Picking PC2-8500 Memory - Crucial/Corsair/et al.

**Gorganzola** · 11-22-2007, 03:34 PM

I've been trying to figure out which memory to pair with a Q6600.

When I look at the prices and what is available I can't help but notice that the Crucial BallistiX is dirt cheap in comparison to the others for what you get. The part that is bugging me is why is it so cheap?

PC2-8500 DDR2 1066 at Memory Express

I've tried finding information that compares the Corsair and the BallistiX but I can't find anything useful.

Any thoughts, comments, etc... are welcome.

**Gorganzola** · 11-22-2007, 07:10 PM

Bump.

PeterT · 11-22-2007, 07:39 PM

Gorganzola,
I am running 4x1GB Crucial Ballistix PC8500 (Micron D9) on a P5B-D and E6600. It will run error free @ 1066/5-5-5-15/2.15v, 1000/4-4-4-10/2.15v or 800/3-3-3-10/2.15v. I am very happy with them. Before these I had 2x1GB Mushkin XP8500 and they would not do these speeds/timings.
I recommend the Crucial w/o reservation.

edit: That price is very good. I paid quite a bit more.
p.s. I am currently running them at 889/4-4-4-10/1.9v error free.

**Gorganzola** · 11-23-2007, 01:40 AM

Cool, thanks for the information Peter. The price is what has me looking at them. They are half the price of the Corsair, OCZ and Mushkin in the same class. It just has me wondering if the price is almost too good.

PeterT · 11-23-2007, 11:40 AM

Glad to be of service. At that price, I would jump on it.

Aggemam · 11-23-2007, 11:42 AM

Link: SBM 3: High-End System | Tom's Hardware

From tomshardware:
"Memory: 2x 1GB Crucial Ballistix PC2-6400
Last time we used Crucial's Ballistix PC2-8000, a part that we logically thought should have been rated at PC2-8500 speed instead since 1066 MHz data rate (PC2-8500) is a standard ratio for FSB1066 processors on several chipsets. Crucial dropped its Ballistix PC2-8000 (DDR2-1000) model almost immediately following our previous article and replaced it with a PC2-8500 version, but we suspect the new version uses the same subcomponents."

Perhaps this is why they're so cheap. I've just ordered 4 GB as well.

**Gorganzola** · 11-24-2007, 12:15 AM

Interesting. I'm thinking of grabbing 4GB of it and I know they are trying to push DDR2 out as they bring in DDR3. It's just that DDR3 is so damned pricey right now. I'd rather have 4GB of DDR2, than 2GB of DDR3. For running stock I'm certain the BallistiX is all good, I wonder how it overclocks.

PeterT · 11-24-2007, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gorganzola

...I wonder how it overclocks.

I can't help you much on that one. The fastest I've run it is 1066. My guess is that they would require >2.25v, require active cooling and may not last very long at those higher voltages.

11-22-2007, 03:34 PM	#1
Gorganzola ABXZone > Facebook Join Date: May 2001 Location: Hangin' with the fruits Posts: 9,400	Picking PC2-8500 Memory - Crucial/Corsair/et al. I've been trying to figure out which memory to pair with a Q6600. When I look at the prices and what is available I can't help but notice that the Crucial BallistiX is dirt cheap in comparison to the others for what you get. The part that is bugging me is why is it so cheap? PC2-8500 DDR2 1066 at Memory Express I've tried finding information that compares the Corsair and the BallistiX but I can't find anything useful. Any thoughts, comments, etc... are welcome. __________________ TTFN. I wasn't asleep at the switch, I was drunk. -- Homer J. Simpson Q. How many dull people does it take to change a lightbulb? A. One. A very useful tool on these forums: You can Meebo in public.
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11-22-2007, 07:10 PM	#2
Gorganzola ABXZone > Facebook Join Date: May 2001 Location: Hangin' with the fruits Posts: 9,400	Re: Picking PC2-8500 Memory - Crucial/Corsair/et al. Bump. __________________ TTFN. I wasn't asleep at the switch, I was drunk. -- Homer J. Simpson Q. How many dull people does it take to change a lightbulb? A. One. A very useful tool on these forums: You can Meebo in public.
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11-22-2007, 07:39 PM	#3
PeterT C/TUSL2C/P4P800D/P5B-D Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Sunny Florida, USA Posts: 2,031	Re: Picking PC2-8500 Memory - Crucial/Corsair/et al. Gorganzola, I am running 4x1GB Crucial Ballistix PC8500 (Micron D9) on a P5B-D and E6600. It will run error free @ 1066/5-5-5-15/2.15v, 1000/4-4-4-10/2.15v or 800/3-3-3-10/2.15v. I am very happy with them. Before these I had 2x1GB Mushkin XP8500 and they would not do these speeds/timings. I recommend the Crucial w/o reservation. edit: That price is very good. I paid quite a bit more. p.s. I am currently running them at 889/4-4-4-10/1.9v error free. __________________ Proud Member: Team-CUSL2 - 'The Old School Crew' Current: P5B-D, E6600 @ 3.0, 4x1GB Crucial Ballistix PC8500, EVGA 8800GTS 512MB Old: P4P800-D, P4 2.4C @ 3.0, 4x512MB Mushkin PC3200, ATI AIW X800XT 256MB Older: TUSL2C, P3-S 1.4, 2x256MB Corsair XMS150, ATI 9800PRO 128MB, TB Santa Cruz Oldest: CUSL2, P3 1.0, 1x256MB & 2x128MB Corsair PC133, Asus V7700D 32MB, SB Live! *Please join ABXZone to participate and browse without advertisements.*
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11-23-2007, 01:40 AM	#4
Gorganzola ABXZone > Facebook Join Date: May 2001 Location: Hangin' with the fruits Posts: 9,400	Re: Picking PC2-8500 Memory - Crucial/Corsair/et al. Cool, thanks for the information Peter. The price is what has me looking at them. They are half the price of the Corsair, OCZ and Mushkin in the same class. It just has me wondering if the price is almost too good. __________________ TTFN. I wasn't asleep at the switch, I was drunk. -- Homer J. Simpson Q. How many dull people does it take to change a lightbulb? A. One. A very useful tool on these forums: You can Meebo in public.
(Offline)

11-23-2007, 11:40 AM	#5
PeterT C/TUSL2C/P4P800D/P5B-D Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Sunny Florida, USA Posts: 2,031	Re: Picking PC2-8500 Memory - Crucial/Corsair/et al. Glad to be of service. At that price, I would jump on it. __________________ Proud Member: Team-CUSL2 - 'The Old School Crew' Current: P5B-D, E6600 @ 3.0, 4x1GB Crucial Ballistix PC8500, EVGA 8800GTS 512MB Old: P4P800-D, P4 2.4C @ 3.0, 4x512MB Mushkin PC3200, ATI AIW X800XT 256MB Older: TUSL2C, P3-S 1.4, 2x256MB Corsair XMS150, ATI 9800PRO 128MB, TB Santa Cruz Oldest: CUSL2, P3 1.0, 1x256MB & 2x128MB Corsair PC133, Asus V7700D 32MB, SB Live! *Please join ABXZone to participate and browse without advertisements.*
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11-23-2007, 11:42 AM	#6
Aggemam Church of the FSM Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Denmark Posts: 746	Re: Picking PC2-8500 Memory - Crucial/Corsair/et al. Link: SBM 3: High-End System \| Tom's Hardware From tomshardware: "Memory: 2x 1GB Crucial Ballistix PC2-6400 Last time we used Crucial's Ballistix PC2-8000, a part that we logically thought should have been rated at PC2-8500 speed instead since 1066 MHz data rate (PC2-8500) is a standard ratio for FSB1066 processors on several chipsets. Crucial dropped its Ballistix PC2-8000 (DDR2-1000) model almost immediately following our previous article and replaced it with a PC2-8500 version, but we suspect the new version uses the same subcomponents." Perhaps this is why they're so cheap. I've just ordered 4 GB as well. __________________
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11-24-2007, 12:15 AM	#7
Gorganzola ABXZone > Facebook Join Date: May 2001 Location: Hangin' with the fruits Posts: 9,400	Re: Picking PC2-8500 Memory - Crucial/Corsair/et al. Interesting. I'm thinking of grabbing 4GB of it and I know they are trying to push DDR2 out as they bring in DDR3. It's just that DDR3 is so damned pricey right now. I'd rather have 4GB of DDR2, than 2GB of DDR3. For running stock I'm certain the BallistiX is all good, I wonder how it overclocks. __________________ TTFN. I wasn't asleep at the switch, I was drunk. -- Homer J. Simpson Q. How many dull people does it take to change a lightbulb? A. One. A very useful tool on these forums: You can Meebo in public.
(Offline)

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