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Best RAM for Asus P5Q Pro and Q9450?

Forum Motherboards & Memory : Memory - Best RAM for Asus P5Q Pro and Q9450?

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I'm down to figuring out suitable RAM for my new system. I'm not a gamer and don't know if I'll be OCing much. I may be open to it, but my first consideration is a quiet system which is my case is an Antec 182P, fanless GPU, Xigmatek HDT-S1283 heatsink, and Q9450 CPU (runs cooler than 65 nm) and samsung hard drives.

I may be open to OC, and have to read more, but not at the cost of generating a lot of heat, creating system instabilily, taking a long time to learn which ones, tweak and test zillions of BIOS settings, or shortening system life--I'll probably keep this system for several years.

I [U][B]am [/B][/U]open to suggestions, but presently am thinking of the follow RAM:

CORSAIR XMS 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
5-5-5-18
1.9v
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820145184

$45 AR or $90 for what I need (8 GB)

and

Crucial Ballistix 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820148212
4-4-4-12
2.0V
$56 AR or $112 for what I need 8 GB
(futureproofing or overkill?)

What difference does stock voltage have? I would assume that higher voltage runs faster and generates more heat and would shorten RAM life My work is Photoshop and Lightroom, and general computing. For what I need, would the RAM make much difference and if I'm not looking to do water cooling style OCing? I know that this, and other 45nm CPUs, having somewhat limited OCing ability due to their multiplier.

Money is somewhat tight with a fat Calif mortgage and 2 kids in child care.

What makes sense and why?

Thanks!

Reid

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for what you are planning to do high speed ram would not make as much a difference as a lot 4g+ would, although high speed certainly would not hurt,
AFAIK,you are right about the ram voltages,except where overclocking is concerned then all bets are off ,,,as far as which ram to purchase,,consult your mobo's manual and/or check their site for recommendations,just so you know,, they do not test all the ram there is just some,,at the moment i am using the aforementioned crucial ballistic ram in place of the recommended and the system just loves it,go figure...:)

Reply to dokk2

I always buy RAM that will operate at its advertised timings on the JEDEC standard 1.8V.
At the low end, I've used A-Data, like this set for $60: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820211188
My preference, however, is Mushkin, like these for $55 after $20 MIR: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820146731
RAM that needs more voltage to achieve its claimed timings will run a little hotter at that voltage (which you will need to manually reset after any BIOS reset), or will be a little slower when run on only 1.8V, like 7-7-7-18.

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Reply to jtt283

Thanks!

That looks like a good price, timing, and on standard voltage.

In real life, am I going to see a difference between 5-4-4-12 (mushkin) and 5-5-5-18 (corsair)?

Reid

Reply to reidthaler

The mushkin should obviously run faster,but I personally recommend G. Skill.

However,due to an issue in where I bought my Corsair,G. Skill was not available.

Reply to jaragon13
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