Dual Channel worthy? 2* OCZ PC-3700EL 512MB OCZ466512EL?

[poeta]

Hi,
I’m in the process of upgrading my computer. I’ve pretty much decided that I would buy the following:

Abit NF7-S v1.2 \Bios Survival Kit
AMD XP 2400+
ThermalRight SLK 800 + Vantec Tornado Fan

OCZ PC-3700EL 512MB OCZ466512EL

NOW HERE IS MY DILEMA: IS DUAL CHANNEL WORTHY ENOUGH TO MAKE ME BUY A SECOND 0CZ 3700 512mb STICK?

I’m hoping for a 215~ 220 FSB on air with my XP 2400+ SLK 800\Vantec Tornado plus 5 case fans (4 Sunnon 80mm, 1 Thermaltake SmartFan II to blow on the side).
Am I dreaming or what? Is this attainable?

[Major]

Im not going to bash OCZ, but I think people are having better luck with Corsair XMS or Kingston Hiper X. and yes 220+ is obtainable several people have hit it out of the box with v1.2 certainly after vdd mod you got it. Is dual channel worth it ? you can usally get higher fsb in single channel, but dc offer better bandwitdh so its sort of a trade off.

[poeta]

Originally posted by Major Slaughter
[Is dual channel worth it ? you can usally get higher fsb in single channel, but dc offer better bandwitdh so its sort of a trade off. [/B]

Hi, thanks for your prompt replay. One question thought: I've read review saying Dual Channel will be equivalent for roughly 5 to 10 extra frames on games, Would you think that would be enough to justify another ~$180 or so stick of memory.

I'm thinking down the road with BARTON 400FSB and hopefully Nforce3 ??? (Drooling already?) there will be a justified reason.
But now?

My conundrum is that memory prices are so low right now that I’m debating weather or not to buy now, in this Pre-Intel Dual Channel Era, or waiting a little longer playing the endless roulette of memory prices.

[youthemandan]

Get that second stick. You will see some nice scores with that. That OCZ 3700 is some good ram.

[TemjinX2]

i have the ocz 3500 ram. Its nice stuff. You might have to increase the voltage on it in dual mode. I think duel mode puts a bit more stress on the ram. I couldn't run duel mode at 217fsb at 2.7volts reliably, so i have to lower it to 2.7 at 2-3-3-7 timings. i have the NF7-s rev 1.1 so i'm stuck at 2.7volts =(. But the ram is good none the less

[TemjinX2]

i mean lower the fsb to 204. Sorry i was muti-tasking while i was typing =).

[I3lackCoffee]

ThermalRight SLK 800 + Vantec Tornado Fan

I really think you should not purchase a Vantec Tornado, it's so loud that it really ANNOYS the hell out of anyone. I mean I don't even care if your in the same room or not you can hear that bad boy anywhere. Im not lying when I say it's louder then a BLOWdryer. I have the SLK800 w/ a regular Sunon 80mm fan and at load the highest tepm i've ever gotten is 37.

[poeta]

Originally posted by I3lackCoffee
I really think you should not purchase a Vantec Tornado, it's so loud that it really ANNOYS the hell out of anyone. I mean I don't even care if your in the same room or not you can hear that bad boy anywhere. Im not lying when I say it's louder then a BLOWdryer. I have the SLK800 w/ a regular Sunon 80mm fan and at load the highest tepm i've ever gotten is 37.

That's the reason I've ordered 4 regular Sunon 80mm fans and 1 Thermaltake SmartFan II just to be safe and have my all my options open. I have Chieftec Server case with 5 fans (2 intakes, 2 out plus 1 on the side blowing in on the VGA).

I live in Puerto Rico and the weather here is always hot: endless summer (low 90s) so, we are already "trained" to have a big Fan or Air Conditioner on all the time. So I'm hoping the "loudness" of the Vantec could be somewhat dissipated by this. Plus, I'm always listening to music when I'm using the computer I've figured that too will hampered the extreme "music" of the Tornado.

I know this might well just be hopeful thinking since I've read somewhere the Tornado could maintain a CD up to 6 inches in the air while blowing at full capacity. Now, that's really scary!

Thanks anyway. I will be reporting from the Deaf Side :D my excruciating experiences.

[I3lackCoffee]

Yeah buddy I just didn't want you going DEAF, I seroiusly mean that. Cause it was so loud that it really started to hurt the inside of my head :( But all in all my PC is super quiet now and I'm thinking of replacing all the CASE fans with Vantec Stealth when I make the switch to DORM ROOMS cause I don't want my roommate getting upset w/ the fan noise. To be honest though he can kiss my ass :D

[Jeff]

I've got two Tornados going about 4ft to my left and they have been running 24/7 for the past few months. Yes they are loud but you get used to the sound(especially when they help you get an extra 100 to 200MHz out of your kit). :D

[BrainStorm]

poeta, why don't you just buy 2 256 meg sticks rather than two 512 meg sticks? I think that's what most people probably run.

[GVCryan]

Well, I like your setup so far.

You might find that sf2 more to your liking on the cpu. It is adjustable, and puts out nearly the same CFM.

Then I would 7v the tornado on the side.

Dual Channel is good for around 10-15%, so yes, I recommend it.

I haven't seen 3700 in 256 sticks, so if you are obsessed with 1024 ram, go ahead, I have it on one of my rigs and I couldn't notice.

I would go for 2x256 3500el or XMS/Twinmoss BH5.

Then blow the spare cash on a Barton 2500.

[poeta]

Originally posted by BrainStorm
poeta, why don't you just buy 2 256 meg sticks rather than two 512 meg sticks? I think that's what most people probably run.

Well I'm thinking that if I choose the 256mb sticks I'll be limiting myself down the road because the NF7-S v1.2 has a limit of only two DDR400 modules.

That and giving the fact that memory prices are showing a record low now... and I'm sure (you could bet your house on that) as soon as those INTEL Dual DDR chipsets begin to appear we will no longer see this bonanza. But the again DDR II is coming along so, you never know.

Yes, it’s and endless spinning roulette!

[DeadHeart]

Poeta, where are you getting those sticks from?

[poeta]

Originally posted by DeadHeart
Poeta, where are you getting those sticks from?

Hi, I'm getting them from http://www.excaliberpc.com

[DeadHeart]

With that nick I thought you were portuguese...

[Alexandrus]

Originally posted by poeta
Hi,
I’m in the process of upgrading my computer. I’ve pretty much decided that I would buy the following:

Abit NF7-S v1.2 \Bios Survival Kit
AMD XP 2400+
ThermalRight SLK 800 + Vantec Tornado Fan

OCZ PC-3700EL 512MB OCZ466512EL

NOW HERE IS MY DILEMA: IS DUAL CHANNEL WORTHY ENOUGH TO MAKE ME BUY A SECOND 0CZ 3700 512mb STICK?

I’m hoping for a 215~ 220 FSB on air with my XP 2400+ SLK 800\Vantec Tornado plus 5 case fans (4 Sunnon 80mm, 1 Thermaltake SmartFan II to blow on the side).
Am I dreaming or what? Is this attainable?

The dual channel might not be worth getting another 512MB module, but having 1GB of RAM is very nice ;)
Plus, having them in dual channel won't hurt.

[NyCUndaGrounD]

hey guys is it possible to put 2 sets of OCZ dual channel 1gb into a dualchannel mobo. Meaning all together 2 gb of memory. Is it possible?

[Alexandrus]

Maybe, if you would have 4 DIMM slots, but I doubt it.