[Trahn_Lee_Liao]

I have a question that maybe one of the bigger "computer guru's" can answer. I am going to update my memory in my current machine. I am running pc2700 DDR in it now.. It can run pc3200 DDR (in fact that is preferred.)

Here is my question.. I see all kinds of different memory out there now in the PC 3200 series. Yea, I know some brands are supposed to be better than others.. Like Crucial..vs Geil.. Some like Oz.. Others Kingston or Kingmax.. Anyway, when it comes right down to it.. Memory.. is well.. Memory. I know it is not all created equal. I see all the different numbers relating to latency. Like CAS Latency: 2-3-3-6 1T

What is the significance of the numbers...Most of this stuff is either 2.5 or 3. I assume the lower the number the better off you are.. however.. Is this really the case?? Does it make that BIG of a difference.

Anyway, opinions are requested. I am not trying to spend a mint on memory. (Its easy to do with the way things are right now...lol - I should have bought some 2 months ago..)

[Horsepower]

it mostly depends on how much u want to spend, and what you're going to do with it. higher CAS latencies don't make that much of a difference, unless you are are overclocking, or trying to get the highest points on PCMark. for example, i have relaxed the timings on my RAM to 2.5-4-4 because i am overclocking the piss out my processor. if i didn't do that, i couldn't get such a high overclock because the mulitpliers are locked on P4 boards. i could have spent more on RAM that would have handled the overclock at 2-2-2, but the performance vs the price just didn't make sense to me.

latencies of 2-2-2 are the best, but you're going to spend through the nose to get a stick with those specs. 2.5-3-3 or lower would probably suit you fine. keep in mind that no matter what the specs are on the new ram, it will be no faster than what you are already using. Crucial is great RAM for non-overclockers, but their latencies sucked last time i looked at them(9 months ago). i personally use Mushkin. everyone will have different opinions about which RAM is good, but you'll be hard pressed to find someone that says Mushkin sucks. unfortunately, it's a more expensive brand of ram.

if you know what motherboard you have, search for a forum that has a discussion about it. search the posts and see if there are any issues with "Brand X" memory in that board. you also should check the manufacturers site to see what RAM they recommend.

moving to Server and Computer help.

[Uncle Ho]

Go forth young man and buy this :

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...146-284&depa=1

Its the stuff that dreams are made of.............................

[Horsepower]

haha @ ho

yep, it's great Ram. but man, $195 for a 512 stick is a lot. if you're really interested in Mushkin Trahn, check Mushkin's site. They often have deals, especially on the weekends. If you don't see anything, call and ask the receptionist. Btw, their customer support is excellent, as is their packaging. My ram came suspended in a balloon. After I installed the ram, the balloon kept me amused for days.

[Uncle Ho]

Well I was gonna get some more memory and I went to that site but my MOBO isnt on the list of compatible boards
[The Ram is cheaper there by $50.00 although its not 2-2-2]

Athlon XP 3400+
Asus K8V Deluxe
512 mb Who knows DDR400 2.5-3-3
Nvidia 5900 XT

You would think it would be there but suprisingly I have only found it on a very few Ram weavers lists.

Ho

[CannonFodder]

Crucial.com is usually pretty decent pricewise as well, and I've yet to have an issue with any of their ram. For my PowerMac Dual 2 GHz G5, I bought 2GB at around $389 (4x512), so it was like $89-$91 for a 512 of PC3200

[Trahn_Lee_Liao]

Thanks guys for the responses. The jury is still out. There are several brands listed that I can go with.. Mushkin is one as is crucial.. I have Kingston Technologies in it now. I think I will just put in the other 512mb of pc2700 that I have sitting here. (That will pump me up to 1.5mb of system memory). I am going to wait 1 more month in hopes that the prices of memory will come back down some. I just dropped another $200.00 into the machine today getting an upgraded power suppy and a new CPU heatsink along with some more case fans.

By the way.. I am running an AMD Athalon XP3200 64Bit processor on an Abit KV8-Max3 motherboard. It runs great..and benches at almost 17500 on the 3dmark2001SE scores. I am running a FX5900 video card clocked to FX5950 specs. (Its only a 128mb card.. so it won't perform like the true FX5950 will..)

Anyway, since I am poor again for at least another month.. I will wait for a hopeful price drop. Thanks again for the information Horse. At least now I know what the numbers mean.