Ram Speeds

[karetsos]

I have a Chaintech Zenith 7NJS Motherboard, with the nForce 2 Chipset, and an Atlon XP 1700+.
I currently have 2 ram modules at 256 MB DDR PC2100 CL2.5, but i want to change them. SO we come to the QUESTION:
What type of ram should i buy (considering that I DO NOT want to overclock),
at higher clock speed, or at lower latency (CL)?.
NOTICE:I cannot afford Corsair Ram

 

[jlanka]

I'd go with Samsung PC2700 CL2.5 which are known to be able to be set at CL2 easily. They are quite reasonably priced.

<i>It's always the one thing you never suspected.</i>

 

[karetsos]

I suppose these ram modules are quite good, but my main question is which would be faster: a system with a ram at 2700, CL2.5 or another one with ram at 2100, CL2.0? (always with a cpu at 266)

 

[jlanka]

oh, OK. PC2700 CL2.5 is better than PC2100 CL2. Here's why: The Column Address Strobe only is a factor on the initial access of that memory column. Everything else is fetched at the same clock sync regardless of the CAS level. So it only helps out a small percentage of time.

PC2700 (166Mhz FSB) vs PC2100 (133Mhz FSB) is ALWAYS a factor. i.e. the bus is constanly running at 166mhz. So that makes a bigger overall impact.

I hope you can understand my ham-fisted explanation. Others might be more elegant.

<i>It's always the one thing you never suspected.</i>

 

[karetsos]

If that is the case, then it should be the same with DDR400. SO the fastest thing would to get DDR400 Modules, even if they where at CL 2.5.
You see the big cost difference is when you get from CL2.5 to CL2.0, rathen than when you get to higher bus speeds.

 

[jlanka]

yup.

<i>It's always the one thing you never suspected.</i>