DDRII question

[HugoCampos]

What's better (and will work) to get 4GB of DDRII:

2 kits of 2x 1GB
2 modules of 2GB
4 Modules of 1GB
1 kit of 4x 1GB

I checked the prices, quality and latencies and it seems to me that the cheapest and with better quality/latency way to do it would be getting 2 kits of 2GB (2x 1GB) and putting them together to make the 4GB... I'm just not sure that will work.

I was thinking of putting 2 of these together: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820231114

What do you guys think?

[MWISimmer]

What OS are you using?
What motherboard and chipset  do you have?

Both are relevant.  :)

[HugoCampos]

I am going to be using Window Vista 64bit and the hardware specs will be the following:

CPU: Q6600 (I will eventually overclock it)
PSU: PC POWER & COOLING ULTRA-QUIET SILENCER

[HugoCampos]

Here is the quad kit I found:

CORSAIR 4GB DDR2-800 XMS2 QUAD2X DHX  
Dual Channel Kit 4x1GB Corsair , DDR2 800.
Latency: 5-5-5-18
Voltage: 1.8v
Product: QUAD2X4096-6400C5DHX

I think the memory timings are not that good... even though it's a corsair. The G. Skill 2GB kit, on the other hand, has a great price and much better latency timings:

GSKILL PC2-6400 HK DDR2 2GB (2X1GB)
Latency: CL 4-4-3-5
Voltage: 2~2.1v
Product: F2-6400CL4D-2GBHK

[MWISimmer]

That board can handle 8Gb DDR2 Hugo, Some may disagree with me but if you want 4Gb I'd say go for 2 x 2Gb sticks, then 2 slots are free for future additions.

[HugoCampos]

Yea, I know it can handle 8GB but I'm trying not to exceed my budget too much lol
I'll take a look at some stores here in Portugal and see what I can find

[Nick N]

You must verify the motherboard, motherboard BIOS and the memory modules are indeed made to work together. You can nOT simply plug in 2-2GB modules and have them magically work... even 1GB modules should be verified but 2GB usually require the MB memory slots be designed for the 2GB sticks, AND the BIOS be made for them as well.

Some motherboards allow 2-2GB sticks in a cetain pair of slots ONLY, others allow 2 pair be run

You have to reseach the motherboard and the BIOS properly before making such a purchase.



Also, you have to watch out for PR reduction when certain modules are installed. Some motherboards significantly raise the memory timing when more than X memory is installed which means you get more memory but it runs slower than with 2GB and will NOT clock higher

In some cases you are better off with the lower memory and faster timing

[HugoCampos]

Oh gosh! That's gonna give me some serious headache. I guess the ASUS website is going to be my best friend for a few hours
LOL

[HugoCampos]

BTW... I hate hardware. I'm a software guy and I hate all these hardware complications. There are no standards, regulations or whatsoever... it's get more and more confusing with each upgrade.

[HugoCampos]

Oh... I just downloaded the QVL spec from the ASUS website so I guess it won't be that hard afterall. hehe

[Nick N]

The QVL is a good place to start but it will not list all the memory that will work

I would check the motherboard maunal under the memory section and also check Asus for any manual INSERTS or UPDATES that may include new memory recommendations. I would have the most recent official (not beta) BIOS installed and then go to the memory manufacture itself. The memory company will typically have a flow chart or memory config that will allow you to find out if the sitcks have been tested or work with the exact model of motherboard.

Then there is the forums at the better memory companies such as OCZ, Corsair, etc. They have tech and engineers that will tell you if the memory works, what BIOS is required and many times the manual timing settings that work best.

[HugoCampos]

I just read the P5k Deluxe manual and it says it can support 4 1GB modules (2 dual-channels) making 4GB. That's what I had in mind. The problem now is that the G. Skill modules I posted above are not on the Asus QVL list and there is no information regarding compatibility on the G. Skill website.
By reading the QVL list I noticed that some modules didn't work in the 2x dual-channel configuration so I don't know how I can be sure those modules will work that way on that board.

[Nick N]

For P35 and X38 chipsets you want MICRON memory chips. Asus is fine tuning their 3 series chipset BIOSs for Micron memory

The DDR3 Micron Z9 chips have now hit the market and running well over DDR3 2000. By the end of the year, I suspect we will be seeing DDR3 2500

As for DDR2 and Micron, CRUCIAL uses Micron memory chips exclusively because they are owned by Micron'

http://www.crucial.com/

[HugoCampos]

Thanks for the info  ;). The prices are really high but I'll see what I can get.