[SOLVED] What RAM Should I Buy?

Grant101 · 02-26-2009, 11:16 AM

Hey guys,

I am a PC gamer and i would like to purchase some new RAM to improve the speed of my games/overall performance of the computer. I had a bit of a nightmare with trying to replace the CPU (see my topic in CPU's), so ive decided to stick with my current CPU and upgrade my RAM.

I currently have 2GB of Kingston RAM (2 x 1GB Sticks)

I was thinking of upgrading to something like OCZ 4GB 1066Mhz (2 x 2GB)
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/149202

but i came across this on the same site.
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/154644
Its slower but has the same price

Anything i should consider?

Any RAM recommended?

Is RAM the best thing for me to upgrade?

Comp Specs:
Intel pentium D @ 3.00ghz
Nvidia GeForce 8600GT
2GB RAM

Grant101 · 02-27-2009, 11:11 AM

anyone?

**speedster123** · 02-27-2009, 11:51 AM

ocz would be my choice.

Grant101 · 02-28-2009, 03:42 AM

Both of them are OCZ, which one would you buy though?
The more expensive one seems to be worse than the less expensive one :S
Anyone know why?

Grant101 · 02-28-2009, 04:00 AM

I use my computer for gaming, amongst other things. Im looking to purchase some new RAM to speed up my system.

Anyone have any recommendations of what makes, how much, etc. I have 2 RAM slots (DDR2). I would like to get the best RAM possible, with a budget of about £50.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated

**grimx133** · 02-28-2009, 04:08 AM

Depends on your motherboard. Best way is to search the memory configurators at the memory manufacturer's websites. You put in your motherboard and they give you the compatible ram they make, and then you look for the part numbers where you purchase components.
Crucial - www.crucial.com
OCZ - http://conf.ocztechnology.com/index.php?c
Corsair - http://www.corsairmemory.com/configurator/default.aspx

edit - try this ocz link if problems with the other http://conf.ocztechnology.com/index.php?c=1

There's a few, other brands have them as well.

**grimx133** · 02-28-2009, 04:17 AM

If they are both compatable with your motherboard, then the faster is generally better. If you overclock at all, the 1066Mhz and 2.1 volt ram is what you want. Look to your other post for a link to check for compatability.
Lower timings are better too, the ocz reaper 1066 has tighter timings than the one you listed, but probably is higher priced.

**wrench97** · 02-28-2009, 04:19 AM

No reason for multiple threads on this.

As Grimx stated your motherboard id the determining factor, if your unsure what it is D/L CPUz the Mainboard Tab will tell you what it is> http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

Grant101 · 02-28-2009, 04:55 AM

Heres the results:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/grantph...11879/sizes/l/

Does this mean i can only buy "DDR PC2-5300".

I was under the impression i could buy any DDR2 stick because i am removing all of my current RAM and replacing it with new sticks.

My motherboard is ASRock ConRoe1333 - D667 (thats what it says on the motherboard anyway) Im not sure whether it is a R1.0 or a 2.0 :S Does it matter?

**wrench97** · 02-28-2009, 05:47 AM

What it means is the motherboard will only run up to 667 speed even if you put 800 in you will only get 667, It's best to run ram compatible with your motherboard so I would use the PC5300.

Grant101 · 02-28-2009, 09:18 AM

Are you sure that is 667Mhz speed of RAM :S Seems very small been as my motherboard is fairly new.

EDIT: Ok, if 667 is all my motherboard can handle then I have narrowed the choices down to these four. Can someone tell me which is best?

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/131128

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/142429

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/142387

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/130666

Ad you can see, the last one is substantially cheaper than the rest, why is that?

(those 4 choices are all PC2 5300)

**wrench97** · 02-28-2009, 11:21 AM

From Asrock the Specks on your board the 945 chip set is from around 2005 you can still buy them today but they were designed when PC 5300 was fast ram.

Use these they are on the Corsair support list> http://www.ebuyer.com/product/130429

http://www.corsair.com/configurator/...aspx?id=280344

Grant101 · 03-01-2009, 03:58 AM

Darn.

A friend recommended that i bought these yesterday:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/130666

So i purchased them, they should be delivered on tuesday. Will they still work just as well?

**wrench97** · 03-01-2009, 04:20 AM

Kingston does not list any Asrock boards so it may it's generic ram, you'll find out on Tuesday.

Grant101 · 03-01-2009, 04:22 AM

The RAM i currently have in my computer is made by kingston. Does that mean this new kingston RAM will work?

**wrench97** · 03-01-2009, 04:28 AM

No, but there is a good chance that it will.

Grant101 · 03-01-2009, 04:32 AM

hmm ok, and there is no way of finding out for sure until i put it in?

Grant101 · 03-03-2009, 01:58 PM

The RAM arrived today, I fitted it and everything is working great

Thanks for all your help guys

**wrench97** · 03-03-2009, 02:11 PM

Good to hear:)

02-26-2009, 11:16 AM	#1 (permalink)
Grant101 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Wales Posts: 49 OS: Vista Home Basic	[SOLVED] What RAM Should I Buy? Hey guys, I am a PC gamer and i would like to purchase some new RAM to improve the speed of my games/overall performance of the computer. I had a bit of a nightmare with trying to replace the CPU (see my topic in CPU's), so ive decided to stick with my current CPU and upgrade my RAM. I currently have 2GB of Kingston RAM (2 x 1GB Sticks) I was thinking of upgrading to something like OCZ 4GB 1066Mhz (2 x 2GB) http://www.ebuyer.com/product/149202 but i came across this on the same site. http://www.ebuyer.com/product/154644 Its slower but has the same price Anything i should consider? Any RAM recommended? Is RAM the best thing for me to upgrade? Comp Specs: Intel pentium D @ 3.00ghz Nvidia GeForce 8600GT 2GB RAM __________________ If at first you do not succeed.....skydiving is not for you

02-27-2009, 11:11 AM	#2 (permalink)
Grant101 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Wales Posts: 49 OS: Vista Home Basic	Re: What RAM Should I Buy? anyone? __________________ If at first you do not succeed.....skydiving is not for you

02-27-2009, 11:51 AM	#3 (permalink)
speedster123 Mentor Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: United States-New York-Long Island Posts: 5,223 OS: xp pro SP3	Re: What RAM Should I Buy? ocz would be my choice. __________________

02-28-2009, 03:42 AM	#4 (permalink)
Grant101 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Wales Posts: 49 OS: Vista Home Basic	Re: What RAM Should I Buy? Both of them are OCZ, which one would you buy though? The more expensive one seems to be worse than the less expensive one :S Anyone know why? __________________ If at first you do not succeed.....skydiving is not for you

02-28-2009, 04:00 AM	#5 (permalink)
Grant101 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Wales Posts: 49 OS: Vista Home Basic	Need RAM Reccomendations Please I use my computer for gaming, amongst other things. Im looking to purchase some new RAM to speed up my system. Anyone have any recommendations of what makes, how much, etc. I have 2 RAM slots (DDR2). I would like to get the best RAM possible, with a budget of about £50. Any advice will be greatly appreciated __________________ If at first you do not succeed.....skydiving is not for you

02-28-2009, 04:08 AM	#6 (permalink)
grimx133 Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada eh Posts: 3,153 OS: xp mce sp2, xp pro sp2, windows 7 beta My System	Re: Need RAM Reccomendations Please Depends on your motherboard. Best way is to search the memory configurators at the memory manufacturer's websites. You put in your motherboard and they give you the compatible ram they make, and then you look for the part numbers where you purchase components. Crucial - www.crucial.com OCZ - http://conf.ocztechnology.com/index.php?c Corsair - http://www.corsairmemory.com/configurator/default.aspx edit - try this ocz link if problems with the other http://conf.ocztechnology.com/index.php?c=1 There's a few, other brands have them as well. __________________ Last edited by grimx133; 02-28-2009 at 04:12 AM.

02-28-2009, 04:17 AM	#7 (permalink)
grimx133 Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada eh Posts: 3,153 OS: xp mce sp2, xp pro sp2, windows 7 beta My System	Re: What RAM Should I Buy? If they are both compatable with your motherboard, then the faster is generally better. If you overclock at all, the 1066Mhz and 2.1 volt ram is what you want. Look to your other post for a link to check for compatability. Lower timings are better too, the ocz reaper 1066 has tighter timings than the one you listed, but probably is higher priced. __________________

02-28-2009, 04:19 AM	#8 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,654 OS: Win7	Re: What RAM Should I Buy? No reason for multiple threads on this. As Grimx stated your motherboard id the determining factor, if your unsure what it is D/L CPUz the Mainboard Tab will tell you what it is> http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php __________________ Power Supply and Selection

02-28-2009, 04:55 AM	#9 (permalink)
Grant101 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Wales Posts: 49 OS: Vista Home Basic	Re: What RAM Should I Buy? Heres the results: http://www.flickr.com/photos/grantph...11879/sizes/l/ Does this mean i can only buy "DDR PC2-5300". I was under the impression i could buy any DDR2 stick because i am removing all of my current RAM and replacing it with new sticks. My motherboard is ASRock ConRoe1333 - D667 (thats what it says on the motherboard anyway) Im not sure whether it is a R1.0 or a 2.0 :S Does it matter? __________________ If at first you do not succeed.....skydiving is not for you

02-28-2009, 05:47 AM	#10 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,654 OS: Win7	Re: What RAM Should I Buy? What it means is the motherboard will only run up to 667 speed even if you put 800 in you will only get 667, It's best to run ram compatible with your motherboard so I would use the PC5300. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

02-28-2009, 09:18 AM	#11 (permalink)
Grant101 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Wales Posts: 49 OS: Vista Home Basic	Re: What RAM Should I Buy? Are you sure that is 667Mhz speed of RAM :S Seems very small been as my motherboard is fairly new. EDIT: Ok, if 667 is all my motherboard can handle then I have narrowed the choices down to these four. Can someone tell me which is best? http://www.ebuyer.com/product/131128 http://www.ebuyer.com/product/142429 http://www.ebuyer.com/product/142387 http://www.ebuyer.com/product/130666 Ad you can see, the last one is substantially cheaper than the rest, why is that? (those 4 choices are all PC2 5300) __________________ If at first you do not succeed.....skydiving is not for you Last edited by Grant101; 02-28-2009 at 09:33 AM.

02-28-2009, 11:21 AM	#12 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,654 OS: Win7	Re: What RAM Should I Buy? From Asrock the Specks on your board the 945 chip set is from around 2005 you can still buy them today but they were designed when PC 5300 was fast ram. Use these they are on the Corsair support list> http://www.ebuyer.com/product/130429 http://www.corsair.com/configurator/...aspx?id=280344 __________________ Power Supply and Selection

03-01-2009, 03:58 AM	#13 (permalink)
Grant101 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Wales Posts: 49 OS: Vista Home Basic	Re: What RAM Should I Buy? Darn. A friend recommended that i bought these yesterday: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/130666 So i purchased them, they should be delivered on tuesday. Will they still work just as well? __________________ If at first you do not succeed.....skydiving is not for you

03-01-2009, 04:20 AM	#14 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,654 OS: Win7	Re: What RAM Should I Buy? Kingston does not list any Asrock boards so it may it's generic ram, you'll find out on Tuesday. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

03-01-2009, 04:22 AM	#15 (permalink)
Grant101 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Wales Posts: 49 OS: Vista Home Basic	Re: What RAM Should I Buy? The RAM i currently have in my computer is made by kingston. Does that mean this new kingston RAM will work? __________________ If at first you do not succeed.....skydiving is not for you

03-01-2009, 04:28 AM	#16 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,654 OS: Win7	Re: What RAM Should I Buy? No, but there is a good chance that it will. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

03-01-2009, 04:32 AM	#17 (permalink)
Grant101 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Wales Posts: 49 OS: Vista Home Basic	Re: What RAM Should I Buy? hmm ok, and there is no way of finding out for sure until i put it in? __________________ If at first you do not succeed.....skydiving is not for you

03-03-2009, 01:58 PM	#18 (permalink)
Grant101 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Wales Posts: 49 OS: Vista Home Basic	Re: What RAM Should I Buy? The RAM arrived today, I fitted it and everything is working great Thanks for all your help guys __________________ If at first you do not succeed.....skydiving is not for you

03-03-2009, 02:11 PM	#19 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,654 OS: Win7	Re: [SOLVED] What RAM Should I Buy? Good to hear:) __________________ Power Supply and Selection