I'm building my first computer soon and trying to figure out the RAM situation. I plan to try overclocking eventually and I'm inclined to think that 512 MB of brand name DDR is the way to go.
I will probably be getting a Gigabyte 7VRXP mobo and I need to know what to consider when buying the RAM. Cost is definitely a factor. Here are a few questions, but feel free to send any info my way that I don't even know enough to ask about yet.
PC2100 or PC 2700? I am under the impression that PC2700 with CL2 is still pretty expensive, so PC2100 would give me a better price/performance ratio.
One stick of 512 or two of 256? Does using a single stick offer any benefits other than future upgradeability? If not, I'm tempted to buy 2x256 sticks now and then just replace them when I upgrade far in the future when PC2700 RAM is cheap.
And of course, the old standby question. I understand RAM is described by 3 numbers (i.e. 2-2-2) and the first is CAS latency. How much do I care about the other two numbers?
I will probably be getting a Gigabyte 7VRXP mobo and I need to know what to consider when buying the RAM. Cost is definitely a factor. Here are a few questions, but feel free to send any info my way that I don't even know enough to ask about yet.
PC2100 or PC 2700? I am under the impression that PC2700 with CL2 is still pretty expensive, so PC2100 would give me a better price/performance ratio.
One stick of 512 or two of 256? Does using a single stick offer any benefits other than future upgradeability? If not, I'm tempted to buy 2x256 sticks now and then just replace them when I upgrade far in the future when PC2700 RAM is cheap.
And of course, the old standby question. I understand RAM is described by 3 numbers (i.e. 2-2-2) and the first is CAS latency. How much do I care about the other two numbers?