[SOLVED] What RAM to buy!

swarner · 01-21-2009, 07:24 AM

I have recently been deciding on what 4GB memory kit to get as 2GB just aint cuttin it in vista! I have narrowed it down to these 4:

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=361531

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=338074

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=339129

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=347969

Any expert advice on which to chose would be appreciated. Thanks!!

P.S Yes i know that a 32bit OS will only address about 3.5GB!

**wrench97** · 01-21-2009, 01:29 PM

They are all nice but what are putting the memory in? Brand and Model.

swarner · 01-21-2009, 02:20 PM

Hi system is a dell xps 710 with the 590sli mobo(supports ddr2 pc6400)

PC is a Primarily a gaming and 3D moddeling system.

Spec:

QuadCore Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700 (OC@3.2GHz)
NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTX (768 MB) (OC@661,1549,1050)
750W Dell PSU

Thanks

**wrench97** · 01-21-2009, 03:13 PM

I would use the Corsair in this > http://www.corsair.com/configurator/....aspx?id=61236
Which is this one> http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=338074
You will need the 1.4.1 Bios update to use 800Mhz ram if you do not have already.

swarner · 01-21-2009, 03:35 PM

Thanks for the advice, just as a matter of interest why would you go for this one?

I mean the crucial RAM has CL4 timings while that corsair RAM has CL5 timings. Arn't CL4 timings faster?

**wrench97** · 01-21-2009, 03:40 PM

I normally like Crucial for Dell's but in this case Crucial says 1Gig per slot?> http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/list...=XPS%20710
Neither of them list the lower timings for that board which tells me somethings up.
BTW did you get the motherboard replacement/upgrade Dell was offering or is this the original.

swarner · 01-21-2009, 03:58 PM

Ahhhhhhhhh............interesting. guess i go for the corsair to be safe.

I didn't know they were offering a replacement/upgrade, I normally build my own systems but i got this XPS 710 on ebay from a dell factory outlet as a refurbished product! But it hadn't even been used it had been returned to dell as a wrong order, so i got it at the cool price of €650!! and that was over a year ago so i couldn't resist although i'm not a fan of Dell!

So i presume this is the origional mobo!?

**wrench97** · 01-21-2009, 04:15 PM

Probably the early ones especially the XPS 700 had a free upgrade offer because they were slow and had quite a few defective boards the 710 corrected the defect but had a 1/2 price upgrade offer to the 720 board I think they both expired 12/07 though.

swarner · 01-21-2009, 04:36 PM

Oh guess im a bit late!!

On a seperate note i was thinking of going sli, would you reccommend getting a new mobo first or would the old 590 be okay??
I mean would there be a graphics performance increase if i went sli on a newer sli mobo??

thanks

**wrench97** · 01-21-2009, 05:07 PM

I'm not a big fan of SLI a single large card will usually out perform 2 smaller ones and 2 large cards are over kill when you look at the cost for the 15-20% gain in games that are optimized for it and actually a loss in frame rates on some games.
The Motherboard in the XPS's are not standard ATX they are BTX extremely hard find a nonDell replacement or upgrade, I haven't seen a new retail BTX board in some time.
and I'm pretty sure they are like the XPS400-410 and are a nonstandard BTX board at that.

swarner · 01-21-2009, 05:21 PM

Yeh unfortunatly i was aware that the mobo was BTX form factor, I was planning on getting a cheap new case, new mobo and then modding the case to fit the dell PSU because i dont think they fit in standard PSU housing!

**wrench97** · 01-21-2009, 05:28 PM

And a OS because the OEM windows install can't be transferred to a new MB, then the newer cards(GTX285. GTX295, HD4870x2) need more then 750w to run at their full potential You might be better off selling the XPS and building fresh. Wait 6 months and the new 1366 socket motherboards should be priced better and have the bugs worked out of them.

swarner · 01-21-2009, 05:40 PM

Yeh perhaps your right, Its been a while since i did a fresh build anyway!

Just need to find some money!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for your advice and help!

01-21-2009, 07:24 AM	#1 (permalink)
swarner Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Ireland Posts: 272 OS: Vista Ultimate	[SOLVED] What RAM to buy! I have recently been deciding on what 4GB memory kit to get as 2GB just aint cuttin it in vista! I have narrowed it down to these 4: http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=361531 http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=338074 http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=339129 http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=347969 Any expert advice on which to chose would be appreciated. Thanks!! P.S Yes i know that a 32bit OS will only address about 3.5GB! __________________ Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad Computers are like air conditioners. They work best with windows closed. Last edited by swarner; 01-21-2009 at 07:25 AM.

01-21-2009, 01:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,543 OS: Win7	Re: What RAM to buy! They are all nice but what are putting the memory in? Brand and Model. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

01-21-2009, 02:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
swarner Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Ireland Posts: 272 OS: Vista Ultimate	Re: What RAM to buy! Hi system is a dell xps 710 with the 590sli mobo(supports ddr2 pc6400) PC is a Primarily a gaming and 3D moddeling system. Spec: QuadCore Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700 (OC@3.2GHz) NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTX (768 MB) (OC@661,1549,1050) 750W Dell PSU Thanks __________________ Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad Computers are like air conditioners. They work best with windows closed.

01-21-2009, 03:13 PM	#4 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,543 OS: Win7	Re: What RAM to buy! I would use the Corsair in this > http://www.corsair.com/configurator/....aspx?id=61236 Which is this one> http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=338074 You will need the 1.4.1 Bios update to use 800Mhz ram if you do not have already. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

01-21-2009, 03:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
swarner Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Ireland Posts: 272 OS: Vista Ultimate	Re: What RAM to buy! Thanks for the advice, just as a matter of interest why would you go for this one? I mean the crucial RAM has CL4 timings while that corsair RAM has CL5 timings. Arn't CL4 timings faster? __________________ Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad Computers are like air conditioners. They work best with windows closed.

01-21-2009, 03:40 PM	#6 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,543 OS: Win7	Re: What RAM to buy! I normally like Crucial for Dell's but in this case Crucial says 1Gig per slot?> http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/list...=XPS%20710 Neither of them list the lower timings for that board which tells me somethings up. BTW did you get the motherboard replacement/upgrade Dell was offering or is this the original. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

01-21-2009, 03:58 PM	#7 (permalink)
swarner Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Ireland Posts: 272 OS: Vista Ultimate	Re: What RAM to buy! Ahhhhhhhhh............interesting. guess i go for the corsair to be safe. I didn't know they were offering a replacement/upgrade, I normally build my own systems but i got this XPS 710 on ebay from a dell factory outlet as a refurbished product! But it hadn't even been used it had been returned to dell as a wrong order, so i got it at the cool price of €650!! and that was over a year ago so i couldn't resist although i'm not a fan of Dell! So i presume this is the origional mobo!? __________________ Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad Computers are like air conditioners. They work best with windows closed.

01-21-2009, 04:15 PM	#8 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,543 OS: Win7	Re: What RAM to buy! Probably the early ones especially the XPS 700 had a free upgrade offer because they were slow and had quite a few defective boards the 710 corrected the defect but had a 1/2 price upgrade offer to the 720 board I think they both expired 12/07 though. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

01-21-2009, 04:36 PM	#9 (permalink)
swarner Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Ireland Posts: 272 OS: Vista Ultimate	Re: What RAM to buy! Oh guess im a bit late!! On a seperate note i was thinking of going sli, would you reccommend getting a new mobo first or would the old 590 be okay?? I mean would there be a graphics performance increase if i went sli on a newer sli mobo?? thanks __________________ Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad Computers are like air conditioners. They work best with windows closed.

01-21-2009, 05:07 PM	#10 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,543 OS: Win7	Re: What RAM to buy! I'm not a big fan of SLI a single large card will usually out perform 2 smaller ones and 2 large cards are over kill when you look at the cost for the 15-20% gain in games that are optimized for it and actually a loss in frame rates on some games. The Motherboard in the XPS's are not standard ATX they are BTX extremely hard find a nonDell replacement or upgrade, I haven't seen a new retail BTX board in some time. and I'm pretty sure they are like the XPS400-410 and are a nonstandard BTX board at that. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

01-21-2009, 05:21 PM	#11 (permalink)
swarner Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Ireland Posts: 272 OS: Vista Ultimate	Re: What RAM to buy! Yeh unfortunatly i was aware that the mobo was BTX form factor, I was planning on getting a cheap new case, new mobo and then modding the case to fit the dell PSU because i dont think they fit in standard PSU housing! __________________ Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad Computers are like air conditioners. They work best with windows closed.

01-21-2009, 05:28 PM	#12 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,543 OS: Win7	Re: What RAM to buy! And a OS because the OEM windows install can't be transferred to a new MB, then the newer cards(GTX285. GTX295, HD4870x2) need more then 750w to run at their full potential You might be better off selling the XPS and building fresh. Wait 6 months and the new 1366 socket motherboards should be priced better and have the bugs worked out of them. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

01-21-2009, 05:40 PM	#13 (permalink)
swarner Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Ireland Posts: 272 OS: Vista Ultimate	Re: What RAM to buy! Yeh perhaps your right, Its been a while since i did a fresh build anyway! Just need to find some money!!!!!!!!! Thanks for your advice and help! __________________ Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad Computers are like air conditioners. They work best with windows closed.