Ram recommendation for amd cpu & biostar mobo combo?

[Stealth3si]

is the Patriot Gamer 2 Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model PGD38G1333ELK $34.99 before MIR good ram to pair with amd fx4100 and biostar a880gz?

looking for something on sale for under $35 (after MIR, promos, coupons, etc.)

for me there'll be no games, movies, unlocking, overclocking or trips to MC. just music and medium-sized apps.

[aedipuss]

should work, but the biostar support page is pretty useless. they only tested some weird "zion" memory with the board.
http://www.biostar-usa.com/app/en-us/mb/introduction.php?S_ID=555

[jman98]

I agree that this should work. I most buy memory from Crucial with Kingston as a backup. I have also bought Corsair. I've never bought RAM from Patriot but their USB flash drives are the best in the business so I would have confidence that Patriot RAM should also be good. Based on Crucial's recommendations I can't see any reason why this wouldn't work unless the motherboard is a fussy piece of crap. Usually memory problems are caused by buying from manufacturers that most people have never heard of. Even before MIR that seems to be a good price.

[Stealth3si]

should work, but the biostar support page is pretty useless. they only tested some weird "zion" memory with the board.
http://www.biostar-usa.com/app/en-us/mb/introduction.php?S_ID=555

i emailed their support asking if it's compatible

we'll see...

[Moontrash]

I've been using Mushkin for quite a long time...never had an issue....you can't go wrong with Crucial or Kingston

[Noahtuck]

Yeah i doubt you will have any issues, it's pretty rare to have a name brand ram incompatible with a decent name brand mobo.

I have used every name of ram on every random mobo over the years and i have never had an issue, maybe i was lucky, i don't know but....

My son used this same set with his tri-core for a few months before i bought him a set of 8gb Gskill sniper series for his rig.

I also just ordered 2 sets of this last thursday for a friend who wants to upgrade from 8gb to 16gb with a new mobo on a budget.

Ya can't beat 16gb's of ram for $50.00!!

[jagabo]

I agree with everyone that the memory should work with your motherboard.

But I wouldn't buy DDR3 1333 memory from Patriot. Most companies they sell "overclocked" memory don't manufacture or design the memory themselves. They buy chips from one of the big manufacturers. Those manufacturers don't make overclocked memories, they just make memory as best they can. As a natural byproduct of manufacturing, some of the chips can run faster than others. Sellers like Patriot buy lots of chips and sorts through them looking for the chips that can run faster (1600, 1866, 2000, etc). Those chips are sold for more money. The 1333 modules may be sold as that speed because they can't run any faster. They may have little headroom if your motherboard isn't perfectly to spec.

Ya can't beat 16gb's of ram for $50.00!!

Yes. Desktop memory is at historically low prices now (there's a glut of desktop memory because manufactures didn't anticipate the market's move to tablets -- which use laptop or custom memory). I got 16 GB for my latest build.

[Stealth3si]

I'll pass on this patriot then...

[Noahtuck]

But I wouldn't buy DDR3 1333 memory from Patriot.

Why Patriot and not any other brand ?

Most companies they sell "overclocked" memory don't manufacture or design the memory themselves. They buy chips from one of the big manufacturers. Those manufacturers don't make overclocked memories, they just make memory as best they can. As a natural byproduct of manufacturing, some of the chips can run faster than others. Sellers like Patriot buy lots of chips and sorts through them looking for the chips that can run faster (1600, 1866, 2000, etc). Those chips are sold for more money. The 1333 modules may be sold as that speed because they can't run any faster. They may have little headroom if your motherboard isn't perfectly to spec.

Isn't that kind of like saying, don't buy 1333 or 1600 or 1866 ram ?
Regardless of who makes it ?

I got 16 GB for my latest build.

I also bought 16gb's of Gskill Sniper 1866 ram

But the mobo i bought states

DDR3 2000(O.C.)/1866/1600/1333/1066

and my 16gb of 1866 ram runs great!!

I'll pass on this patriot then...

For that price, i would not pass on it, but maybe that's just me

[jagabo]

But I wouldn't buy DDR3 1333 memory from Patriot.

Why Patriot and not any other brand ?

I would by from someone who doesn't sell the higher speed memories. That way you are more likely to get chips with more headroom. But in truth, DDR3 is well along the manufacturing curve so you're probably safe getting the from Patriot. The market for the higher speed memories is probably much smaller than the yields. So Patriot's 1333 MHz chips probably still contain a lot of the faster chips.

For that price, i would not pass on it, but maybe that's just me

I see prices in that ballpark quite a lot for both 1333 and 1600 parts.

[nic2k4]

Something else you should know about overclocked RAM, the SPD chip is programmed with standard JEDEC values. What that means to you, to get the advertised speed you have to manually set the BIOS. You can run CPUz to see what speed your memory is actually running at.

In theory that memory should have higher stability at standard speeds, but I don't think it's enough to justify the premium price. Also, you should never count the value of a MIR in the final price. You're never assured of getting the money and you still have to pay taxes on the full price. The last time I submitted a MIR was a real eye opener for me; I could track my rebate status online and everything was going great, I was just waiting for them to mail the check. Months went by and no check, so I got in touch with the agency handling the rebate and finally spoke to someone who told me there was no money left in the account to pay me and I'd have to wait until there was some.

[jman98]

Also, you should never count the value of a MIR in the final price. You're never assured of getting the money and you still have to pay taxes on the full price. The last time I submitted a MIR was a real eye opener for me; I could track my rebate status online and everything was going great, I was just waiting for them to mail the check. Months went by and no check, so I got in touch with the agency handling the rebate and finally spoke to someone who told me there was no money left in the account to pay me and I'd have to wait until there was some.

This is good advice, but would you mind sharing with us the name of this disreputable company?

[Stealth3si]

should work, but the biostar support page is pretty useless. they only tested some weird "zion" memory with the board.
http://www.biostar-usa.com/app/en-us/mb/introduction.php?S_ID=555

i emailed their support asking if it's compatible

we'll see...

They said:

A880GZ is compatible with Patriot, G.Skill, Crucial, Corsair, OCZ, Mushkin and Kingston DDR3 memory.

Something else you should know about overclocked RAM, the SPD chip is programmed with standard JEDEC values. What that means to you, to get the advertised speed you have to manually set the BIOS. You can run CPUz to see what speed your memory is actually running at.

Do I look under JEDEC #3 colum in teh SPD tab and it should show 1/3 of the advertised speed?

[nic2k4]

This is good advice, but would you mind sharing with us the name of this disreputable company?

Who else but the king of MIR, tiger direct; and I believe it was for OCZ memory.

[nic2k4]

Do I look under JEDEC #3 colum in teh SPD tab and it should show 1/3 of the advertised speed?

It's Double Data Rate memory, so for 1333 you get 667 MHz. The SPD tab shows the values stored in the SPD chip, each column list the timings for a specific frequency. Those timings are what you adjust in the BIOS to overclock the memory (as well as the voltage).

Those Patriot DIMM's you're looking at are not overclocked and their SPD is programmed with the standard 9-9-9-24 values. Kingston HyperX 1333 DIMM's have the same SPD values, but are tested to run at 7-7-7-20.

Look at the memory tab to see the actual timing and speed your memory is running at; this can be interesting with Asus boards. They have the ability to self adjust the memory timing to improve stability.

[Stealth3si]

Here's a set within my budget with the same specs, but operating at 1.35V (lower voltage is good, right?)
Crucial 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model CT2KIT51264BD1339 - $34.99 Shipped
This set lacks heat spreaders, but that's not really a big deal is it?

[nic2k4]

With the lower voltage the chips won't get as hot, so the heat spreader isn't needed. Just check if your board can supply that voltage, either in the manual or in the BIOS itself.

[Stealth3si]

This just in: Biostar support says

"the motherboards minimum voltage is 1.6 volts. You may purchase 1.35v memory, but it will run at 1.6 volts on our motherboard."

what does this meanfor the ram is it goin to run at a higher spped or at a higher temp at stock rate?

[jagabo]

This just in: Biostar support says

"the motherboards minimum voltage is 1.6 volts. You may purchase 1.35v memory, but it will run at 1.6 volts on our motherboard."

what does this meanfor the ram is it goin to run at a higher spped or at a higher temp at stock rate?

It means the memory will run hotter, not faster. I'd be a bit wary about running 1.35V memory at 1.6V with no heat spreaders.

[Stealth3si]

Is there a significant difference between 1066 and 1333 frequencies?

And which is better to have, higher frequency or lower timings?

[MJA]

here is another good deal

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?nm_mc=AFC-TechBargains&cm_mmc=AFC-TechBarga...82E16820103001

$16.99 try it, if it works just buy another stick

I personally been using G.skill for years with no issues

[jagabo]

Is there a significant difference between 1066 and 1333 frequencies?

In my experience, DDR3 1600 is the sweet spot. It doesn't cost much more than the lower speeds but performs a little better.

And which is better to have, higher frequency or lower timings?

It depends on the app.

http://www.tomshardware.com/picturestory/511-memory-scaling-ddr3.html
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4503/sandy-bridge-memory-scaling-choosing-the-best-ddr3

[Stealth3si]

here is another good deal

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?nm_mc=AFC-TechBargains&cm_mmc=AFC-TechBarga...82E16820103001

$16.99 try it, if it works just buy another stick

I personally been using G.skill for years with no issues

using one stick will work?

I may just wait for a deal on a 1600 CL9 close 1.6v as possible thanks anyway...

Is there a significant difference between 1066 and 1333 frequencies?

In my experience, DDR3 1600 is the sweet spot. It doesn't cost much more than the lower speeds but performs a little better.

on a amd platform?

And which is better to have, higher frequency or lower timings?

It depends on the app.

http://www.tomshardware.com/picturestory/511-memory-scaling-ddr3.html
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4503/sandy-bridge-memory-scaling-choosing-the-best-ddr3

nice info thanks

the amd article says that premium RAM is highly important if you’re trying to squeeze the last bit of performance out of your system. In such a case you may even require high-end RAM to be able to support hardcore overclocked processor settings. Between the two, I'd say I defeinitely lean towards the former.

if i do, i would conclude a memory spec of 1600 CL9 fits the bill? at 1.6v? or if below 1.6v then it shoudl come w/ heat spreader, yea?

[Stealth3si]

This just in: Biostar support says

"the motherboards minimum voltage is 1.6 volts. You may purchase 1.35v memory, but it will run at 1.6 volts on our motherboard."

what does this meanfor the ram is it goin to run at a higher spped or at a higher temp at stock rate?

It means the memory will run hotter, not faster. I'd be a bit wary about running 1.35V memory at 1.6V with no heat spreaders.

crucial said its their standard memory and not intended for performance and recommend running @ 1.35v but also said it should run fine on the biostar a880gz @1.6v

but like you said running 1.35v memory @ 1.6v w/ no heat spreader, well i'm not sure if it's worth the mere risk of instability since i've heard that some folks have reported that low voltage RAM ~1.35v does not always want to run stable @ 1.5V or higher - which seems strange but that is what some folks report.

should i take this chance?

If not, then in light of what you said say if i'm trying to squeeze the 'last bit of performance' out of my system only on stock cooling and voltages, what premium non-high-end RAM should i get to support softcore overclocked processor settings?

there are a couple more alternatives I'm currently looking at. They are both nearly identical G.Skill but with one being faster and the other being more stable due to the '2N' difference, albiet more expensive.

$46.99 G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL
$46.99 G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL

[Stealth3si]

along with the previous two i'm gonna wait for this to go below $50.

G.SKILL Sniper Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900) Desktop Memory Model F3-14900CL9D-8GBSR

[Stealth3si]

If the G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series's default setting is 1600Mhz @ 1.5v but the Biostar motherboard's default memory frequency is rated at 1333Mhz @ 1.6v, I know that in order to run it at 1600MHz I must manually input ram timing to 9-9-9-24 and overclock the frequency from 1333MHz to 1600Mhz.

However, I don't know if I need to increase the ram voltage. I don't want to burn out the IC and RAM.

[nic2k4]

Slow down buddy, you're getting too wrapped up with this. For starters, biostar boards aren't renowned for being overclockers dream. Most biostar BIOS I've seen gave limited access to many settings needed to squeeze that last bit of performance out.

It's bad enough that board's minimum voltage is 1.6V (you should check if there's a way to tweak that in the BIOS), but the effect of faster memory is increased bandwidth. The system has to be able to use it and even if it can other factors (like the hard drives) can starve the memory bus voiding the advantage. What that means is even if you get memory that's 20% faster, your PC won't operate 20% faster.

I don't know about those new FX CPU's, but with AM2 the memory bus speed wasn't completely independent from the CPU speed, this article can explain it better. Just consider this, a computer would have to get 50% faster for a person to be able to tell the difference in speed. With AMD CPU's you get more bang by increasing the CPU clock to 220 MHz and if you have an unlocked processor, increase the multiplier. You don't even have to do that anymore with those processors that have the turbo function.

Your best bet, get memory that will happily run at 1.6V with standard timings and spend some money on better cooling.

[jagabo]

If there's a Frys close to you act fast, today only: Kingston DDR3 1600 8 GB, $41 - $15 MIR = $26
http://www.frys.com/product/6927437
I've never had a problem with Frys/Kingston rebates.