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Which memory should I buy?

post #1 of 22
9/14/07 at 1:51pm
Thread Starter 
I enjoy gaming, although I wouldn't consider myself a "hardcore" gamer. I currently have 1024 MB of RAM (2 x 512) and I am looking to upgrade soon. My options are as follows:

- Dell certfied RAM

- PNY RAM

- Kingston RAM

- Corsair RAM


Of course, for the Dell RAM, I have to wait for the shipping, but it is one of the cheaper ones. However, any of the other three I can pick up at Best Buy (which is more convenient). Can someone point out the pros and cons of each? It seems the PNY is a great buy, but could there be performance problems compared to the others? And why is the Kingston so expensive?

Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!
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post #2 of 22
9/14/07 at 1:56pm
If you're wanting to get something instore, I would say the PNY as its the cheapest. Its not like you can overclock your RAM, so theres not a whole lot of difference except price. However if you want to wait for shipping, you can pick up a good deal on newegg.com. I would stay away from the actual Dell RAM. I would pick up this 2x1GB kit if I were you, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820148086
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post #3 of 22
9/14/07 at 1:59pm
Thread Starter 
Wow, that's a good price! Is there a reason why it's so cheap?
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post #4 of 22
9/14/07 at 2:01pm
Unless you can overclock the different rams or theres a speed difference, theres really no difference or a very marginal difference between the rams. Depends on who you'd like warranty from..... or whitebox if you don't care for the warranty.
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post #5 of 22
9/14/07 at 2:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by smoothdogg00 View Post
Wow, that's a good price! Is there a reason why it's so cheap?

Cause its from an online seller versus instore, and those stores prices were a little high. I would def get the 2x1GB kit IMO.
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post #6 of 22
9/14/07 at 2:14pm
Thread Starter 
Does it matter at all that the memory is 16x64 and not 8x128?
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post #7 of 22
9/14/07 at 2:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by smoothdogg00 View Post
Does it matter at all that the memory is 16x64 and not 8x128?

No it shouldn't. I believe thats just indicating the number of RAM chips on each SODIMM, and their capacities.
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post #8 of 22
9/14/07 at 3:52pm
G skill is just fine, just don't OC it as i don't know how it would do. I've been using it for about 6 months now, no problems.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231066

I would buy 2 of those if i were you. Ram has gone down so much, when i bought that stick back in February it was 80
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post #9 of 22
9/14/07 at 3:58pm
Dell will replace, support/replace your ram if you purchase it from them in any system, it is rebranded Crucial/Micron memory.
One thing to keep in mind, the lower the CL the faster your memory will be in your laptop.
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post #10 of 22
9/14/07 at 6:28pm
You can oc almost every RAM (MemSet!!!)...

For example I just got 4GB OCZ DDR2-800 RAM. It has got the following specs:

@ 400 MHz5-5-5-15 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS) / 23-42-3-6-3 (RC-RFC-RRD-WR-WTR)
@ 333 MHz4-5-5-13 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS) / 20-35-3-5-3 (RC-RFC-RRD-WR-WTR)
@ 270 MHz3-4-4-10 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS) / 16-29-3-5-3 (RC-RFC-RRD-WR-WTR)

Since the M1710 only supports 667 the RAM runs @ 333 with 4-5-5-13. Using MemSet I can easily use 4-4-4-10 and get some in improvement in comparison to the default clocks.
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post #11 of 22
9/14/07 at 11:11pm
I was pissed off that my 667 2gb Gskill is recognized as a 533 stick...
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post #12 of 22
9/15/07 at 12:27am
Quote:
Originally Posted by InspiredE1705 View Post
I was pissed off that my 667 2gb Gskill is recognized as a 533 stick...
I dont seem to have that problem on mine?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Firestarter View Post
You can oc almost every RAM (MemSet!!!)... For example I just got 4GB OCZ DDR2-800 RAM. It has got the following specs: @ 400 MHz 5-5-5-15 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS) / 23-42-3-6-3 (RC-RFC-RRD-WR-WTR) @ 333 MHz 4-5-5-13 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS) / 20-35-3-5-3 (RC-RFC-RRD-WR-WTR) @ 270 MHz 3-4-4-10 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS) / 16-29-3-5-3 (RC-RFC-RRD-WR-WTR) Since the M1710 only supports 667 the RAM runs @ 333 with 4-5-5-13. Using MemSet I can easily use 4-4-4-10 and get some in improvement in comparison to the default clocks.
Is this easy to do, has it much effect on the performace, damage the parts at all? I never really thought about oc' notebook ram.
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post #13 of 22
9/15/07 at 1:13am
http://shop1.outpost.com/product/5175606#detailed

Just get 2gb stick for 100 bucks.
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post #14 of 22
9/15/07 at 6:54am
@ xeropaul

with MemSet it is easy to do and due to the fact that it is only a software oc it doesn't really do harm, cause when u push it to hard the system will only freeze...

The gain in performance isn't that much in my config cause the RAM already runs with good latencies (4-5-5-13) but if you have 5-5-5-15 and you can oush it to 4-x-x-13 it would be a bigger gain...
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post #15 of 22
9/15/07 at 10:15am
If you put a 2GB stick in to run with a 1GB stick, will it still run in dual-channel? I'm considering do so instead of getting 2x2GB sticks since almost 1 whole GB won't be usable thanks to the chipset limitations. I'm willing to lose .25GB or whatever it is...
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post #16 of 22
9/15/07 at 11:07am
From what I gather, the system will only use 3.25, and you 'lose' the other .75. If I do it, I'll get 3GB.
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post #17 of 22
9/15/07 at 11:12am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ghost_recon88 View Post
If you put a 2GB stick in to run with a 1GB stick, will it still run in dual-channel? I'm considering do so instead of getting 2x2GB sticks since almost 1 whole GB won't be usable thanks to the chipset limitations. I'm willing to lose .25GB or whatever it is...
Someone correct me if i am wrong, but im pretty sure dual channel has to have the same speed AND size of ram in order to work. Although im not sure if it would work 2x2 anyway because of the limitations
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post #18 of 22
9/15/07 at 11:59am
Well it will work 2x2. We just need someone that has 1x1GB and 1x2GB to chime in.
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post #19 of 22
9/15/07 at 1:55pm
I have 1GB and 2GB on the XPS, will check cpuz when im on it in a while.
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post #20 of 22
9/15/07 at 2:42pm
Wait, so is it that the BIOS and motherboard can see all 4GBs, but the chipset can only see 3.25GBs?
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