I recenttly just purchased an ASUS A7N8X and I want to now purchase RAM for it. I have read many posts here about this mb and RAM issues. I am asking some advice on which brand to buy, I am looking to buy 2 sticks of PC3200 @512 meg each. I am new to pc building, this is my first one so please reply with that in mind :-)

I'd get Corsair XMS PC3200. Now don't freak, it's their PC3500, not PC3200, that causes the BIOS to become confused.

<font color=blue>You're posting in a forum with class. It may be third class, but it's still class!</font color=blue>

There a chance that all DDR 400 will not be compatible with your next boards

Just next to the lab and the bunker you will find the marketing departement.

I plan on purchasing an A7N8X Delux in the near future. I was also wondering which RAM type I should purchase. My choices are (all Corsair RAM listed is XMS CL2):

Corsair TWINX1024-2700LL 333 MHz 1GB(2x 512mb) 2x64Mx64 2x184 DIMM 2-2-2-5-T1 Twin Modules 32Mx8 TWINX1024-2700LL

Corsair TWINX1024-3200LL 400 MHz 1GB(2x 512mb) 2x64Mx64 2x184 DIMM 2-2-2-6-T1 Twin Modules 32Mx8 TWINX1024-3200LL

Corsair (2x) CMX512-3500C2PT 434 MHz 512 MB 64M x 64 184 DIMM 2-3-3-7-T1 Black Platinum 32M x 8 CMX512-3500C2

I was wondering, which is going to perform better? Do I gain greater performance from the higher mhz clock speed but lesser timing settings? Or, are the lesser timing settings going to be a detriment to performance? The PC2700 2-2-2-5-1T vs. the PC3200 2-2-2-6-1T vs. the PC3500 2-3-3-7-1T.

I am primarily concerned about Gaming performance. I have also read in a fairly recent THG article that running synchronis RAM or 333mhz RAM with my 333mhz FSB proccessor yeilds greater performance than running asynchronis RAM at 400mhz. This article was several months old so maybe things have changed.

The article is: November 11, 2002
Athlon On The Fast Lane: Three Motherboards with nForce2-Chipset and Dual-Channel DDR


Please, looking for good info on this issue.

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by _Archer_ on 01/21/03 05:29 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

Actually I am in the same purchasing dilema. My research has led me towards buying Crucial DDR3200 222 sticks for several reasons.
1. Currently bumping the pipeline to 400 has no benifit, but as new processors are released it will.
2. CAS Latency is extremely important and I will not buy anything under 2, even if it is capable of supporting a higher bus speed.
3. Until the industry decides what the future of DDR is going to be, buying anything over 3200 doesn't make sence.

Matt

If I paid as much attention to people as I do computers I would be married.

Bumping the pipeline has no effect only if you leave the FSB at 333. If you turn down the multiplier (provided the CPU is unlocked) it should provide major peformance inscrease. My question is can I run XMS 333 2-2-2 at 400 2-2-2 or even 2-3-3? Or I could get XMS 400, but whats this I hear about messing up the bios? I plan to get an A7N 8X (non deluxe) and use my 1800+ (unlocked once I get the mobo). Also how low does the Bios support for a multiplier (need to be 8 or 8.5 to run @ 212MHz FSB Thanx for any info.

Psyko

<b>Who needs heatsinks and fans, I have an igloo</b>

Asus A7N8X MEM Table:
http://usa.asus.com/mb/socketa/a7n8x/A7N8Xqvl.htm

Asus A7N8X SPECS:
http://usa.asus.com/mb/socketa/a7n8x/specification.htm

Hope it helps!