Can't decide between 2 types of RAM

Computer Forum CPU, Motherboards and Memory
1

Hi,

Somehow (could have been when I was fitting my new graphics card), I’ve damaged my RAM, so need a new set. I’m running XP so anything above 3.7GB would be a waste (got 4 slots on MOBO).

I can’t decide between these two products:

OCZ 2GB (2x1GB) PC2-8500C5 1066MHz Reaper HPC Edition Dual Channel DDR2 (OCZ2RPR10662GK)
OCZ 2GB (2x1GB) PC2-8500C5 1066MHz Reaper HPC Edition Dual Channel DDR2 (OCZ2RPR10662GK)

OCZ 4GB (2x2GB) PC2-5400C5 Dual Channel Vista Upgrade Gold Series DDR2 (OCZ2VU6674GK)
OCZ 4GB (2x2GB) PC2-5400C5 Dual Channel Vista Upgrade Gold Series DDR2 (OCZ2VU6674GK)

The first ones look just so cool and I feel I’ve got to get them but they’re both the same price and I’m hoping that one of my current two chips still work s so I don’t need the 4GB. What do you think?

Thanks very much,

Matt. I

2

You must be sure that your motherboard is compatible with the 1066mhz Ram. Some mobos cannot handle that speed. I think it would be safer to go with the “OCZ 4GB (2x2GB) PC2-5400C5 Dual Channel Vista Upgrade Gold Series DDR2 (OCZ2VU6674GK)” because it’s more likely to run with your mobo, it’s more RAM for the same price and if you decide to upgrade to a 64-bit OS then you have lots of RAM

3

Thanks very much for the reply but the other type just arrived today.

I have an Asus Maximus Forumula mobo. Recon it’ll be OK?

EDIT: I currently have this stuff: OCZ 2GB (2x1GB) PC2-6400C4 Dual Channel Platinum Revision 2 XTC Series DDR2 (OCZ2P800R22GK) Can I use the not faulty chip with the stuff mentioned above to give me a total of 3GB? Thanks!

4

That’s a crock of shit, pardon my French.

RAM speeds are like tire speed ratings; they indicate the maximum speed it will run at. A tire rated for 150MPH will run fine at 40MPH, and the car will operate fine as well. The same is true with RAM.

Where you can get into trouble sometimes is if you’re running different sticks. Some IC’s don’t play well with others, but even this is rare.

You can use the other RAM to get 3GB and it should be just fine. The only downside is that you’ll nix the ability to make use of the dual-channel memory function when you have unequal amounts of RAM in the channels.

5

Thanks very, very much Big B! I really appreciate your input. I can’t thank you enough - I was getting worried. Sorry for being a noob.

I’ve isolated the chip that was faulty and will be sending it back to the suppliers. In the mean time, do you think it would be better (not sure how to define further) for me to run 3GB of unequal chips or 2GB of OCZ 2GB (2x1GB) PC2-8500C5 1066MHz Reaper HPC Edition Dual Channel DDR2 (OCZ2RPR10662GK) ?

Thanks very, very much again,

Matt. I

6

Well, I know a guy who bought 2 Fresh gigs of 800MHz RAM and His pc wouldn’t work. then he read on his mobo’s manual that it could support only 667MHz RAM.

“By the way sorry if this is off topic”

7

OK. I’m going to get it in later. I was just wondering would it be better to install 3GB mixed or 2GB of the same stuff on my 32 bit OS?

Thanks!