Help me decide on my DDR2 RAM for my AM2.....

[OCZSpeedJunky]

Ok peeps, looking for some advice. I have read up on as much info as I can find, and still can't decide. Hoping one of you guru's here can gimme some more advice on which to use as I am ordering a set in the morning. If ya need to know, I already got the mobo & CPU, just need to order RAM. It will be running with a AM2 3800+ CPU & a Asus Crosshair mobo. Please, someone help me decide lol

$200 - 350 sets

OCZ DDR2 900
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820227128

Mushkin DDR2 800
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820146108

G Skill DDR2 800
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820231065

Corsair DDR2 800
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820145038

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820145034

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820145039

Price really isn't an issue, so I might use a set of DDR2 1000 if one is suggested, but I'd like to stick to a set under $400. I am heavily leaning towards the OCZ DDR2 900's, but I haven't seen much info on them yet. Either them, or the G Skill's or the Mushkin XP2's. So, advise away and let me know what some of you guys think. Thanks a bunch in advance. :)

[Serge84]

Get the Gskill. I can get over 1100mhz on just 2.2v.

[teko]

I've just ordered the Gskill, so I say get the Gskill's ;)

[pcmoddingmy]

Go for OCZ Plat PC7200... they seem to overclock above DDR1100.
Gskill is not a bad choice too...
If you want some pimping action, grab the XPERT DDR2!

[Cpt Twitchy]

G.SKill or Team group

[arisythila]

http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/memory/ocz_ddr2_pc2_6400_platinum_dual_channel

This stuff is real good, I got the OCZ2P8002GK for like 200ish

It's able to OC pretty well too, I've got up to DDR2-1000 with 2.1v, havent tested past that.

~Mike

[OCZSpeedJunky]

G.SKill or Team group

Was looking for the Team Group sticks, but couldn't find'm. Still getting used to the site some. Haven't been here looking around in quite awhile. That'll change though. :)
The one set of TG I did find were the DDR2 800's for like $305 I think, but it said they "might" come with heatspreaders. Well, I definately want heatspreaders. If they for sure will come with them, then I'll order them too, 'cuz I am working on trying to get possibly into some more overclocking since I got a ton of free time on my hands these days. Figure I'll use it working on some heavy clocks :D
LMK if ya can on those TG spreaders, and maybe I'll order those too. As far as my others, I was looking at the GSkills, the Mushkin XP2's, and the OCZ 900's. I ordered the OCZ 900's for now.
I did a ton of reading last night and the OCZ 900's got some seriously sweet reviews. All the benchies I seen had them rated running neck and neck with the Titanium Alpha VX2's. The VX2's didn't pull away till they got above 2.4v. The one review had the DDR2 900's clocked up too 1105mhz on 2.3v, which is damn good, plus I wanted to see how the EPP works. As far as the Mushkin & GSkill. The DDR2 800 tests I seen, the Mushkins were beating everything. The XP2 800 are damn solid. I'll link the review below.
They ran them against the GSkills, some PQI, Vitesta Adata(avoid these), the Corsair CAS3 chips, Crucials, & OCZ Plat. Rev. 2, and the Mushkin beat everything except the Corsair CAS 3 stock. And when overclocked, the Mushkins were almost always on top. They are some damn sweet chips. At the stock DDR2 800 speed, they ran 3-3-3-9 timings(as did a couple others). I like the GSkills, but they are pretty much the same as the Mushkins aside from the heatspreaders. And on another review I read, the GSkills became unstable above 1066 for some reason. The reviewer was using the Foxcon 590 mobo and a 3500+ CPU, so maybe it was just the set of sticks he got. Anyway, I am looking to get 2 or 3 sets anyways, so keep the suggestions coming. Looking for some solid DDR2 1000 also. Like I said, looking to use my spare time to overclock a bunch since I got the cooling to do it. So, let me know fellas and I'll look into getting whatever is suggested. For the moment though, gonna use the OCZ DDR2 900's. Wanna try out the EPP settings. Anyway, gotta go do some ordering. :D Thanks guys.

[danbfree]

I've had the G.Skills for a week and am running them at 832 4-4-4-12, 2.1v for now. After hearing the good stories here about over 1000, I'm going to push 'em a little after work tonight. Great RAM for the money!

[OCZSpeedJunky]

I've had the G.Skills for a week and am running them at 832 4-4-4-12, 2.1v for now. After hearing the good stories here about over 1000, I'm going to push 'em a little after work tonight. Great RAM for the money!

If you're interested danb, I found a couple overclocking reviews on those GSkill chips. Let me know 'cuz I think I saved them.

Anyway, I ended up ordering the OCZ Platinum DDR2 900 EPP Edition, they got some damn good reviews. Only better reviews I seen were on the Mushkin XP2's DDR2 800. They are awesome clockers also. Read a review comparing the Mushkins with GSkills, OCZ DDR2 800 Rev. 2, Crucials, Corsairs CAS3 DDR2 800, and a couple others, and the Mushkins rocked. And the Mushkins, Crucial Ballistix, & GSkills all have the same RAM IC's on them pretty much. Anyway, I'll put up some info later and let ya'll know how these OCZ 900's clock this weekend. Curious to see how this Crosshair mobo with a 3800+ works out :D

Thanks guys

Tony

[marauder16]

I'd normally vote for OCZ PC7200 but since I don't know how it works with Crosshair I can't tell you for certain...

[OCZSpeedJunky]

I'd normally vote for OCZ PC7200 but since I don't know how it works with Crosshair I can't tell you for certain...

Well, I'll let ya know when mine gets here tomorrow. Already got my mobo & CPU, RAM should be here tomorrow. So I'll drop some reports here after I play a bit this weekend. :D

[blacksun1942]

Vitesta Adata(avoid these)



Funny you say that, Anandtech disagrees with you:

http://anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=2797&p=17

The DDR2-533 2GB kit ran DDR2-800 @ 4-3-3-8, 2.1v stable
For "value" RAM, that's absolutely excellent.

A-Data is one of the largest memory application suppliers in the world and their Vitesta DDR2-533 kit performed extremely well in our testing from both a timing and voltage aspect. The quality of the heat spreaders and memory PCB is excellent.

[FLMJIGGY]

My vote

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=80061-9&ps=ho4

[IMCL85]

OCz gold :)

[OCZSpeedJunky]

Funny you say that, Anandtech disagrees with you:

http://anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=2797&p=17

The DDR2-533 2GB kit ran DDR2-800 @ 4-3-3-8, 2.1v stable
For "value" RAM, that's absolutely excellent.

I'll drop the link here tomorrow I was reading on a memory roundup test. That review that I read was the one that said to stay away from the Adata DDR2, think it was either 667 or 800. They wouldn't clock for crap. I'll show ya tomorrow. Off to get some sleep for a few hours now. Later.

OCZ

[WeStSiDePLaYa]

http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/memory/ocz_ddr2_pc2_6400_platinum_dual_channel

This stuff is real good, I got the OCZ2P8002GK for like 200ish

It's able to OC pretty well too, I've got up to DDR2-1000 with 2.1v, havent tested past that.

~Mike


think you could tell me your timings and drive strengths? i have the same ram, same board, and also an X2. but i cant get it to go very far. (ddr2 900 with 2.3v)

you have the rev 1 as well?

[Serge84]

I was able to reach 1200mhz with my gskills on 2.2v. Board FSB is limiting anything higher and Volts with the CPU. Everything maxes out because of FSB issues of the board and voltage. I'm getting a DFI next when they come out in Matx.