**Help -- Which of these 2GB kits do you think is best?**(Trying to catch a rebate)

[Revivalist]

Well, I've been planning to make the move to 2GB for some time but I've been waiting for some good clocking 2GB kits to drop to around $200. (I've been pretty spoiled with these PC4800 sticks so I was hoping to get something comparable in the 2GB category.) It looks like the time has come with these rebates from Monarch. But there's basically four kits to choose from. Which should I get? :confused:

2 GB DDR400 (PC-3200) OCZ Dual Channel Platinum (OCZ4002048ELDCPE-K) (http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=140226&Category_Code=Rebates&AFFIL=TH&NR=1)
Timings: 2-3-2-5, Voltage: 2.6V
Price: $190.88 (After $35 Rebate)

2 GB DDR400 (PC-3200) OCZ Titanium (OCZ4002048ELDCTE-K) (http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=140533&Category_Code=Rebates&AFFIL=TH&NR=1)
Timings: 2-3-2-5, Voltage: 2.6V
Price: $195.66 (After $40 Rebate)

2GB DDR500 (PC-4000) OCZ EL Gold Gamer Ext. XTC (OCZ5002048ELGEGXT-K) (http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=140535&Category_Code=Rebates&AFFIL=TH&NR=1)
Timings: 3-4-3-8, Voltage: 2.75 Volts
Price: $196.66 (After $30 Rebate)

2 GB DDR500 (PC-4000) OCZ Gold (OCZ5002048ELGE-K) (http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=140363&Category_Code=Rebates&AFFIL=TH&NR=1)
Timings: 3-4-4-8, Voltage: 2.8V
Price: $204.67 (After $25 Rebate)

Basically, these are the questions I have. . . .

1. Is it better to go with a gold kit that is guaranteed to do DDR500 (and probably OC to DDR550) but already has very loose timings . . . or is it better to go with a Platinum/Titanium kit since there is a lot more head room with the tigther timings?

2. What's the difference between the Platinum versus Titanium and which is probably better?

3. What's the difference between the Gold versus EL Gold Gamer and which is probably better?

Thanks for any help guys. . . . Hopefully I can make a clear decision by the end of the day so I can catch the rebate. :)

[high5]

1. Is it better to go with a gold kit that is guaranteed to do DDR500 (and probably OC to DDR550) but already has very loose timings . . . or is it better to go with a Platinum/Titanium kit since there is a lot more head room with the tigther timings?
thats really your call... but these Platinums you listed don't OC so great (on average), so you might wanna go with DDR500 stuff.

2. What's the difference between the Platinum versus Titanium and which is probably better?
the only difference is that Titanium series feature OCZ PowerSwap warranty. read more about it here (http://www.ocztechnology.com/aboutocz/press/2005/127). they're both Infineon/Aeneon based AFAIK.

3. What's the difference between the Gold versus EL Gold Gamer and which is probably better?
the only difference here is the HS, both are Samsung UCCC based.

[WesM63]

Sorry I don't know the diffrences, but figured i'd throw these into the mix as well.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231021

G.SKILL Extreme Series 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 500 (PC 4000) 3-4-4-8

[Revivalist]

Sorry I don't know the diffrences, but figured i'd throw these into the mix as well.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231021

G.SKILL Extreme Series 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 500 (PC 4000) 3-4-4-8Thanks for the suggestion. . . . You'll probably laugh but I'm sort of an OCZ fanboy. . . . I just haven't seen customer support equal to theirs. . . .

[gr8golf]

I can vouch for G.Skill RMA support and their guys post a lot of valuable info regarding their RAM. They are a great option. I've also been happy with my Mushkin PC4000 kit.

[WesM63]

Nope, i agree. I am too. I'm aslo in the same situation. Trying to get the best bang for the buck.

[nn_step]

Well UCCC chips are the way to go for best bang for the buck

[Revivalist]

high5, thanks for that great info. I didn't notice that earlier. :)

nn_step, what 2GB sticks use UCCC? And do you know if it gets along with the DFI Expert?

[nn_step]

G.Skill HZ and Hs I know use UCCC, Samsaung UCCC is kind of blatantly obvious.. as for other sources you will have to do some looking

[Revivalist]

Well, I just ran some numbers and I realized that it's going to be hard to even find good settings with that RAM. . . . I know for sure I need 325HTT x 10 to run 3.25GHz. So that leaves me with the following options. . .

Use a 9/10 divider to give 295MHz on the RAM (keeping in mind that the RAM speed must be a multiple of the CPU speed on a A64 system). But I doubt the RAM will do that, even with timings completely dropped to something like 3-6-6-15 2T.

Or I could use a 7/10 divider to give 232MHz on the RAM . . . But that would be underclocking it! :bang head . . . May it never be!!

So I don't even know if DDR500 RAM will work well with the numbers I'm dealing with.

[nn_step]

Dude 325mhz for 1Gb sticks is impossible..
set your memory to 150/200.. you will get the overclock you want and not underclock your ram too much

[Revivalist]

Dude 325mhz for 1Gb sticks is impossible..
set your memory to 150/200.. you will get the overclock you want and not underclock your ram too muchOk. Hopefully I can even get away with the 166/200 divider. . . . I didn't expect that I would be able to run them at 325MHz 1:1.

[nn_step]

should be able to do that 166/200 with 270mhz ram.. not too much of a stretch for UCCC

[Revivalist]

Alright! It looks like the OCZ Gold is also UCCC. --> linky (http://home.wanadoo.nl/r.vannoort/RAM_List.htm)

Ok, so unless anyone has anymore suggestions, I believe I will be purchasing these . . .

2GB DDR500 (PC-4000) OCZ EL Gold Gamer Ext. XTC (OCZ5002048ELGEGXT-K) (http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=140535&Category_Code=Rebates&AFFIL=TH&NR=1)
Timings: 3-4-3-8, Voltage: 2.75 Volts
Price: $196.66 (After $30 Rebate)

[nn_step]

go for it man