Best 2x1GB RAM?

[TechNooB]

Hi. Looking specifically for xtremesystems users opinions on the best 2x1GB kit. Most of the recommendations I've been getting on Anandtech are Mushkin or G.Skill. I was leaning towards Mushkin at one point, but I just glanced at the OC database and I see the majority of users going with Crucial Ballistix. And since the majority of xtremesystem users are crazy overclockers, I wanted your opinions specifically.

Btw, what is this brainpower thing i've been seeing and where do you guys buy your RAM?

Edit: Just had a look at the Crucial Ballistix RAM that is topping the OC charts and my god are the reviews horrible.

[dnottis]

Hi. Looking specifically for xtremesystems users opinions on the best 2x1GB kit. Most of the recommendations I've been getting on Anandtech are Mushkin or G.Skill. I was leaning towards Mushkin at one point, but I just glanced at the OC database and I see the majority of users going with Crucial Ballistix. And since the majority of xtremesystem users are crazy overclockers, I wanted your opinions specifically.

Btw, what is this brainpower thing i've been seeing and where do you guys buy your RAM?

OCZ EB PC4000 2048 kit.

BrainPower makes the PCB (printed circuit board) that the memory chips are placed onto. They tend of overclock better and provide cleaner signal than cheaper PCBs generic memory usually uses.

[cx323]

Crucial Ballistix if you can get a good kit, otherwise gskill pc4000 w/ uccc

People normally buy ram from a site like zzf, newegg, or in the for sale section on forums

[nn_step]

The Ballistix are good Overclockers but lately they have been dying left and right.. Might I suggest you get some UCCC ram

[TechNooB]

Whats UCCC?

[sin0822]

UCCC is a samsugn IC used for some 2gb modules, they have bad timings, but seem to be producing higher fsb. CE-6 and CE-5 are infineon chips that are also used and youll know when you see PC 4000 3,3,2,8. Hte Platinum EB and the Mushkin Redline are basically hte same. I liek the mushkin more becaus ei have had experience with it.

[manomanx2]

You want:
A) OCZ EB PC4000 2X1024
B) Crucial Ballistix PC4000 2X1024
C) Mushkin Redlines 2X1024

[scarface_what]

agreed but instead of the ocz pc4000 as thats not specific id go vx gold pc4000

i also havent heard much from ballistix other than thyey fry fast.

[high5]

BrainPower makes the PCB (printed circuit board) that the memory chips are placed onto. They tend of overclock better and provide cleaner signal than cheaper PCBs generic memory usually uses.
correction, BrainPower is the cheapest PCB around. nowadys, even the majority of value manufacturers use BP PCBs.

agreed but instead of the ocz pc4000 as thats not specific id go vx gold pc4000
he's looking for 2×1GB, and there's no such VX.

as for the recommendations, if OC is most important thing to you i'd go for GSkill HZ, if not than GSkill ZX.

[MikalCarbine]

I'm looking into a new 2x1G kit too

I currently have OCZ PC4000 EB but I can't clock them that well, I don't know if it's my mem controller or not.

Either way, I am interested in Ballistix, but why are they dying left and right? Is it a heat issue? I am already actively cooling my OCZ, which I would also do with the new memory I get. I need to hit 270-280HTT (So PC4000 at the start), the higher the better.

I am thinking of

2GB Z503 Ballistix
OCZ PC4000 Gold XTC

How are G.Skill's kit?

[DAK1640]

The newer release Ballistix seem fine. There was a bad batch of Z503 but that seems to have passed. I would recommend Ballistix for those OC's.

[TechNooB]

I don't see any mushkin redlines, only extreme performance.

[MikalCarbine]

The newer release Ballistix seem fine. There was a bad batch of Z503 but that seems to have passed. I would recommend Ballistix for those OC's.

Can anyone else verify this? Perhaps first hand :D

[cx323]

I don't see any mushkin redlines, only extreme performance.

http://mushkin.com/doc/products/memory_detail.asp?ID=273

[axion]

A lot of people seemed to like those G.Skill HZ's

[stone_cold_Jimi]

Can anyone else verify this? Perhaps first hand :D

There's a long thread on dfi-street about it. My Ballistix will hit 60C left uncooled and I expect them to die sooner or later; newer RMAs are hitting only 25C uncooled. While they work properly, there's nothing to beat them for flexibility. At 1T, mine do 2-2-2-5 @ 200MHz and 3-3-2-7 @ 250MHz (SPD 3-4-4-10), 3-3-3-8 @ 282MHz @ 2.85v.

[MikalCarbine]

Shouldn't you actively cool them and save yourself some nice overclockers? :P

[high5]

There's a long thread on dfi-street about it. My Ballistix will hit 60C left uncooled and I expect them to die sooner or later; newer RMAs are hitting only 25C uncooled. While they work properly, there's nothing to beat them for flexibility. At 1T, mine do 2-2-2-5 @ 200MHz and 3-3-2-7 @ 250MHz (SPD 3-4-4-10), 3-3-3-8 @ 282MHz @ 2.85v.
are there any informations on how to identify bad ones? some batch #'s list etc?

[Coroner Kyle]

So does the OCZ/Mushkin or Crucial give the best performance?

And which one gives the best relibility? I cannot decide between the two?

Not trying to threadjack, but I have similar questions. ;)

[v3n]

A lot of people seemed to like those G.Skill HZ's

yeah I think they are the best around

[dng]

what's a good pair of 2x1GB pc4000 that i can get for my 4400 x2 that can scale to 2.7 or 2.8Ghz. there's flexibility of going either the 10x or 11x multi route so either 270 htt at 1:1 ratio and 1T timing with decent memory timings or 250 htt at 1:1 ratio and 1T timing with tight memory timings. i'm thinking of getting the g.skill zh sticks, but i read mixed reviews on it from dfi-street forum. what's the warranty on the g.skill? are there any pairs of pc4000 out there that can do 2.5-3-3-7 at 270+ htt at 1:1 cpu/mem ratio with 1T timing?

[nn_step]

what's a good pair of 2x1GB pc4000 that i can get for my 4400 x2 that can scale to 2.7 or 2.8Ghz. there's flexibility of going either the 10x or 11x multi route so either 270 htt at 1:1 ratio and 1T timing with decent memory timings or 250 htt at 1:1 ratio and 1T timing with tight memory timings. i'm thinking of getting the g.skill zh sticks, but i read mixed reviews on it from dfi-street forum. what's the warranty on the g.skill? are there any pairs of pc4000 out there that can do 2.5-3-3-7 at 270+ htt at 1:1 cpu/mem ratio with 1T timing?
no but there are sticks that can do 3-3-3-7 @270+

[dng]

fair enough. the difference between 2.5 and 3 is probably pretty small anyway. so what 2x1GB kit will allow 3-3-3-7 at 270 or above htt with 1:1 ratio and 1T timing? i hope the price is not premium :(. or maybe i should go for 250 htt with 2.5-3-3-7 timings at 1:1 ratio. what do you guys think? thanks.

[nn_step]

kind of small.. the only sticks that I know can reliably get to 270+ with 3-3-3-7-T1 is http://www.tankguys.biz/team-xtreem-cronus-3338-pc4000-micron-p-1542.html?osCsid=06eec9bd55abf6db8e2e22a3946f8cf3
but if that is too much of a premium we can find you something better suited for your budget.

[teko]

I would for one reason only chose OCZ, and that's the RMA policy.. Apart from that, it's more or less a draw of luck.. SOme are bad some are good modules, doesn't really depend on the brand IMO (when we are talking about OCZ-Gskill-Mushkin and Crucial 2*1GB kit's)..

[dng]

i just bought the ocz5002048elgegxt-k kit from outpost recently, but it doesn't oc much at all. hence the reason i'm trying to find something better. i heard the rebate from ocz sucks and i see that the egg has the g.skill zh kit rather cheap with no rebate hassle. i think it's true it doesn't matter the brand, but more of luck of the draw. i'm leaning towards the g.skill kit, but warranty and rma might be a turn off. what else is there besides the expensive and use at your own risk ballistix? the team xtreem kit is too much for my pocket :).

[Kappy]

I'd say a pair of good Crucial BallistiX

[nn_step]

I'd say a pair of good Crucial BallistiX
yeah they work well for a little while, then they die on you..:stick: