DDR2-8500 comparison

[IanB]

This is a simple comparison question. For an upcoming build (P5K Premium/Q6600 probably) I am looking at adding a 2GB dual channel kit of PC2-8500 DDR2. The three obvious contenders are:

1: Corsair 2GB DDR2 XMS2 Dominator TwinX
2: Crucial Ballistix 2GB (BL2KIT12864AA1065)
3: OCZ Reaper HPC Edition 2GB (OCZ2RPR10662GK)

All have identical headline speed ratings of 1066MHz, CAS 5-5-5-15 and are priced within about £20 of each other, so price is not the prime factor in my decision. What I am looking for is the kit that will not hinder me when I overclock this setup. Currently I am leaning towards the Reaper, or perhaps the faster version of it, because of good reviews and the integrated heatpipe cooling that should work well with the particular fan setup I am planning.

I am looking for replies which can contrast these kits directly, or that can confirm if a particular one might be a bottleneck for overclocking. Please say which of the three you would choose and why, if there is a compelling reason for any over the others, or if there is a significantly better solution than those at a reasonably similar price (the PC2-9200 version of the Reaper for instance) or these are simply overkill and I can use a much cheaper PC2-6400 CAS4 kit without it becoming a barrier on P35/Q6600 then do explain your thinking for suggesting it.

Thank you.

[naokaji]

The Crucial Ballistix are what i would recommend... only seen good results for them, have a look in this thread (http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=143009)

[sam400]

go for crucial , i have a pair , at 2.2v ( nominal voltage ) i can do cas 4 1066 and cas 5 1250 .

[IanB]

Thank you both, and especially for the thread link, naokaji. I kinda expected a separate RAM section in this hardware subforum, I didn't think to look there.

I'm thinking a couple of Thermalright HR-07 coolers on the Crucials would solve the heat problems reported in a few early posts there, and would be better cooling than the integrated heatsinks on the other options, not to mention still cheaper as a combo... ;)

Unless I hear rave reports of the Reapers/Dominators, I'll probably follow your good advice.

[BigDK]

I've got a set of Dominator 8500 C5 2GB, and although they are rock solid performance, I've never got them near 1066, only just over 900, and thats been on 2.2=2.3 v with timings slackened right off and on several different boards the P5WDH. 965DQ6, P5B Deluxe, Striker Extreme, and now an X38DQ6, also using 2 different E6600's
I'm looking to change to Ballistix so reading this post is of interest to me, I know someone else that has the same sticks as me and they work to 1000+ on his 965DQ6 but never 1066, so hope this helps with your decision making.