Help with ram

[tunekilla]

hey im new to building computers and im having some troubles with ram.. Im wondering what kind would be good for a gaming system with these specs:

asus crosshair extreme mobo
sapphire 6970 2gig video
corsair GS800 power supply
not to sure about ram or hard drive
nzxt phantom enthusiast
AMD 1100T black edition


Im not 100% on all the technical computer terms just yet so take it easy on me :lol:

thanks for the help.

p.s. what do people think of the Coolmaster aquagate Max? or liquid cooling in general?

 

[Ubrales]

First, welcome to Tom's Forum!

 

[Ubrales]

Here are the memory specs for your motherboard:

Memory
4 x DIMM, Max. 16GB, DDR3 2000(OC) 1600/1333/ 1066MHz Non-ECC, Unbuffered RAM
Dual Channel

8 GBs would be nice - two sets of these will work well for you: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145263
(The promo code expires today)

Hard drives - any one of these will be fine:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136533 (64 MB Cache)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148433

I have both of the above drives in use for the past 18 months. Works well.

I am not a fan of liquid cooling, but there are others who like it.

 

[tunekilla]

That will do fine? I was ready to spend 200 on some corsair or g-skill!!

 

[Ubrales]

That will do fine? I was ready to spend 200 on some corsair or g-skill!!

The RAM I linked is Corsair. In recent months prices have come down.

 

[tunekilla]

I was looking at this stuff:

http://canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=24_311_312_612&item_id=035070

then I realized it was only 1.5V rather than 1.65 (i think?) does voltage play a huge role? Can I use ANY ram for that mobo/chipset? I have heard mixed things about using intel specific ram, some say no some say yes.

thanks again for all the help!!

 

[tunekilla]

another question is the 1100BE a good processor? or should I wait for bulldozer? Im looking for gaming and game programming. which would you recommend? I want to stick with AMD (price and loyalty)

 

[Ubrales]

I was looking at this stuff:

http://canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=24_311_312_612&item_id=035070

then I realized it was only 1.5V rather than 1.65 (i think?) does voltage play a huge role? Can I use ANY ram for that mobo/chipset? I have heard mixed things about using intel specific ram, some say no some say yes.

thanks again for all the help!!

Your motherboard decides what RAM is compatible. This is what your motherboard specifies "4 x DIMM, Max. 16GB, DDR3 2000(OC) 1600/1333/ 1066MHz Non-ECC, Unbuffered RAM Dual Channel"

What you picked is a great choice - Corsair Vengeance. Don't worry about the RAM voltage; this is set in the RAM specs. This RAM will work well for you. One way to make absolutely sure is to go to the Asus (motherboard) site and ensure that Corsair is on the AVL (Approved Vendor List). I am sure it is.

 

[Ubrales]

another question is the 1100BE a good processor? or should I wait for bulldozer? Im looking for gaming and game programming. which would you recommend? I want to stick with AMD (price and loyalty)

The AMD 1100BE is a good processor. Should you wait for BD? Only you can decide. Read as much as possible on various tech forums, then you will be in a better position to decide. There is always a high level of excitement in getting the latest.

 

[tunekilla]

yes but is the latest always the greatest? Look what happened with the sandybridge chipset, huge recalls because of a rushed product. Will AMD make that mistake? Guess we will have to wait and see.

If I wait for BD I'll have to wait for ASUS to make a compatible MOBO with the same specs as the crosshair. So many decisions to make!!! I suppose I can get ram, and hard drive first.

what about solid state drives? worth the money?

 

[Ubrales]

yes but is the latest always the greatest? Look what happened with the sandybridge chipset, huge recalls because of a rushed product. Will AMD make that mistake? Guess we will have to wait and see.

If I wait for BD I'll have to wait for ASUS to make a compatible MOBO with the same specs as the crosshair. So many decisions to make!!! I suppose I can get ram, and hard drive first.

what about solid state drives? worth the money?

Good thinking!

There is always a risk with being the first guy on the block to get new stuff.

SSDs are still too high priced for me.

 

[tunekilla]

I heard something about linking an ssd with another hdd and it speeding it up substantially?

 

[Ubrales]

I heard something about linking an ssd with another hdd and it speeding it up substantially?

I read something about 'Hybrid drives' - http://www.anandtech.com/show/3734

Still to pricey for me. I am happy with my WD and Seagate HDDs

 

[tunekilla]

okay, maybe ill just stick with a seagate, im also looking into a set of monitors thinking asus I would like LED 1080, im going to have that 6950 so i can do the dual screening thing. Any opinion on screens that would be decent

 

[Ubrales]

okay, maybe ill just stick with a seagate, im also looking into a set of monitors thinking asus I would like LED 1080, im going to have that 6950 so i can do the dual screening thing. Any opinion on screens that would be decent

I have Dell 2208 WFP Ultra Sharp, and Dell ST 2420L as dual monitors. The 2208 looks a lot better.

No matter how much one reads about specs, nothing beats going to the computer store (MicroCenter, Best Buy, etc.) and physically looking at monitors as they are running programs. Ask the sales person for a demo.

That's my suggestion. Look at the display. Then decide which one you want.

 

[tunekilla]

I would do that but I live in a small town hahah the closest best buy is 4 hours away. I would not be surprised if this build was one of if not the best here!!!

Well I'll just have to go to Kelowna and get one next week

 

[Ubrales]

I would do that but I live in a small town hahah the closest best buy is 4 hours away. I would not be surprised if this build was one of if not the best here!!!

Well I'll just have to go to Kelowna and get one next week

Kelowna? Then a trip to Chicago suburbs (MicroCeneter, Best Buy, Fry's, CompUSA) is about 3 hours. I have made this trip passing thru Kelowna around 50 times.

While in Chicago, visit all the stores. You can still make it back home in time for dinner.

(Miss all those fireworks tents on the way this time of the year!)

 

[tunekilla]

Kelowna B.C. sorry I should have specified. I can go to Spokane Washington. I think I'll probably just order things off of canada computers, I saw a great set of ASUS monitors at a local computer shop.. amazing.

 

[Ubrales]

Kelowna B.C. sorry I should have specified. I can go to Spokane Washington. I think I'll probably just order things off of canada computers, I saw a great set of ASUS monitors at a local computer shop.. amazing.

Awww... then the trip to Chicago will be about 40 hours one way! Still worth the trip!

I drove to 'Frisco in 32 hours one way.

 

[tunekilla]

I was in Niagara Ontario about 2 weeks ago I should have went then! Lacking a passport so getting over the line is hard to do sometimes. Im considering heading over to Silverwood this summer in Idaho woot woot!!!

 

[Ubrales]

Ain't much stuff in Idaho. Keep going east on I-80, get off at I-355, head a few miles north.

 

[tunekilla]

Why? Whats up there? I was thinking about the amusement park there camp out over night and go to the water slides and what not!!

 

[Ubrales]

Why? Whats up there? I was thinking about the amusement park there camp out over night and go to the water slides and what not!!

Good idea! Have fun!

 

[mlcaouette]

Don't know if anyone has posted this yet but the crosshair V 990FX AM3+ should be for sale soon, it is already on Asus' website and newegg does have the new sabertooth 990fx AM3+ board which looks equally enticing for the price. Good luck with your first build

On a side note to Ubrales: I like your "badges" modified quote did you snag that from UHF or was it on some other film as well?

 

[Ubrales]

Don't know if anyone has posted this yet but the crosshair V 990FX AM3+ should be for sale soon, it is already on Asus' website and newegg does have the new sabertooth 990fx AM3+ board which looks equally enticing for the price. Good luck with your first build

On a side note to Ubrales: I like your "badges" modified quote did you snag that from UHF or was it on some other film as well?

The "Badges......" quote is part of the dialog immortalized in the 1948 Humphrey Bogart's film "Treasure of the Sierra Madre". B&W film, and the expressions on the actors' faces are superb!

Here is a clip from the original movie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsdZKCh6RsU