6gb triple channel RAM recommendations

jKron

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Hi i am looking for a 6gb set of good quality, relatively low voltage triple channel RAM for my system. Prefferably gskill and 1600mhz cas 7 or so. I wont be OCing.

here are the current specs:
i7 950
sabretooth x58 mobo
evga 460 gtx
corsair tx650
ocz vertex 2 120gb ssd
windows 7 pro
external sound card (profire 2626)

here are a couple sets i am looking at

G.SKILL F3-12800CL6T-6GBPI Pi Series 6GB 3X2GB DDR3-1600 CL6-8-6-20 240PIN Triple Channel Memory Kit... $124.99 (not same as price shown but can get at this price)

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=52461&vpn=F3-12800CL6T-6GBPI&manufacture=G.Skill

or

G.SKILL PI Series 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL7T-6GBPI 7-8-7-24-2N... $112.49

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231335


id easily pay the difference for the CAS 6 set but wondering if anyone thinks voltage will be an issue...

if anyone knows any better 6gb sets let me know... remember i will not be OCing above stated timings
 
I don't like RAM with CAS disparity {6-8-6}, I like G.SKILL, but their IC's are a poorer grade than that of RAM with tight CAS {8-8-8}. Often this is because the RAM is pushed to a higher Speed than it should be or forcibly trying to a lower CAS 'rating'. Therefore, I would choose neither - see the charts.

1600 6-8-6-20-2N @ 1.6v F3-12800CL6T-6GBPI $170 http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231352
1600 7-8-7-24-2N @ 1.5v F3-12800CL7T-6GBPI $120 http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231335

1600 8-8-8-24-2N @ 1.65v TR3X6G1600C8D $162 http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145224

Comparison Module #1: Mushkin Redline 996805 6-8-6-24 1600MHz
Comparison Module #2: G.Skill Pi Series 7-8-7-24 1600MHz
Comparison Module #3: Mushkin 998687 8-9-8-24 1866MHz
Comparison Module #4: Corsair Dominator TR3X6G1600C8D 8-8-8-24 1600MHz
Comparison Module #5: Kingston HyperX T1 9-9-9-27 1600MHz
Comparison Module #6: Mushkin Blackline 998677B 7-7-7-20 1333MHz
Comparison Module #7: Patriot Viper II Sector 7 9-9-9-27 1800MHz

Overclock:
DDR3__Bench_RES.jpg

Stock:
DDR3_Bench_StockPCMV.jpg
 
I'm not a real fan of GSkill as the best thing I can generally say as part of a recommendation is that, in general, they are inexpensive. Cosmetically, the heat sinks are often garish and don't serve any real use other than get in the way of CPU coolers.

Here's how I look at RAM purchases (ignoring the fact that review sites often find and test RAM that performs well beyond its ratings, but as we've seen in the recent past, even THG gets burned there).

1. Decide on speed I want, let's say DDR3-1600.
2. Go to newegg or your fav site and start drilling down the search criteria form 240 pin DDR3 / 3 x 2GB / DDR3-1600 and sort on lowest price.
3. The search options will leave you with this:

Cas Latency
6 (4)
7 (9)
8 (21)
9 (13)

Meaning they have 4 sets of CAS 6, 9 of CAS 7 and so on.

4. Looking at CAS 6, I see a low profile set from OCZ for $99
5. Looking at CAS 7, I see a low profile set from OCZ for $99 after $20 MIR
6. Looking at CAS 8, I see a low profile set from OCZ for 84 after $10 MIR ...there's cheaper but no likie brand or profile
7. Looking at CAS 9, I see a low profile set from Corsair for $59 after $20 MIR

Obviously, the CAS 7 is out as CAS 6 is same price. The CAS 8 is $15 less than the CAS 6 and that savings doesn't excite me. So it would either be the $59 CAS 9 in a budget build or a CAS 6 in an enthusiasts build.
 

jKron

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thanks but i am not interested in OCZ RAM as i have heard of lots of problems with it in general. high voltages to acheive proper clock and timings etc etc...
 

jKron

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THG?