RAM: Quality vs. Quantity

[furkentine]

What do you guys prefer? Quality or Quantity?

For example:

512 MB PC2700 Corsair (120$ @ Tigerdirect.com)
or
1024MB PC2700 Ultra (120$ @ Tigerdirect.com)

 

[blahblahblah]

Can you link the RAM?

Order of importance for finding RAM (according to me)
1) Compatability with motherboard (right speed, no issues)
2) Quality (change of receiving a bad stick)
3) Memory Timings

 

[Warbie]

I used to think getting expensive ram was worth the cash - but don't any more.

Timings seem to make sod all real world difference (unless you're into benchmarking ...... and even then very little)

Over the weekend I tested some cheap pc3200 with slow timings (2.5,3,3,6) on my pc. Compared to my uber quick and expensive memory there's was no noticable difference (even in benchmarks :/) Seeing as it cost over twice as much i'm quite annoyed about this.

imo it's only worth getting the best/most expensive ram if you're planning on overclocking. Otherwise you're money could be far better spent on other components (that will make a difference to your games)

I recommend Geil PC3200 Value memory. It has run everything thrown at it flawlessly, and is a very decent price.

 

[`unreal]

since the cheaper one is corsair i wud get the cheaper one... that brand alone usually seals quality. thing about ram is that the difference wont be too large at all, despite what people say.timings are important, but i saw once in a mag here in the UK (custom PC) that tested non heatsink (but fast ram, like for 'budget' gamers) and heatsinked gaming ram, there was around a 2% diff

 

[Warbie]

since the cheaper one is corsair i wud get the cheaper one... that brand alone usually seals quality. thing about ram is that the difference wont be too large at all, despite what people say.timings are important, but i saw once in a mag here in the UK (custom PC) that tested non heatsink (but fast ram, like for 'budget' gamers) and heatsinked gaming ram, there was around a 2% diff

I agree - there is some (but not much) difference in getting expensive ram. But the difference in price between the 'best' memory and the budget ranges is considerable. That same money would be more wisely spent on a better gfx card/faster cpu. The difference would be alot greater than 2% then

 

[[Matt]]

Brand names dont usually matter all that much unless you plan to overclock. If you are an avid overclocker like me then find the highest quality ram you can. If not then quantity is usually better than quantity...

 

[niLeGreatFun]

irefer quality in RAM i use one o fthe best 512MB sticks and its the best performance ram ever!!