Best memory for AMD Processors

[BigL]

I have an Abit NF7-S and I need some advise about new memory, I currently have 2x256MB Kingmax DDR400 memory, fine if you don't like a fast computer!

I want to upgrade to 1GB but of what Brand?

Geil Golden Dragon 2x512MB PC3500 @ £187.00 (CL2, my current choice)
TwinMOS 2x512MB PC3200 @ £146.00 (CL2.5, my second choice)
Corsiar XMS 2x512MB PC3200LL @ £258.00 (CL2, nice but costly)
Corsiar XMS 2x512MB PC4000 @ £328.00 (CL3, is it worth it?)
OCZ 2x512MB PC3500 EL-DDR @ £274.00 (CL2, costly)
OCZ 2x512MB PC4000 EL-DDR @ £325.00 (CL3, is it worth it?)
ADATA 2x512MB PC4000 @ £258.00 (CL3, is it rubish?)
or some other brand, the cheaper the better but I would like performance for money!

Any ideas?

Thanks :)

EDIT:
Kingston Hyper-X 2x512MB PC3500 @ £268.00 (CL2, more expensive than Corsair PC3200LL, but is it any better??)
Mushkin Level 2 2x512MB PC3500 @ £285 (CL2 w/BH5 Chips, worth the money??)
Geil Ultra Platinium 2x512MB PC4000 @ £245 (CL2.5 w/3.5ns Chips, again worth the money??)

Thanks ;)

[PCluva]

Bang for buck (or pound :D), I would go the Geil Golden Dragon for sure. And they look really spiffy too (IMHO)

[BigL]

Thanks, that one up for my first choice! :)

[dropadrop]

I like my kingston hyperX pc3200. On the same mobo as you have I run 218fsb 2-2-2-6 with stock voltage. (2.6v)

[BigL]

Where would i get some in the UK, and how much in comparision??

[drshivas]

Your question should really ask "What is the best memory for AMD chipsets/motherboards..." I know that there issues with certain memory from certain manufacturers that won't work right with certian MBs.

For example, I got some level 2 Mushkin for my 8rda+ and wound having to boot off a stick of Crucial to get into the BIOS and change some settings. Then I go and check to see if the 8rda+ is a qualifying board at Mushkin and it isn't! Everything is fine now, but it was a headache for a couple days.

So pick your mem, then do a couple searches with your mem and the board you want/have. I know there are others who have had this situation with different mem/MBs.

[Eroc]

Corsair is my choice. PC 4000 is not a real good choice for AMD. You are better off with low latency 3200 as i believe it is about the same stuff as say 3500 and even 3700 Corsair sticks just with lower latencies.

[xgman]

Anything with Winbond "BH-5" chips should be fine.

[Tismedt]

I decided on Mushkin level II 3200 for my NF7-s mobo I just bought. I havent put it together yet but I will post results when I do.

[BigL]

xgman: Whats so special about the Winbond "BH-5" chips, I haven't heard of them around?

Eroc: Thanks for the input, I would have probably gone with the cheapers corsiar of the two as I have not found any comments of information stating that they are worth the extra £70.00 over the PC3200LL sticks. BTW what processor chip do you have (DLT3C or DUT3C)?

DrShivas: Good point, that would have made a better thread title, and would hope that my NF7-S would work with most of the name brand stuff, if not the generic and unheard of stuff!

Thanks for your comments, and keep them coming!!!:)

[orion25]

Originally posted by xgman
Anything with Winbond "BH-5" chips should be fine.

Which brands havve these chips?

[Speed_Mechanic2]

WinBond BH-5 chips were used earlier in most high-performance DDR400 memory. Then WinBond, currently undergoing transition to DDR2, decided to revamp production to produce cheaper, and by happenstance less capable OC'ers, CH-5 chips. When production stopped on BH-5 chips, memory assemblers went scrambling to get stashes of these chips, driving cost way up. Mushkin were able to "bid" for the last big batch of these chips, and are currently using them on their Black Level 2 modules. Other manufacturers saved their WinBond BH-5 chips for their highest priced modules until supply ran out. They then replaced them with WinBond CH-5 chips.

Mushkin Black Level 2 - PC3200 and PC3500 are promised to have WinBond BH-5 chips.

Buffalo PC3700 were known to be shipping from NewEgg with WinBond BH-5 chips. NewEgg has received new batches from Buffalo since then, and therefore not known to be still shipping BH-5 Buffalo PC3700.

TwinMOS from MemoryX.net may have WinBond BH-5 chips for sale on their site, check to be sure.

HardcoreCooling.us offers GENERIC made modules using their own procurred batches of WinBond BH-5 chips. As of yet, I havn't heard of anyone buying these.

[PhobMX]

id like to know which chips are those new buffalos carrying...

[larva]

The two 512MB PC3700 Buffalos I got today from newegg are indeed BH5. I think you can count on the 256MB version being CH5.

[masteratarms]

I have some twinmos with winbond BH-5 2 * 256Mb. I have them running in an 8RDA+ and have and NF7-S v2.0. 2.75v Vdimm 200 FSB with 8RDA+. 215FSB with NF7-S, all with 2226 or 222 11. They like voltage and only run stable on my 8RDA+ at 2.75v. I am always on the lookout for some good nforce2 RAM. I heard some of the Kingston hyper-x is good. The most common recommendation is still BH-5 chips.

[BigL]

Anybody know where I can get any in the uk?

Thanks :)



EDIT: Found some at PC-Memory-Upgrade.co.uk, edited original question with details found!! ;)

[BigL]

Sorry guys, I caved!!!!!!!!! :(

I went and bought 512MB kit of Geil Ultra PC4000 (cl2-3-3-7) for £144.00, i'm afraid my budget got the best of me and I caved back to 512MB! :D

I can't wait, it should kick some serious **** over the old kingmax stuff!! :burn:

[q149]

Are you sure that GeIL 4000 is rated at Cas 2? I would like to hear what kind of timings you can do with it as most companies 4000+ can not do decent timings even at low FSB.. I think the GeIL might be more capable though.

[BigL]

Ooops, missed the .5, sorry!! :)

[BigL]

Well, its arrived!!

I've plugged it in, but couldn't get it to go 5:6 with 200FSB. Will try 4:5 later. :)

So far its at 218MHz (1:1 with FSB) with CL 2.5-4-4-7, but i'm working on it as we speak. Nice heat spreader, but I was expecting copper not silvery aluminium :(, still beats the old kingmax PC3200 hands down though! ;)

[Tipycol]

Hey BigL, what's the voltage you are running through the Geil PC4000 ram? I'm just curious cause I'm also looking into the best memory for my 8RDA+.

[G|-|oST]

Take a closer look at the Mushkin Level 2 black stuff. This is some serious RAM. My PC3200 is currently doing 2-2-2 at 220 FSB on an NF7-S.
This review here (http://www.anandtech.com/memory/showdoc.html?i=1853) is very informative as they test different RAM timings, FSB, etc and also recomment best RAM for Athlon and Intel platforms.

One of the best things about this RAM is that it is guaranteed to run at 2-2-2 timings at its rated speed, so if it doesn't, you can get it replaced for free. With a lot of other modules, you are still taking chances. For instance, if Joe bought some X-brand RAM with BH-5 chips and it happens to run 2-2-2 at 230 FSB, that does not mean that if you get the same X-brand memory you will get the same results. There is no guarantee.

The only drawback may be the price, but then again Mushkin has some promo build 2-2-2 stuff on sale right now.

All of my experience while dealing with Mushkin has been excellent. Their product is great and their customer service is unmatched.

Just my $0.02.

[BigL]

Ghost: Nice memory, wish i could have afforded it at the time!

Tipycol: I have tried 2.5-2.9v and it still doesn't seam to want to do 500MHz, currently at 2.7v with default timings of 2.5-3-3-7 at 218MHz bus. Also just found out I could have bought a 512MB kit of hyperX PC3500 for £20 less, I wish I had waited now!!!! :(

[Pake]

I'm currently having major issues with my Mushkin BH-5 sticks (2x512). They will not go above 202 FSB at 2-2-2-5.... heck, they error on Prime95 at 2.5-3-3-8....

I would recommend not buying the "Mushking BH5 Promo 512mb" sticks, but to instead just spend the extra $46 on Black Level II ($324 w/ DDRFALL discount) or go buy Corsair PC3200LL for $302

[Tipycol]

Welll, I've been looking into the Mushkin PC3500 level II ram. It seems to get recommended the most right now for AMD systems. And there's another review for it here (http://www.rojakpot.com/showarticle.aspx?artno=35&pgno=0). It overclocked to 230fsb at 2.8v using 2-4-4-7 timings and 240fsb using 2.5-4-4-7 timings (I wonder what multi he was using for his 1700+?). It is pricey at about $195 for the Dual Pack 2x256MB (using the DDRFALL discount code and free shipping), but then again it will probably be the last memory upgrade for my nForce 2 board.

[BigL]

Damn, another option that is cheaper than the geil!! :mad: :(

[Sir Barton]

i use the geil golden dragon PC3500 DC kit, and i must say it rocks.

[BigL]

Would have gone for the cheaper geil golden dragon if it had the same lovely heat spreader, very useful and looks so cool :D (still wish it was the copper one though!!! :( )