cx/ddr2/

 

[frischtr]

4gb 2x2 patriot viper DDR2-800 4-4-4-12 timing: $85 with MIR

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220293

 

[weinzey]

P.P.S. - Micron D9s can be found in other brands, just check the ram list:
http://ramlist.ath.cx/ddr2/

i dont really understand that list. there are f.e. many different corsair pc2-6400c4 sets with different chips.
so how shall i know if this Corsair 4gb pc2-6400 c4 dhx, f.e., is has a micron d9 chip?
and are there differences between the different d9s?

 

[badgtx1969]

check out this thread:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/247512-30-ddr2-mushkin-corsair

Just to clarify a few things that are incorrect:

1. Micron D9s do come in 128mb ICs, which is what is needed to make 2gb modules.

2. These ICs, D9 NHL, do not OC as well as their 64mb cousins, the GMH, GKX, etc.

3. We use ONLY Micron D9s in our 2gb XMS2 and DHX DDR2 modules at this time.

4. The RAMLIST linked here is often inaccurate.

I think they are Micron D9s, however, unlike the lower density chips (used in the 2X1GB) they don't OC as well. I still hear they are the best chips out there for 2x2GB.

 

[weinzey]

so you'd recommend the corsair dhx over the crucial ballistix?

 

[badgtx1969]

No, Ballistix are still cheaper and you'll 100% get Micron D9's. That fancy looking heat spreader on the Corsair DHXs is going to do very little to help performance.

If you really hate the look of the Ballistix I think G.Skill and Mushkin have D9 containing 2x2GB kits (there are probably more companies):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231145
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146731

How much of an overclock are you aiming for? Because right now it looks like the best OCing DDR2 is still the low density (D9GMH and D9GKX) chips used in 2x1GB kits.

 

[weinzey]

im planning to oc to at least 1066mhz.
i wanted to get the 2 dimms in order to be able to upgrade to 8gb later

 

[badgtx1969]

I think most CL4 PC-6400 will hit that no problem.

Those Mushkins are cheap right now. They are rated CL5 but notice the voltage is 1.8 V which is very low - they can take way more (which would allow tighter timings at 800 MHz). Check out extremesystems for some more suggestions, those guys are all about overclocking ram.