RAM purchasing suggestions?

[Tek7]

I need to figure out a cheap way to upgrade my desktop system from 768MB RAM to 2GB RAM.

My motherboard is an Epox 8KRAIPRO and takes DDR (not DDR2) PC3200 RAM.

I checks Ben's Bargains, but didn't find anything useful. Same goes for Newegg.

Any suggestions?

I'd like to keep this upgrade under $50 if at all possible.

 

[Hescominsoon]

i'm assuming you have 2x 512 and 1x 256? I would replace the 256 with a 1 gig chip.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...7+1052307858+1052407862&name=DDR+400+(PC+3200)
Under $50 at your service.

 

[Whon]

This at TigersDirectis the closest I seem to find and it's still going to run just under $100 bucks There is a $10 mail-in but it's for one item per house not two I'll keep an eye out for more

 

[Hescominsoon]

that's nice..I'm not a fan of rebates though..but for those that are tigerdirect makes heavy heavy use of rebates..<G>

 

[XionTawa]

Too bad it's DDR and not DDR2, DDR2 is not only better, but less expensive also...

 

[Hescominsoon]

better is relative. It actually draws more power and has higher latency. The flip side is it has higher bandwidth. Right now though desktops in the ddr1 range were not able to saturate ddr1 and honestly modern desktops are only just now beginning to push approach the upper performance envelope of ddr2. Servers are the real bandwidth hungry platforms. Less expensive is due to the nearly total glut in ddr2 inventories right now and that production has shifted form ddr1 to ddr2..<G>

 

[Keero]

Try this.

I used the Memory configurer on the left, put in your motherboard (theres no pro version, so I just used EP-8KRAI), and these popped up. Hoped it helps.


And looking over the prices, DDR2 is way cheaper. I got 2x1gigs for only 41.99 on newegg.

 

[Corpfox]

Well, since I can't use my 4GB without blue screens and the repeated problems previously, you can take one of my two, 1GB ram. Its roughly $65 each but since its used, $50 or lower sounds reasonable.

I use, x2 of them.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227210

 

[Tek7]

Too bad it's DDR and not DDR2, DDR2 is not only better, but less expensive also...

ARG, I know!

It's hard to believe that I bought a 2GB notebook RAM kit for $40 after rebate but would have to spend nearly $100 to get 2GB RAM for my desktop.

Weaksauce.

 

[Hescominsoon]

tek if you ahve 2x512 use your third slot for the 1 gig stick..or do you only have two ram slots? Most configurators say you ahve three slots..

 

[Tek7]

tek if you ahve 2x512 use your third slot for the 1 gig stick..or do you only have two ram slots? Most configurators say you ahve three slots..

To be honest, I'm not sure...and cracking the case would be a major hassle right now. >_<

I'll try to carve out some time soon and check it out.

Even if I have 3 slots, though, shouldn't all 3 RAM sticks match (e.g. all 3 slots filled with 1GB slots)? Don't I lose performance otherwise?

 

[Keero]

Yeah, it will bottle neck some if they aren't the same.

 

[Hescominsoon]

To be honest, I'm not sure...and cracking the case would be a major hassle right now. >_<

I'll try to carve out some time soon and check it out.

Even if I have 3 slots, though, shouldn't all 3 RAM sticks match (e.g. all 3 slots filled with 1GB slots)? Don't I lose performance otherwise?

goto crucial.com w/ie(won't work in FF) and use the scan my system link(it is going to ask to install an activex control..allow it) and it will tell you what memory you have.

As for the slots thing..no you won't loose performance populating all three with different amounts. that's a myth that used to be true in the p-3 and below days but not in the ddr days. Also considering you have three slots dual channel is not an issue either and anyway cpu's running on ddr did not have the bandwidth needs to be able to saturate single channel much less dual channel.

 

[Hescominsoon]

Yeah, it will bottle neck some if they aren't the same.

not necessarily true. As long as the cas latency is matching or higher then there is not a problem as the slowest cas and clock will dictate what the other two run at. these days pc2100 is pretty much cas 2.5 with very few at cas3. Even then .5 in cas is about 2% performance difference..only in certain situations..overall the performance difference is negligible. If ddr 400 is cheaper he can buy that and it will downclock to pc-2100 speeds.

 

[Tek7]

/bump

I was thinking of using some of my birthday gift money (no, I still haven't spent it) to pick up a $46 (after rebate) 2GB kit.

I've also been considering doing a full wipe and reload on my desktop computer as soon as I can back up all the files I need to from the primary hard drive.

Thoughts?

EDIT: My main purpose in upgrading my desktop computer (which serves as my torrent box/media center PC) is to give it a little more oomph to play newer MKV format files that many fansub groups have started to use.

 

[XionTawa]

]EDIT: My main purpose in upgrading my desktop computer (which serves as my torrent box/media center PC) is to give it a little more oomph to play newer MKV format files that many fansub groups have started to use.

You are using VLC player, yes? I use my TV as my second monitor, and run VLC on it...wonderful for fansubs...unforunently my desktop is also my main rig...the one I keep top of the line...I have been wanting to build a Media Center box though...

 

[Cool_Hand_Luke]

/bump

I was thinking of using some of my birthday gift money (no, I still haven't spent it) to pick up a $46 (after rebate) 2GB kit.

That's a good deal for 2GB DDR.

 

[vibrokatana]

not necessarily true. As long as the cas latency is matching or higher then there is not a problem as the slowest cas and clock will dictate what the other two run at. these days pc2100 is pretty much cas 2.5 with very few at cas3. Even then .5 in cas is about 2% performance difference..only in certain situations..overall the performance difference is negligible. If ddr 400 is cheaper he can buy that and it will downclock to pc-2100 speeds.

Meh, it depends on the motherboard really. My old one would refuse to accept anything but sticks that were exactly the same. They had the same CL and clock from the same manufacturer but it would refuse to post unless they were from the same lot (~1 year between purchases).

 

[Tek7]

You are using VLC player, yes?

I use MediaPortal for most episodes. I'll fire up ZoomPlayer if playback stutters in MediaPortal.

I guess I could give VLC a go and see if it makes any difference.

I have been wanting to build a Media Center box though...

My current torrent box/media center PC was my main computer a few years back, before I got my notebook and started moving around every few months for my wife's rotations. Since then, I've divided the workload between my notebook (productivity, gaming, video editing, web/e-mail, etc.) and my desktop (BitTorrent, light server applications, media center, uploading videos to YouTube, etc.).

The division of labor has worked out really well. I can close the lid on my notebook at night and keep my torrents running on my desktop.

 

[vibrokatana]

You are using VLC player, yes? I use my TV as my second monitor, and run VLC on it...wonderful for fansubs...unforunently my desktop is also my main rig...the one I keep top of the line...I have been wanting to build a Media Center box though...

For windows I usually just install cccp and use wmp. Then again I watch most of my downloads on my laptop (which is OSX). For the actual usage a media center isn't really worth it unless you spent tons of money on a huge tv and a proper audio setup.