DDR333 or DDR400 for P4S8X

[Jumper377]

Well, I finally ordered that baby, and I got one last thing to get ..... the RAM. I was heading towards the Corsair XMS series, but alas ..... I'm still stuck on whether to get DDR333 or DDR400. Can you guys help me out?

 

[DevilsAdvocate]

Just get 333 - save the cash since performance is about the same between DDR333 and 400 on the 648.

 

[Rick67]

I ordered the same board and decided to get the CORSAIR MEMORY XMS Extreme Memory Speed Series CMX512-2700C2 PC2700 DDR RAM 333MHz w/ Heat Spreader.

 

[Sunny129]

well if you are looking at Corsair's XMS, go for the 3200 (DDR400) over the 2700 (DDR333). the XMS PC2700 uses 7.5ns micron chips. take a look at this PC2700 review @ OCPrices.com:

link

check out the page on XMS PC2700. the micron chips used on this memory are barely OCable, and i'm assuming that of you go with DDR333 over DDR400, you're going to want OC it a little bit (correct me if that's a bad assumption). anyways, since then, Corsair has started manufacturing XMS PC2700 w/ samsung chips instead, improving their OCability quite significantly. this is also in the article, but read through it carefully to get all this info, b/c the product name and revision # remains the same for both modules w/ micron and samsung chips. they only differ in product code, so make sure you know which code to go with if you insist on getting XMS PC2700. i would advise against it only for fear of getting a module w/ micron chips. if you are going to get DDR333, get Samsung original (samsung chips on samsung PCB). higher wuality and a much better OCer.

the XMS PC3200 is a different story. although i havent read any reviews on it, i would assume that under the heat spreaders lie samsung chips since it is rated to run @ 200MHz fsb (400MHz DDR). since we know that DDR400 isnt a JEDEC approved standard yet, all DDR400 memory makers are curently just hand-picking exceptional batches of DDR333 chips and OCing them successfully to 200MHz fsb and slapping a "DDR400" label on them. and according to the above reivew, all the modules able to OC to 200mhZ fsb or close to it are using samsung chips. so i would say its safe to get XMS PC3200 and not have to worry about certain components not being high quality. as for the XMS PC2700, you might have to worry about quality...


i'm going with Samsung Original PC2700 when i build my system w/ a SiS 648 board.

 

[Rick67]

Thanks for the info Sunny129! I think I'll send back my PC2700 and pick up some Samsung like you.

BTW, I noticed that the Samsung Original PC2700 is CAS 2.5. Is this going to be a problem since the Corsair is CAS 2.0?

Thanks again,

 

[Mangler]

IMHO if you are getting a KT400 mobo go ahead and get some PC-3200 ram. Just remember to get only one stick if you plan on running it at 400mhz. Also you should check into getting a CAS 2 module. For Example Geil has a PC-3200 Ultra that runs at DDR 400 in the CL 2 6-3-3 1T Timings. The tests most companies have done on these chipsets have all been on the 2.5 settings. So since you ordered a KT400 mobo go ahead and get good quality ram that will use your board to its full abilities. Also if you want to overclock it the PC-3200 ultra is rated CL2.5 at 433, so you also have overclocking options with it in the CL 2.5 mode. Also Geil uses faster 5ns chips over the slower samsung chips Sunny129 suggested.

I just ordered some myself and am waiting to see the results!

 

[Sunny129]

Originally posted by: Rick67
Thanks for the info Sunny129! I think I'll send back my PC2700 and pick up some Samsung like you.

BTW, I noticed that the Samsung Original PC2700 is CAS 2.5. Is this going to be a problem since the Corsair is CAS 2.0?

Thanks again,

i personally would feel more content with PC2700 cas2.5 memory that will OC much more reliably than with PC2700 cas2 that will barely OC at all. as far as the performance difference between the two (assuming they are both clocked the same), obviously the cas2 memory will out perform the cas2.5 memory, but i don't know on what scale, or how noticeable it will be. we need to get a memory expert in here to answer that question.

as far as PC2700 cas2 and PC3200 cas2.5, i think the PC3200 will outperform the PC2700, even if the cas latency is higher.

 

[Sunny129]

Originally posted by: Mangler
IMHO if you are getting a KT400 mobo go ahead and get some PC-3200 ram. Just remember to get only one stick if you plan on running it at 400mhz. Also you should check into getting a CAS 2 module. For Example Geil has a PC-3200 Ultra that runs at DDR 400 in the CL 2 6-3-3 1T Timings. The tests most companies have done on these chipsets have all been on the 2.5 settings. So since you ordered a KT400 mobo go ahead and get good quality ram that will use your board to its full abilities. Also if you want to overclock it the PC-3200 ultra is rated CL2.5 at 433, so you also have overclocking options with it in the CL 2.5 mode. Also Geil uses faster 5ns chips over the slower samsung chips Sunny129 suggested.

I just ordered some myself and am waiting to see the results!

Geil also makes "PC3500" (DDR433) memory, which is yet another rating which JEDEC has hasn't made official, and will not become official until after DDR400 does. just as PC3200 is simply OCed PC2700 and sold with a different label, i believe Geil's PC3500 is just their OCed PC3200 memory, again sold with a different label...

Geil PC3200 Ultra 256MB: $84.00

Samsung Original PC3200 256MB: $89.95

Corsair XMS PC3200 256MB: $100.00

though reasonably priced, i wouldn't go with Geil is that it is not a large, reputable name brand that has been on or close to the top of the memory industry, and that is enough reason for me to have my doubts...that and the fact that it is rumored that Geil is another reincarnation of OCZ, a memory company that cannot be trusted.