Asus Rampage Formula I Memory Compatibility

[Schweetness101]

Hello,

Here's my current rig (about 7 years old, except the GPU is about 2 years old):

Intel Core 2 Quad CPU Q9450 OC'ed to 3.2 GHz
IceQ HD 7850
4 GB (4x1GB) DDR2 800 MHz RAM
750W Corsair Power Supply
ASUS Rampage Formula E3559 MOBO
500Gb HDD
Windows 7

I'm looking to get 8GB (4x2GB) of RAM at 1066, which from the specifications listed here
http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/RAMPAGE_FORMULA/specifications/
seems to be the max on this board.

However, not all 4x2GB of DDR2 @ 1066 MHz RAM are created equal, and they won't all be compatible. Anybody know what I should get?

Here's a very old but relevant forum post from another site:
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?185423-Asus-Rampage-Formula-Memory-Compatibility-amp-OC-Info

Here it seems like the F2 8500 CLD5 is compatible:
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?176859-F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK-comptible-motherboard-list-4-15-08-updated&highlight=g.skill

here's another post, but I don't know how reliable it is:
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?185423-Asus-Rampage-Formula-Memory-Compatibility-amp-OC-Info&p=2938893#post2938893

And, from the compatibility tester on their websites it looks like this crucial:
http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/rampage-formula/CT789626
2GB DDR2 PC2-8500 Unbuffered NON-ECC 1.8V 256Meg x 64

and these kingston's:
http://www.kingston.com/us/memory/search/discontinuedmodels/Default.aspx?DeviceType=7&Mfr=ASU&Line=Rampage&Model=45032
4GB Kit* (2x2GB) - DDR2 800MHz
Part Number: KVR800D2E6K2/4G

are compatible, but I'm never sure if the RAM I'm looking at on ebay or wherever is actually the exact same model

Here are some ebay deals that I think might be compatible:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/G-Skill-PC2-8500-8GB-4-X-2GB-1066-MHz-DDR2-SDRAM-Memory-2x-F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK-/181722691733
and
http://www.ebay.com/itm/G-SKILL-PIatinum-8GB-4X-2GB-PC2-8500-8500U-1066-Dual-Ch-DDR2-F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK-/161676288350?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item25a4a8615e

And here are some sticks on newegg that I think might work:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148249&cm_re=2GB_DDR2_PC2-8500-_-20-148-249-_-Product
and
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166&cm_re=2GB_DDR2_PC2-8500-_-20-231-166-_-Product

but I don't really know.

Also, I don't know if I've ever updated my bios, or if and when I should do that, or how, and if doing so will effect the ram compatibility, or allow me to use 8gb of RAM better or whatever. Thanks for any help on that if it's relevant

I'd greatly appreciate any help on this matter.

Thanks a lot!

 

[i7Baby]

4 x DIMM, Max. 8 GB, DDR2 1200*/1066/800/667 ECC,Non-ECC,Un-buffered Memory
Dual Channel memory architecture

4 x 2gb DDR2 1066 is what you should aim for. Not 1600

Any off the QVL should be fine - http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/RAMPAGE_FORMULA/HelpDesk_QVL/

 

[Schweetness101]

oh sorry, I meant 1066, I typed that the first time and then typed 1600 the second time. My mistake. That will confuse people, thanks for picking it out! I'll edit it.

Wow, thanks for pointing me to the QVL! I figured something like that existed, but I was too thick to find it myself.

What do you think about the debates on those threads? They seem to think that this board is finnicky with certain RAM that it should technically work with.

Also, on the QVL it has to be C*, not A* or B* doesn't it? From the Note at the bottom:
A* : Supports one module inserted in any slot as Single-channel memory configuration
B* : Supports one pair of modules inserted into either the blue slots or the black slots as one pair of Dual-channel memory configuration
C* : Supports 4 modules inserted into both the blue and black slots as two pairs of Dual-channel memory configuration

 

[Schweetness101]

Looking at the QVL, I'm running into some difficulties. I need 2GB sticks, (or 2048MB as it says on the QVL chart), and I'm pretty sure it needs to be C*, but the list only includes two types of RAM that fit that spec and they are both only 667 MHz. I think that they're are memory modules compatible with this motherboard that are 4x2GB DDR2 @1066, but they aren't on this list (maybe the list was made with the then contemporary parts in mind?). What do you think?

 

[Schweetness101]

I think this one will do, based on the reviews it works with the rampage:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166

But is it worth the cost? I can get 8GB off newegg for about $190, or off of ebay buy now for about $120. Or I could bid and maybe get lucky.

Would I notice the difference in game, running nothing else, going from 4GB DDR2 @800MHz to 8GB DDR2 @1066MHz, or is it really just for multitasking?

 

[i7Baby]

DDR2 is twice the price of DDR3 because its not used any more and is getting hard to find.

Newegg has a lot - http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&IsNodeId=1&N=100007611%20600006042

You will notice the difference between 4 and 8gb ram. But not really between 800 and 1066 MHz.

 

[Schweetness101]

Okay, got it. Will those all generally be compatible, or will I have to research each individually (many aren't on the QVL)?

How much do you think I'll notice the difference between 4GB and 8GB? Will it prolong the life of my aging machine such that I could play with tolerable FPS say The Witcher 3 or Star Citizen at medium settings, both of which will need 8GB RAM? Or will I be hopelessly left behind by those games and their graphical equivalents by the rest of my machine anyway so that its not worth the $120.00 to get the new RAM?

 

[i7Baby]

Most DDR2 will be compatible - as long as its 1066 or 800

With 4gb, you just won't be able to play some games

Star Citizen - http://www.game-debate.com/games/index.php?g_id=5490&game=Star%20Citizen is about the hardest spec I've seen. 8gb will only let you play at minimum settings. Your CPU and GPU isn't sufficient anyway.

Witcher 3 - http://www.game-debate.com/games/index.php?g_id=3443&game=The%20Witcher%20III - you need at least 6gb just to play the game at minimum settings. And a better CPU and GPU.

You need to pick games that you can play or you'll be disappointed.

 

[Schweetness101]

Okay, so it's probably the case that any game for which more than 4GB of RAM is necessary (or even very useful) will also have corresponding system requirements for the CPU, GPU, etc...that are so far beyond my current rig that I won't be able to play them, so that ultimately buying 8GB of RAM for this system is a waste of money...right?

Or can you think of some games for which 8GB would be noticeably better than 4GB but which I can still play with my other specs?

 

[i7Baby]

"so that ultimately buying 8GB of RAM for this system is a waste of money...right? " - I'd say so.

You can check what you can play here - http://www.game-debate.com/can-I-run/?EA