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• Value DDR3 For Intel's P55: Six 4GB Kits Rounded Up

  Most of our readers are familiar with performance memory, yet many still don’t understand that the vast majority of it is rated at overclocked settings. Standard DDR3 runs at 1.50V, and components rated at higher voltages are likely to have slower, standard memory under those heat spreaders. When you pay extra for performance RAM, what you’re really paying for is a guarantee that the modules will operate at a speed beyond the ratings of its components. Performance guarantees are nice, but paying someone else to validate an overclock can put a big dent in the value a mid-priced system represents. After all, most builders don't pay extra for a CPU that has been validated by a third party to run at higher speeds, yet very few overclocking enthusiasts seek better value by risking the chance of a “poor yield” in exchange for a lower price. We willingly take that small risk with processors, so why not apply the same principle to RAM? Unfortunately, finding the right overclocking RAM isn’t as easy as finding the right processor, simply because there are so many more choices. While many hardcore folks maintain a list of the best memory ICs, manufacturers don’t normally tell you which parts they use (they often change from one week to the next, depending on supply). Further complicating matters is the fact that many manufacturers routinely swap-out components without changing the model number on the package. Thus, the best way to find the best-value overclocking memory is to test everything. We don’t expect our readers to go out and buy every available low-cost kit, while relying on manufacturers to provide samples could result in specially-prepared or hand-picked parts that inaccurately represent the retail product. But putting the words “budget” and “overclocking” in the same sentence makes it hard to arrange a truly-representative comparison, so we instead logged on to Newegg.com and bought the six module sets that were available for less than $80 as of October 1. As memory prices continue to trend upward, some of the parts we bought now cost over $80. Yet surprisingly, some have gone down in price. All of these are still inexpensive, so let’s take a closer look at what our limited funds bought. Ed.: We're giving away nine 4GB DDR3 memory kits to go along with this story; six of which you'll find on the following pages. We've tried to simplify the contest process (we've done a ton of them lately, in case you've missed them) with a Google form, the link to which you'll find right here. For the contest details, check out the last page of Thomas' round-up.

• Prices have changed since we ordered these sub-$80 4GB dual-channel DDR3 kits, but the two modules that now “break the bank” are still within 10% of the original budget. As the top overclocker and second-place holder in average latency, Crucial finds itself in a tie with competitor OCZ for lowest price. We can predict an overclocking value win without running the numbers, yet those numbers will be critical for comparing other brands. We used a base data rate of 1,600 MT/s to rank each product’s overclock percentage, then ranked each kit’s price as a percentage of our $80 target price. Dividing the first results by the second gives us an overclocking value chart based on that $80 DDR3-1600 standard. Overclockers will find exceptional value in Crucial’s DDR3-1333, while those interested only in the lowest DDR3-1066 latency should ignore the above chart and move directly towards OCZ. Or should they? OCZ’s maximum data rate of only 1,240 MT/s came from our second attempt to test the memory. Both modules in our first kit threw errors even at a modest 1,066 MHz data rate. A single “bad” module might have happened by accident, but having two in a retail set usually indicates a quality-control issue. At the other end of the spectrum is Newegg’s RMA team, which made sure we got a replacement set only a few days after sending the first kit back. A $73 price got us a data rate of 1,810 MT/s with PNY’s DDR3-1333, giving it a second place finish in overclocking value that might be viewed as “top value” by anyone who simply must have heat spreaders. These cost only $3 more than the slightly-better, non-adorned Crucial parts. We loved Patriot’s product, but we wouldn’t want to pay an extra $16 for a set of heat spreaders that top-overclocker Crucial doesn’t need. Our overclocking value chart above makes it easy for us to pick a clear value leader worthy of our honorable Recommended Buy award. But we have a surprise for Crucial: The coveted Best of Tom’s Hardware award is an honor so rare that this long-time author has never had the privilege to bestow it. For earning our highest performance-value awards in both triple-channel (P/N CT3KIT25664BA1339, see our previous memory round-up) and dual-channel (P/N CT2KIT25664BA1339) packaging, Crucial’s DDR3-1333 CAS 9 modules receive this special recognition. Ed.: once again, we're giving the award-winning Crucial modules (and either other sets of memory) away. Enter here. Full list of rules below. As always, apologies to our audience members internationally, but this one is only open to the US and Canada due to legal and logistic limitations. This contest begins on November 12, 2009 at 12:01 am Pacific Standard Time, GMT-8 and ends on November 19, 2009 12:00 midnight, Pacific Standard Time GMT-8. No entries will be accepted after this date and time.. Bestofmedia LLC USA (Bestofmedia) is the sole Sponsor of this contest. There will be nine (9) prizes consisting of 4GB of DDR3 memory. Six (6) of the prizes are included in this article on Tom's Hardware. The winners of the contest will be determined by random drawings. The contest is limited to citizens of the USA and Canada 18 years and older. Only one entry per person is permitted. Multiple entries from the same person will all be discarded. The prize does not include operating system or other software. Prize winners are responsible for all applicable taxes on any prize they win. Bestofmedia is not responsible for damage incurred during shipping of the prize or any winner's use of the prize. Bestofmedia is also not responsible for any failure on your part to receive or respond to email or phone calls indicating you have won the contest. If you do not respond by within 3 days of our notifying you, we will choose another winner. Bestofmedia is not responsible for any injuries you or others may sustain using any contest prize. By entering the contest you agree to abide by all rules of the contest whether stated above or not.

• A-Data DDR3-1333 CAS 9 A-Data has consistently supplied Tom’s Hardware's lab with quality RAM for as long as most of us can remember, striking a balance between performance and price that has often let the firm’s products slip “under the radar” compared to cheaper or faster parts. Yet, today’s retail kit represents the brand’s cheapest parts, and we’re anxious to find out if these offer similar quality to the mid-priced parts we often receive. Read Customer Reviews of A-Data's 4GB DDR3-1333 CAS 9 Kit Available online as part number HY63I1B16K, these DDR3-1333 CAS 9 modules are so low-key they aren’t even found on the manufacturer’s Web site. Yet the fact that these modules are rated at the DDR3 standard 1.50V gives us hope that a little extra voltage might allow the kit to reach far beyond its rated settings. Heat spreaders usually aren’t needed at the A-Data kit’s rated voltage, but once again, we’re hoping that these might give us a little more overclocking capability after custom-voltage levels are applied. Crucial DDR3-1333 CAS 9 Tom’s Hardware has a long history with Crucial’s CT25664BA1339 modules--after the triple-channel kit containing three of the same parts won our previous value comparison, we went on to place two of today’s dual-channel kits in our $2,500 System Builder Marathon machine. Low-cost RAM that’s good enough to qualify for a high-end build? You bet! Read Customer Reviews of Crucial's 2GB DDR3-1333 CAS 9 Kit Many readers will likely be even more shocked that the winning modules from our previous roundup don’t even have heat spreaders. But we’ve found that such accessories are often a hindrance to low-cost parts. Cheap heat spreaders are typically applied with double-sided tape of questionable thermal performance, and Crucial makes no attempt at pretentiousness here. Though CPU-Z doesn’t report the rated DDR3-1333 (667 MHz) and 9-9-9-24 timings of this part number CT2KIT25664BA1339 dual-channel set, the motherboard on our test bed set the modules correctly.