180 bucks to spend.

I'm looking for the best 2x512mb sticks of ram that can be had for about 180 bucks. Its for a A64 3000+ and MSI k8n neo2 platinum combo. Wich will be best for OCing on an Athlon 64. Is this ram any good?
http://www.tblmemory.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=28_29_30_34&products_id=61
Is this better? Worse? Sure looks cooler :-D
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=20-220-006&DEPA=1
How bout this?(a bit pricey)
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-156-026&depa=1

Other suggestion are welcome.

P.S. Will 2x256's of tccd ram at tighter timings be better than 2x512 at more relaxed timing? Like for HL2 and Doom 3 and stuff.

Thanks

Starting at the end...for those games and future games most guys are saying go with a gig. I don't game, so I'm going by what I've seen posted. Others may have a different opinion. Keep in mind thought that 256 sticks generally overclock better than 512 sticks.

Stay away from the first ram you've listed for two reasons. The first is that the guy that runs the place has been less than helpful once he's got your money and secondly, that ram seems to have problems. See these threads if you want to whole scoop. They both deal with that ram, the second one, near the end, you'll get the story on TBLMemory. Look for posts by eva2000.

http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=311457

http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=313602

The second ram listed probably has Winbond ch-5 chips, based on the timings. This would be ok, but will probably top out around 220-230 unless you can give it add'l voltage with something like the DDR Booster. Fry's Outpost has Kingston HyperX PC3200 with these chips on sale for right at $150, after rebate, but before shipping so those might be worth considering as well if you decide to go with CH-5 chips.

The third set of sticks has Hynix chips capable of speeds of 265 and beyond, but at more relaxed timings. I seem to remember guys saying that these work fine with A64s.

One options, although a little more ($220-240) is the PDP PC3200 or the PQI PC4000, both come with the Samsung TCCD chips. The PDP is the one with 2-2-2 timings, the PQI DDR500 has 2.5-3-3-7 timings but will run 2-2-2 at DDR400 speeds, as well. All in all, TCCD based ram is one of the better choices these days for Intel or A64 rigs. If you can at all swing it, the TCCD based stuff is your best choice.

Don't get that first RAM. I'd spend $18 more (not including shipping charges) and get 1GB (512MBx2) of Corsair XMS PC3200 RAM from NewEgg. http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-145-450&depa=1

Is there such thing as TCCC? if so how is it compared to TCCD? I found some ram, if you look closly in the pic it looks like TCCC
http://www.chiefvalue.com/app/produ...-220-027&ATT=System Memory&CMP=OTC-pr1c3watch

Yes, there is Samsung TCCC, but I'm not familiar with it so I can't say anything about its performance except that it won't compare to TCCD (nothing does except Crucial's Ballistix or discontinued Winbond)

as for playing games with 512 as opposed to 1 gig. id have to say a gig is best but ive gotten decent frame rates on doom3 with 2x256 of the pqi turbo 2.2.2.5. but it is a must to turn all running programs off(or as many as u can) im running the game at medium resolutions, overclocking the rig moderately, 2.4c@ 3 gig and use a xt5900

i say save up 40$ more and get the pdp tccd 2x512 for 220$, or get one 512 tccd and get the other one later, yeah ull be in single channel until you upgrade, but it will make that 2nd stick that much sweeter, if you are firm on spending 180$ get the pdp 2x512 for 185$

Unreal89 said:

Is there such thing as TCCC? if so how is it compared to TCCD? I found some ram, if you look closly in the pic it looks like TCCC
http://www.chiefvalue.com/app/produ...-220-027&ATT=System Memory&CMP=OTC-pr1c3watch

Click to expand...

thats not tccc, its rated at cas 3

The PDP kit no longing contains CH-5. You might want to increase your budget to $200 and get the patriot XBL with TCCD. On a side note, get a gig of ram if you're a gamer, it really is worth it.