is it better to have 1 gig of 2700 w/ 2-2-2-7 (corsair xms) or i gig of 3200 w/ 2.5-3-3-7 (ocz value select) ? i do a lot of gaming
It depends on what speed you want the RAM to run at. If you are only going to run it at 166MHz then deffinatly go for the XMS Mind you in saying that the XMS will probably reach 200MHz at those timings anyway. edit, what am I talking about, XMS wont do 2-2-2-7 unless its old stock BH-5
if the xms was bh-5 then i'd go with that but i suppose it could easily be ch-5 etc... when only running 166 but as yodasarmpit said, u might have to slaken off the xms for it to hit 200. if ur running at stock then the effect on game performance between the two is *likely* to be pretty small. so my vote is: go with the cheapest one
Timings don't really mean jack unless they are to the extremes in my opinion. Then and only then might you notice the difference in-game. Now benches on the other hand are the only reason XMS/HyperX exists. Infact, for my gaming system I am sticking with Corsair Value Select 3200. It runs at 2.5-3-3-8 @ 200 FSB STOCK. I cannot complain when its $44 for 256MB and $84 for 512MB.
As said if you do or may need 200mhz RAM then PC3200 is definitely the way to go. Also you should find 200mhz CL2.5-3-3 RAM will run tighter esp if you drop to 166mhz, so it may even do CL2.0-2-2. On almost all chipsets you want to run the RAM sync to FSB, so what FSB will you be using and what is a likely next CPU upgrade? Timings make little difference, usually no more than 5% between the very fastest and absolute slowest but there's a bigger diff if you can use 200mhz FSB & RAM vs 166mhz FSB & RAM. Timings make even less difference on Intel systems, speed is much more vital there, can be very useful when o/c'ing locked CPUs. People get too carried away with RAM, often paying twice the price for the 'best brand', fastest speed or lowest latency RAM and it really isn't worth it IMHO, most folk would be better off spending that money elsewhere, maybe double the amount of 'normal' RAM? What prices are you looking at and what's your system spec?
Exactly. People also get carried away with "needing" 1GB of ram. My friend claims he runs 'intense programs' like photoshop while listening to MP3s and chatting online. He feels he needs 1GB for that. Right.... I have been using 512MB for YEARS and you can't really tell the difference between our comps. Not to say I would mind having 1GB. But when it comes to cost I'd rather splurge on a HD or video.
