in choosing DDR2 for QUAD build

[Jiannu]

I am planning a Quad build and I am a bit confused on which ram I should use? I wanna overclock and get the best results but my pockets aren't deep! Though if I have to I will spend,...

Here is my biuld.,....

Q6600
Thermalright 120 UltraX with 2 Scythe 1600 120mm
Antec P182
Corsair 620HX
Evga 680i
Evga 8800 GTX Ultra
Creative X-Fi fatality gamer
Western Digital 750Gb sata 2
Pioneer 212 DVD-RW sata
Samsung DVD-RW sata

As for the ram....I was leaning towards OCZ SLi 2x1GB pc 8500 for $170 but as I am going with Corsair PSU i would like some CORSAIR RAM.

The DOMINATOR XMS is $230(after mail in rebate).
2GB pc-8500 (5-5-5-15)

XMS2 Extreme is $350
2GB pc-8500(5-5-5-15) E.P.P

The difference I can see between the 2 are the dominator comes with large heat speaders and are NOT E.P.P. Can someone shead some light on that?

I wanted to go with something rated higher than pc-8500.What about the timings? I hear that the lower and tighter the timings, the better the ram is ........?

IS that true? Can someone shed some light on that as well?
If that's true, then the computer shop I deal with is selling ....

Corsair XMS2 Extreme
2GB pc 6400 (4-4-4-12) E.P.P
$110(after mail in rebate)
Can this run at or close to 1200 speeds?

[CK8-04]

These and these are what you're looking for. They both use Micron D9 chips and D9 chips are the holy grail of DDR2 overclocking. If you're familiar with the Winbond BH-5/6 craze of the DDR world, Micron D9 chips are the BH-5/6s of the DDR2 world. I would avoid Corsair because they are using some other manufacturer's chips on most of their memory and the ones that do have the D9 chips will cost you an arm and a leg.

[SRTDodge05]

Most ddr2-1066 will do around 1200mhz or little more.

[Jiannu]

Originally Posted by CK8-04

These and these are what you're looking for. They both use Micron D9 chips and D9 chips are the holy grail of DDR2 overclocking. If you're familiar with the Winbond BH-5/6 craze of the DDR world, Micron D9 chips are the BH-5/6s of the DDR2 world. I would avoid Corsair because they are using some other manufacturer's chips on most of their memory and the ones that do have the D9 chips will cost you an arm and a leg.

WOW!
A bit late as I put in a pre order. I could change it and pick up the Mushkin. I was looking at the 2gb kit rated at 1066. it 's on sale for $169 after rebate at NCIX.

[specmike]

Originally Posted by CK8-04

I would avoid Corsair because they are using some other manufacturer's chips on most of their memory and the ones that do have the D9 chips will cost you an arm and a leg.

Giving advice about any brand you like is great but, please be clear and know what you are talking about when you do so. On our current DDR2 Dominator line of memory, we ONLY use Micron D9s.

To the OP, the Dominator PC8500 does have EPP profiles if that matters to you. Also, in the 2 examples you gave in your first post, can you post links. I cannot see any good reason those 2 kits should be so different in price and I'd like to check it out.

And, if any of you ever need to know what ICs we are using, here's a list:

DDR IC Link

[CK8-04]

I do know what I'm talking about. All of your non-Dominator series memory are NOT using D9 and only the most expensive of your Dominator series are using D9. The list you provided does not say whether the Micron chips are D9 or not. On Newegg, only these, these, these, and these are using D9s and guess what? They cost a fortune. G.Skill's HZ and Mushkin's XP2 lines have D9 and both series cost less than half of what you guys are selling your D9 equipped lines for. I think this list is much more informative than the one you provided. Hit CTRL+F and type in "dominator" to find the Corsair section.

In the past, I have normally recommended and used Corsair on high performance systems, but this time around, I just can't recommend them because of this very issue. Now if you can prove me wrong and show me proof that Corsair does use D9 on other less expensive lines that are comparable in price to the Mushkin XP2 and G.Skill HZ lines, I will be glad to retract my statement and recommend Corsair again.

[specmike]

I'm not arguing costs here. You made a blanket statement that is misleading at best:

I would avoid Corsair because they are using some other manufacturer's chips on most of their memory

On the DDR 2 list, here is the listing for EVERY PC8500 part we make, both Dominator and non-Dominator. What part of it do you not get?

CM2X1024-8500C5
..........................XMS8502v1.1...MICRON.........64Mx8...Rev.D
..........................XMS8502v1.2...MICRON.........64Mx8...Rev.D
..........................XMS8502v1.3...MICRON.........64Mx8...Rev.D
..........................XMS8502v1.4...MICRON.........64Mx8...Rev.D


CM2X1024-8500C5D
..........................XMS8502v1.1...MICRON.........64Mx8...Rev.D
..........................XMS8502v1.2...MICRON.........64Mx8...Rev.D
..........................XMS8502v1.3...MICRON.........64Mx8...Rev.D
..........................XMS8502v1.4...MICRON.........64Mx8...Rev.D

And, here is a listing (if it will link search results correctly) of our PC8500 at Newegg which are ALL MICRON. And, the PC8500C5D is $164 after a rebate.

Corsair 8500 at Newegg

As far as your alternate IC list, if you prefer asking some third party instead of asking the people that make it, go ahead. However, last time I looked, that list was still wrong with regards to some of our memory.

Don't get me wrong here. Feel free to recomend whatever brand, vendor, good buy, etc that you want. However, I would appreciate it if you are going to make statements about our memory that they be accurate.

[fvineyard]

I purchased some Dominator 6400C4D memory on the presumption they were all using Micron chips, and it turned out that I was incorrect in this presumption and ended up paying a premium price for Promos chips instead. I was rather displeased and felt I did not get the superior product that I thought I had payed a premium price for. There was a short period of time that allowed a "trade up", by paying the difference in price, to another Corsair product, but my purchase date was 2 days shy of qualifying.

I have used and recommended Corsair products for a number of years until this last purchase. I personally feel I have reason to consider alternate sources for my memory needs and my recommendation to others that seek my advice will be the same.

However, I am glad to see that things have changed in regards to the Dominator line at Corsair.

Frank

Originally Posted by specmike

Giving advice about any brand you like is great but, please be clear and know what you are talking about when you do so. On our current DDR2 Dominator line of memory, we ONLY use Micron D9s.

To the OP, the Dominator PC8500 does have EPP profiles if that matters to you. Also, in the 2 examples you gave in your first post, can you post links. I cannot see any good reason those 2 kits should be so different in price and I'd like to check it out.

And, if any of you ever need to know what ICs we are using, here's a list:

DDR IC Link

[CK8-04]

I would avoid Corsair because their similarly priced memory do not have Micron D9 chips and the ones that do have the D9 chips will cost you an arm and a leg.

Sound better?

[specmike]

Originally Posted by fvineyard

I personally feel I have reason to consider alternate sources for my memory needs and my recommendation to others that seek my advice will be the same................ However, I am glad to see that things have changed in regards to the Dominator line at Corsair.

Frank

A fair statement. That situation is EXACTLY why we revised the Dominator line and discontinued the Dominator PC6400C4D. I am sorry you were one of those who fell thru the cracks on that situation.

I would avoid Corsair because their similarly priced memory do not have Micron D9 chips and the ones that do have the D9 chips will cost you an arm and a leg.......Sound better?

Sure. But, IMO, $165 vs $135 vs $148 is not that big of a deal, certainly not an arm and a leg. But, you are correct, there is memory to be had with D9s that is typically a bit cheaper than ours. However, some users look for more than simply rock bottom prices.

Bad thing for EVERYONE is that D9s are becoming more scarce and the prices are starting to creep back up.