$100 to spend on 2x 256MB

[Zerileous]

I am looking for some ram for my upgrade CPU/mobo setup. My CPU will be a Barton 2500+ or 2600+ (presumably locked). Mobo is the Abit NF7-S.

I have a max ram budget of 100 bux but would like to spend less. Too options I am looking at are solutions from buffalo. From newegg i can get 3500+ memory with samsung chips for $44 a stick, cas rating is 3. From TBLMemory.com i can get winbond for $36 a stick CL 2.5. http://www.tblmemory.com/shop/view_product.php?product=DD4002-S256/wc
I have been reccomended to this store but there are no ratings on reseller ratings so i am worried about buying from them. Is there a glaring better solution for 50 bux a stick + shipping? I am a memory noob but will be needing some nice stuff for overclocking my new barton.
Thanks, Z.

EDIT: if i am convinced that it is really good i would definatly consider Mushkin Level 1 PC3500 from newegg $54 a stick but i would be reluctant to spend that much. Whats the differnce between Level 1 and level 2?

EDIT: Another option i see is GIEL Golden Dragon PC3200, is this any good? I certainly looks sweet.

 

[Top Hat Theater]

Timings. Level 2 sticks are guaranteed to run 2-2-2-6 whereas Level 1 are rated to do 2-3-2-6. The Level 2 PC3200 and PC3500 use Winbond BH5 chips (the best of the best) so you might want to look into those even though they cost more than $100.

~THT

 

[Zerileous]

i am a 16 year old on a budget and i dont think i can justify putting much more than 100 bux into memory, especially not what level 2 costs . I think i would be satisfied with Level 1 timings though. Anyone else have some input? Top Hat, i appreciate the reccomendation but i just cant afford it.

 

[Sharkman]

For the current prices on the lvl 2 Black check this thread This Weekend's BH-5 Pricelist

The lvl 2 is around $135 - $139 for guaranteed BH-5 chips. Kingston doesn't guarantee BH-5 but their prices on the Hyper X are $104. The Kingston is still good ram, it's just a you don't know what your getting for chips.

 

[Zerileous]

are you reccomending that i NOT go with level 1. As a refrence i dont plan on making this system bleed. I will only be using a vantec AeroFlow to cool it for a while. I did, however, just check my wallat and i can afford the whole shebang ant newegg $323 if it is really worth it. I might also consider hyperx. I would like some more imput before i decide. This is alot of money for me. Its not that much to swollow however when i think to myself, "its only 33 bux difference, f' it, lets do it. Ill have that 33 bux back before i know it" but the other part of me sais "i dont like being broke"
How much of a difference, real world speaking, will this make?

 

[Top Hat Theater]

Level 1 sticks are great too. If you're not gonna make the system scream, you should be fine with any of the brands/models you've brought up. Mushkin makes the best memory IMO with Corsair as a close second but you invariably pay the premium for the quality.

~THT

 

[Sharkman]

If the Hyper X has BH-5 chips there really won't be a difference. It will perform just as well as the Mushkin lvl 2 Black. But your taking a chance buying it. The Mushkins will have BH-5 chips. The extra $33 is like an insurance policy

 

[tyson-chris]

It may help to know what you plan on using this system for primarily, whether you'll be gaming much on it, and what other uses you'll have to for it. As Top Hat mentioned, Mushkin's Level 2 ram uses Winbond BH-5 chips, the holy grail of memory chips. Their Level 1 uses Winbond CH-5 chips which aren't "that" bad in their own right, but can hit 2-3-2 timings at best. Changing that 2nd number from a "3" to a "2" (as the BH-5 chips can do) makes a significant performance boost (better than going from CAS 2.5 -> CAS 2) but all in all, it's not THAT appreciable a difference.

However, that being said, ~$70 a stick is a great price for Mushkin BL2 PC3500, as you'll be likely able to run 2-2-2 timings to your max fsb on that board (I have the same board) and with enough voltage, you can hit 2-2-2 @ 230+ (with the nf7-s overvolt, 2.9v gives around 3v which should be enough. Mine runs 233@2-2-2-11 @ 2.98v [2.9v bios]).

Also, many people know of these Winbond BH-5 chips, and when/if you come to sell these, you will probably be able to sell them for a much higher percentage of what you paid for them than if you got the BL1's. Just a thought. I have a rather quick upgrade cycle, and sell my parts often to buy new ones, so resale value is something I think of a lot when I buy. You may not, but just thought I'd throw it in to the pot.

It all comes down to whether you need that edge in performance I think. In most applications, you won't really notice (visually) a difference between 2-2-2 and 2-3-2 or even 2-3-3 (what you will likely have to run at high fsb if you go with Level 1). But an extra $40 now may get you more than that down the road if you sell them in the future, and you can enjoy the splendors of BH-5 until then

 

[Zerileous]

Well to answer some questions and make some points:
1. I just realized, i can get a gig of buffalo (2x 512) for the same price as 2x256 mushkin BLII. Wouldnt i get a much greater performance boost this rout, even if it hurts my CPU overclock?
2. Remember i am using a vantec aeroflow so i may not end up being able to overclock the ram at all due to CPU limitations.
3. Lastly i have a rather long upgrade cycle as i am on a budget. I would say perhaps, once i get this system setup, one upgrade a year. (upgrade of once piece). As i have a b-day and X-mas as major funds tiime, and plan to have a second system running with all my second generation parts. Certain things, of course, will have a longer upgrade cycle, but i expect this system to go on for probly 2 years with out an upgrade. My goal for upgrade stratagy is for the system to do everything quite well whith out getting best of best (Note vid card) and then replacement when the piece of hardware barely meets standards. This, IMO, is the most economical way to do it.

So, i am now considering: 2x256 Mushkin BLI, 2x256 Mushkin BLII, 2x512 Buffalo (all in DDR 400)

 

[Top Hat Theater]

Buffalo sticks use CH5 chips. For gaming, the full gig of memory will allow for faster level load times versus the 512MB configuration. If you're not too worried about your overclock and want to future-proof your machine, go for the Buffalo. If you plan on upgrading your memory next year, go with either Mushkin set.

~THT

 

[Zerileous]

how much will my overclock hurt from the buffalo? My next upgrade will, probably be a new HSF (still quite a ways off however). Also, would i not be able to get what appeals most to me atm because of the appearant priceerformance ratio while maintiaing quality and giving me a cool looking heat spreader. And then, in perhaps a year, going with dual channel by using the 2x256 in one channel and then a matching (or at least similar) stick of 512 in the other? Does this yeald worse performance? I really would rather not spend the money but then i think about how much money the difference is and i want to do it.

EDIT: What aobut blue line? I know its much lower end but how good is this stuff?

 

[Top Hat Theater]

By doubling the memory, you place a higher load on the memory bus and therefore limit your overclocking. I don't have any numbers for you as the amount of the limitation varies from machine to machine.

As for the Mushkin Blue Line products, they are memory modules of lesser reknown mainly because overclockers tend to buy the Black Line. However, in my limited experience with this product line, I feel safe in running these modules in client machines at stock speed and stock voltage. I haven't tried overclocking them so don't ask

~THT

 

[StinkNBreff]

Not all Buffalo dimms use Winbond either .. BE careful you know what youre buying !! The blue line Mushkin isnt good .. Get the level 1 ch-5 or Level 2 Bh-5 .. I would just get the level 1 if Iwere you .. Why ?? Newer nf7-s DO NOT play well at all with bh-5 ram at all .. Dual channel does not help much (10-15%) , but it does make gaming smoother !! http://www.mushkin.com/epages/Mushk...201dd0410273fc0a80102060f/Product/View/991090 or http://www.mushkin.com/epages/Mushk...201dd0410273fc0a80102060f/Product/View/991091 or http://www.mushkin.com/epages/Mushk...201dd0410273fc0a80102060f/Product/View/991088 or http://www.mushkin.com/epages/Mushk...201dd0410273fc0a80102060f/Product/View/991089 Would all be great for dual channel if you want it .. Buy them directly from Mushkin !! Not NewEgg or another retailer !! Seriously !! Too bad they dont have the color changing promo builds anymore

 

[StinkNBreff]

Either Mushkin or these >> 256 mb http://www.tblmemory.com/shop/view_product.php?product=DD4002-S256/wc 512 Mb >> http://www.tblmemory.com/shop/view_product.php?product=DD4002-512/WC
Cheaper ey ??

 

[Zerileous]

ok, StinkNBreff, i have a few questions. Why should i buy direclty from muskin when it costs me more and i know that newegg is verry reliable?

Second, can anyone else confirm StinkNBreff's report that BH-5 is not good with new NF2 boards?

EDIT: What i see as the bottom line here, will the 25 buck difference between level 1 and level 2 be worth 25 bucks in performance. 25 bucks that could go towards a dremel, or a new HSF, or a game (lets remeber the focus) With my budget, if this 25 bucks isnt spent here it will be spent elsewhere. My final question is this: Will the BH-5 and CH-5 overclock similarly, just at differnt timings? or is the BH-5 the only way to go?

EDIT agian: That $25 could also go to an OC worthly PSU as opposed to the one i have right now that probly wont support the OCing i want to do. My next upgrad will be HSF and PSU.

 

[StinkNBreff]

Reason to buy directly from Mushkin . If anything is wrong with your ram , or it doesnt run at spec , Mushkin will handle the rma directly . In other words they flip the bill for shipping if you ask and they will make sure they send you ram that does what it is supposed to . NewEgg wont do that , they'll just send you another set .. Mushkin tech support is also excellent .. They say they wont give tech support unless you buy str8 from them .. Call them and find out the details .. I can guarantee a lot of people are having problems with the "newer revision" nf7's .. These are the ones with either a plastic socket lever and/or Silver caps next to teh socket instead of teh black Rubycon caps .. I also believe it may be due to the newer revision chipset silicone nVidia is using now and not just an nf7 problem ..

 

[Zerileous]

Well i cant afford level 2 direct and can barely afford level 1 direct where as it is cheeper to get level 2 from newegg than it is to get level 1 direct, and since any defective ram is never refurbished when dealing with mushkin thru newegg you get brand new modules, i think i will be alright.

I am still wondering if anyone can cite specific examples fo the bh-5 and nf7-s not playing well.

I am also looking for a price to performance straight up real world analysis. Is the upgrade to level 2 worth 25 bucks?

 

[tyson-chris]

IIRC, Mushkin will handle RMA directly as long as it's from one of their authorized resellers, Newegg being one of them. I've been reading up in Mushkin forums the past few months, and I distinctly remember hearing that they'll handle Newegg RMA's directly. Don't quote me on that though, call them, it's toll-free and they're super nice.

BH-5 keep 2-2-2 timings at high speeds, especially because they are voltage hungry. CH-5 don' t tend to respond as well to voltage, and typically, need to drop to around 2-3-3 at the same voltage/frequency as BH-5. I don't have any personal experience with CH-5, so you may want to do search for it. Typically, I don't think CH-5 will overclock as high as BH-5 (loose timings or not).

That being said, if money's tight, and bleeding-edge performance isn't a necessity, and especially if you're really going to use the saved money for something else, I would go with the 2x512mb Buffalo, making sure to get the /WB version, the one with CH-5 chips. There won't be much difference between it and Mushkin Level 1, except for PCB and heatspreader, and in the real world, PCB makes hardly any difference, as long as the chips are the same. Much less difference than intra-product variation, and even less difference when compared to the difference you'll see going to 1gb rather than 512mb.

 

[Quailane]

Get the buffalo pc3200 with ch-5 chips from newegg at like $48 a pop.

 

[NicePants42]

To reiterate what others have said, I think that Buffalo would be a fine choice for you.

I'm running a Barton 2500+ (unlocked) at 206x11.5 with one 512Mb stick of Buffalo PC3700. I can't remember what my exact timings are, but I think it's something like 2, 3, 2, 7. Whatever..

The point is, I paid $99 for 512Mb of great RAM, and I can still OC pretty darn good.

For a 16-year-old budget, I think it's the best buy out there - provided that you can get the BH-5 modules (which I'm pretty sure you still can).