corsair: value vs xms vs twinx

[jcarte01]

Hi

I (like most in this thread) am building a new pc. I have more or less settled on the Athlon64 XP3200+ 2,0 GHz and Asus K8V DELUXE. purpose = recording tv, music etc . I'm going with 1gig of DDR400/PC3200 on a single dimm so i can add another gig later if necessary (since only 2 are supporded by the chip, 3 on the mobo though) but there seems to be 6 different types some of which are more that twice the price of the other.
1) Corsair Value S. PC3200 DDR-DIMM 1024MB - Kit w/two matched Value Select 512MB
cost = 197.06 euro
2) Corsair TWINX1024R-3200C 1024MB REG - Kit w/two matched CMX512R-3200C2 DIMMs
cost = 288.33 euro
3) Corsair XMS TWINX PRO 3200 1024MB - Kit w/two matched CMX512-3200C2PRO DIMMs
cost = 292.07 euros
4) Corsair TWINX1024-3200LL DDR-DIMM 1024MB - Kit w/two matched CMX512-3200LL DIMMs
cost = 308.21
5) Corsair XMS TWINX PRO3200LL 1024MB - Kit w/two matched CMX512-3200LLPRO DIMMs
cost = 324.92
6) Corsair TWINX1024RE-3200LL 1024MB ECC/RE
- Kit w/two matched CMX512RE-3200LL DIMMs
cost = 328.09

Some have flashin leds, i dont need this. can someone explain the difference, surely the differency in latency isn't that much?

Homer: There’s 3 ways to do things, the right way, the wrong way, and the max power way.
Bart: isn’t that the wrong way.
Homer: yea but faster.

 

[ytoledano]

First, forget about numbers 2 and 6, they're registered and you don't need it.
Second, You won't find 1 gig modules of DDR easily and if you do they will be expensive and have bad timings. I know that Mushkin makes them though. I wouldn't take the ones with the flashing LEDs, that's a gimic, instead, take the regular ones (not LL) if you're on a budget and the LLs if you're not. Whatever you take, take a matched pair for the dual channel, later you can add another module if you want.

----------
I'm a nuclear reactor cooling system programmer, if you see me running, it's probably already too late.

 

[jcarte01]

thanks.
I suppose it comes down to how much quicker it would rip a CD to convert a DVD to mpeg4, vs how much your willing to spend. i suppose i should look for such a review. do you know how much of a gain is made by having (LL) against not having it

Homer: There’s 3 ways to do things, the right way, the wrong way, and the max power way.
Bart: isn’t that the wrong way.
Homer: yea but faster.

 

[ytoledano]

As you're considering the Athlon64, it doesn't matter if you take matched pairs since it doesn't support dual channel (not like I said). <A HREF="http://www6.tomshardware.com/howto/20030701/memory_tuning-05.html" target="_new"> here is a link</A> to THG's benchmark of memory with different timings.
One thing you should note is that these were conducted on a system with 166 FSB and not 200 like yours do they took PC2700 (DDR333) memory. The slower the memory the more impact timings have, so in your case, the difference wouldn't be as big.
If you take one module with LL now consider that when upgrading in the future you'd want to take LL also or all your memory will use the slower timings (or you could tweak it to not to, but that's overclocking and you're risking system stabilty).

----------
I'm a nuclear reactor cooling system programmer, if you see me running, it's probably already too late.

 

[jcarte01]

Hi
Thanks again for the info.(even more questions)
1) in terms of speed what difference does dual channel DDR memory have over non DC DDR memory. it looks like DC support on the athlon 64 isn't due 'till late next year anyway so its no an issue since im buying in the next month or two.
2)in your reference to <A HREF="http://www6.tomshardware.com/howto/20030701/memory_tuning-05.html" target="_new">here is a link</A> (page 5) the upper graph seems to have different results for the same settings is this due to different types do you think. Having read most of the article i think i understand your reference to muskin in the previous mail,is so much that what you gain by having your memory on 1 dimm instead of 2 or 3 you loose if the timing(quality)isn't the best. this leads me on to point three
3)in the <A HREF="http://www20.tomshardware.com/motherboard/20031201/socket_754-06.html" target="_new">K8V deluxe review </A> which (about half way down) mentions
"...Asus features a total of three DIMM sockets. But since the Athlon supports only two full banks, the two yellow slots can only handle single sided DIMMs..." can you tell me how this effects my memory options, do you know what they mean by full banks and single sided dimms.

thanks again jc

 

[ytoledano]

1. Dual-Channel doubles your theoretical bandwidth. In practice you'd see 20-30% increase in memory bandwidth which is a lot but consider that you're not always using it.
2. Each bar in the graph represents the same system when using different timings. 1GB modules (not matched pairs of 512) are difficult to design and have not too great timings, but worth it cause you're getting a lot more RAM.
3. Ah, the memory bank issue... Each mobo can handle a certain amount of memory banks, and each memory module (stick) contains either 1 or 2 banks. Mushkin's site states exactly how many banks each module contains, note the difference between double sided RAM and double bank RAM, double sided means the chips are arranged on both side of the module while double bank means the memory uses 2 banks. Almost always, a memory module which is double sided will use 2 banks and single sided will use 1 (at least I haven't heard otherwise).
<A HREF="http://www.mushkin.com/mushkin/pop-up/banks.htm" target="_new"> Here's a link</A> from Mushkin's site that explains the difference.
I assume full banks means double bank (as apposed to single bank) what is says in the article is that you need to use 2 modules with single banks and one with dual bank or all with single bank. The bad news is that most of the single bank modules are of low capacity (mushkin only sells 256MB single bank memory modules, anything higher has dual bank).

----------
I'm a nuclear reactor cooling system programmer, if you see me running, it's probably already too late.

 

[jcarte01]

so i have to take the 2+1+1 option when it comes to banks on the asus, does this mean that one of the dimms specified on the <A HREF="http://www20.tomshardware.com/motherboard/20031201/socket_754-30.html" target="_new"> 8 mobo test page </A> is single sided ? . do you know if the <A HREF="http://www20.tomshardware.com/motherboard/20031201/socket_754-25.html" target="_new"> msi k8t neo </A>has such dimm config quirks, i might go with the msi if i could use the 2 512mb option. maybe i'm missing something but this seems to be a design screw up.

thanks jc

Homer: There’s 3 ways to do things, the right way, the wrong way, and the max power way.
Bart: isn’t that the wrong way.
Homer: yea but faster.

 

[SoDNighthawk]

The new system you are building on the motherboard you said you wanted to use supports DUAL CANNEL Memory resources.
The Corsair memory is lab tested on a test station and matched for performance and stability.
Go with a matched set of DDR PC3200 512MB sticks, yes with the flashing L.E.D's that is the way Corsairs makes them now. Nice if you have a clear water proof case.
I chose the Kingston DDR PC3200 512MB sticks they are encased in Blue anodized heat sinks with HyperX slashed across both sides in bold white lettering. Each chip is jacketed both sides with large stainless steel clips holding the heats sinks to the memory chips.
The test bench P.C I am mucking around with right now does not support Dual Channels and I also would have considered a Corsair 1 Gig stick but I hesitated because I am taking the current system to a Asus A7N8X Deluxe motherboard that does support the dual channels. From what I have been reading on Dual Channel it performs better then sticking in the 1 Gig chunk. I suppose that is why Corsair went to the L.E.D display type matched memory for the water cooler guys so they can see it working inside the plastic computer cases.

In either case Corsair and Kingston have life time warranty's and that is a big plus. Both will provide the timings they state impeccably.

AMD BARTON XP2800+
A7V8X-X
Liquid
2x512 KinstonHyperX PC3200
GeForce FX5900
Maxtor DiamondMaxPlus9@80Gig
SONY CD 52x
SONY RW 52x/24x/52x
SONY DVD 16x/40x

 

[jcarte01]

thanks for the info do you know if the asus k8v will take 3 512mb dimms i think theres an issue with what goes in the yellow slots

Homer: There’s 3 ways to do things, the right way, the wrong way, and the max power way.
Bart: isn’t that the wrong way.
Homer: yea but faster.

 

[SoDNighthawk]

I just picked up the A7N8X Deluxe Motherboard and I am reading the manual as we talk here. I am also interested in what they say about the 3rd Memory slot. If I were you I would go to ASUSTEK their website and take a peek at the new 64 Motherboard they have a full rundown on it.
I will be offline for at least 6 hours as I will do a full re-install of XP the motherboard drivers for the new MoB are very different then the old A7V8X-X.
Hey just to get a good bitch in I already knew this but the A7N8X Deluxe... Does not have a AGP lock down clip on the back of the AGP slot the lesser A7V8X-X did.
Well it says right in the top right hand corner of the box that the A7N8X Deluxe is TOMS HARDWARE GUIDE best overall motherboard choice so that says allot. AMD cpu's.

AMD BARTON XP2800+
A7V8X-X
Liquid
2x512 KinstonHyperX PC3200
GeForce FX5900
Maxtor DiamondMaxPlus9@80Gig
SONY CD 52x
SONY RW 52x/24x/52x
SONY DVD 16x/40x

 

[SoDNighthawk]

Ok the Manual states that you can use DIMM 1, 2, 3 all in that order up to 3 Gig of system ram.

If you want to use the Dual Channels capability you must use either DIMM 1, 3 or 2, 3

So if you install 3 one Gig sticks you are in business but if you are going to run only 2 hardware pieces of memory you need to install them in the order listed above.

So on my new A7N8X Deluxe the Kinston DDR400 PC3200 @ 400MHz will be installed into slot 2 and slot 3 so I can use the dual channel memory attributes.

If you went and read-up on the new board you want for the 64 Type CPU it will proly not tell you this for the board run down at the web page but we can presume that ASUS is using this type of set-up on both these high end motherboards.


Barton 3200+ 400MHz
A7N8X Deluxe
Liquid
2x512 KinstonHyperX PC3200
GeForce FX5900
Maxtor DiamondMaxPlus9@80Gig
SONY CD 52x
SONY RW 52x/24x/52x
SONY DVD 16x/40x

 

[jcarte01]

I had a read through some of the 144 page 4Mb (pdf version)of the <A HREF="http://www.asus.com.tw/support/download/selectftp.aspx?l1_id=1&l2_id=20&l3_id=1&m_id=1&f_name=e1421b_k8v_deluxe.pdf~zaqwedc" target="_new"> asus K8V deluxe manual. </A> Page 2-12 and 2-13 covers the combinations of dimms, slot locations, number of sides and speed, ranging from 1 ddr400 single sided dimm in any of the three (although they recommend certain slots should be used 1st) to 3 double sided dimms but the max speed in this case is limited to ddr 200.

Homer: There’s 3 ways to do things, the right way, the wrong way, and the max power way.
Bart: isn’t that the wrong way.
Homer: yea but faster.

 

[SoDNighthawk]

From the ASUS A7N8X Deluxe ManualAMD)

NOTE:
To enhance system performance, utilize dual-channel feature when installing additional DIMMs. You may install DIMMs in the following sequence: Sockets 1 and 3 or sockets 2 and 3 or sockets 1, 2 and 3.

Barton 3200+ 400MHz
A7N8X Deluxe
Liquid
2x512 KinstonHyperX PC3200
GeForce FX5900
Maxtor DiamondMaxPlus9@80Gig
SONY CD 52x
SONY RW 52x/24x/52x
SONY DVD 16x/40x

 

[Blad3]

The 2x 512 3200c REG will work on an A64 K8T board though, right?

"C2" - That means CL = 2 doesn't it?