Some questions reguarding RAM choice ...

[sleepymatt]

I have a very nice person here sending me a Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2HP. I will probably purchase a AMD X3 710 and attempt to OC it.

I am looking to purchase some RAM - either 2gb or 4gb depending on what you guys suggest. Basically I am able to spend ~$60CAD. I will most likely be running windows vista (maybe 7 ... but for now vista). My main question is would I be better off going for better quality ram but only 2GB or lesser quality ram and 4GB. I will def. want to overclock - i have never overclocked a computer in my life but am ready and willing to learn and attempt. I hear corsair ram is pretty good but after reading some comments on newegg it sounds like quite a few people are having issues getting rebate money back. I don't expect too much out of the overclock but a little extra boost would be great. My other question is what does this mean 'Cl 5-5-5-18'? I was looking at DDR2 6400 ram and saw this 'CL4-4-4-15' as well as others with the end number changing between 12,15,18 ... just wondering how to make sense of this and what it tells you?

Thanks!
Matt

[ObiWong]

better to get better quality RAM imo
especially if you're going to be overclocking

those numbers are timings
the long and short of it is: the lower the better
i've tried reading about exactly what those numbers mean and how they work and it's waaaay over my head lol

it's usually a trade off with RAM
high speed and high timings vs low speeds and low timings
either way, the difference between 800MHz @ 4-4-4-12 and 1066MHz @ 5-5-5-15 have no real world difference other than the 1066MHz giving more headroom to overclock you won't notice the difference between 4-4-4-12 and 5-5-5-15

[freeagent]

just dont buy any ram with micron d9gmh chips on it, and youll be set.

[18 is # 1]

you won't notice the difference between 4-4-4-12 and 5-5-5-15
I gain about 10% with higher speed over timings.

$62 CAD after MIR: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227289