Confused by RAM options - help!

[jdavis]

Re: Re: Re: Ooh, I have ram question

That's not completely true. Intel's 850E chip for one supports 32-bit RDRAM modules that are basically two 16 bit modules in one stick. This means you just have to use one 32-bit RDRAM module.

HOWEVER, most other boards need 2x RDRAM modules so your statement is okay.

As for DDR versus RDRAM? Unless you overclock or run the DDR with aggresive timings/dividers, RDRAM is way faster, particularly for P4 solutions where the bus between the RDRAM and P4 proc is synch'ed at 533 (or 400 Mhz), whereas the DDR solution will be "twice as slow". The quad-pumped P4 proc is faster than the "dual pumped" DDR modules (for the record, RDRAM is also "quad pumped", two (dual) dual-banked modules).

That must be the new Intel chipsets, I've been running AMD chips so I am not all that familiar with RDRAM. Well aside from laughing at Rambus's legal circus, great product silly company.

The important thing here is to remember that the motherboard dictates what memory you need to use. They are in no way interchangable. RDRAM is more expensive but is also faster, DDR ram is so cheap it is silly but is slower (in some cases much slower). Many older computers use 133 SDRAM. If you want to change what memory type your computer uses you have to change motherboards though, so it's best to just find out what you need and stick with that.

 

[CrusaderX]

Thanks for the responses so far. Interesting stuff. I'm going to be purchasing an entire new system soon from the ground up, so I have the choice of either/or when it comes to memory.

 

[Leopold]

buy memory from here:

www.crucial.com

best memory money can buy. they've got a lifetime warranty and the memory is rock solid stable. Highly recommend. Plus if you tell it what computer you have or mobo it will tell you what you can and cannot buy..

 

[Welverin]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Ooh, I have ram question

If it's older make sure you get the right memory, DDR dimms and the older SDRAM dimms are not interchangable (I think one is 168 pin and the other is 184).

Yep, I know at least that much.

What really worries me though is I need a new hard drive, old one chewed on it's self when I tried to install and/or play JK2 and NWN. I believe it was because of my video card, which I'll also have to replace, but worry that it could be something more.

 

[jdavis]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Ooh, I have ram question

Yep, I know at least that much.

What really worries me though is I need a new hard drive, old one chewed on it's self when I tried to install and/or play JK2 and NWN. I believe it was because of my video card, which I'll also have to replace, but worry that it could be something more.

I don't know if a video card would affect a hard drive, but hard drives do die, most of the time without warning. It might just be that your video card was in over it's head with those games.

Good information site.
http://www6.tomshardware.com/

And remember to always check prices before you buy.
http://www.pricewatch.com/

 

[Welverin]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Ooh, I have ram question

I don't know if a video card would affect a hard drive, but hard drives do die, most of the time without warning. It might just be that your video card was in over it's head with those games.

The video card was definitely over matched, but I heard an awful grinding noise when I tried installing JK2 and running NWN, combined with the fact it's been ok since leads me to believe there was some kind of connection. I ran scandisk immediately after and is when the bad sectors first showed up. I run scandisk once a week so it wasn't something that I hadn't noticed previously and I can't seeing it being a coincidence.

Thanks for the links, I'll check them out before buying anythin.