Is PC6400 CAS 4 Good For Conroe?

[slim142]

Hi

I opened a topic before asking what kind of memory for conroe and people recommended me the Corsair PC6400 800mhz 2Gb pack for $260. But unfortunately I am not going to be able to get it since its price is way too high. So I still dont know which memory to get but I found this one PC6400 with CAS 4

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2341284&CatId=1872

Will this be good enough for Conroe? And is there too much difference between PC5400 CAS 3 and PC6400 CAS 4? Because I would like to go for the PC6400 800mhz one but I dont know if Im going to lose perfomance if I choose the PC6400 one.

 

[1Tanker]

Hi

I opened a topic before asking what kind of memory for conroe and people recommended me the Corsair PC6400 800mhz 2Gb pack for $260. But unfortunately I am not going to be able to get it since its price is way too high. So I still dont know which memory to get but I found this one PC6400 with CAS 4

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2341284&CatId=1872

Will this be good enough for Conroe? And is there too much difference between PC5400 CAS 3 and PC6400 CAS 4? Because I would like to go for the PC6400 800mhz one but I dont know if Im going to lose perfomance if I choose the PC6400 one.

Yes, that RAM will work well with Conroe. The difference between DDR2-667 CAS3 and DDR2-800 CAS4 will not be that noticable. That said, i would say to stick with the PC6400 CAS4. Try not to get CAS 5 though, as that will start to degrade performance slowly. GL

 

[IcY18]

Hi

I opened a topic before asking what kind of memory for conroe and people recommended me the Corsair PC6400 800mhz 2Gb pack for $260. But unfortunately I am not going to be able to get it since its price is way too high. So I still dont know which memory to get but I found this one PC6400 with CAS 4

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2341284&CatId=1872

Will this be good enough for Conroe? And is there too much difference between PC5400 CAS 3 and PC6400 CAS 4? Because I would like to go for the PC6400 800mhz one but I dont know if Im going to lose perfomance if I choose the PC6400 one.

i would actually make sure you get 2x1GB set rather than 2x512mb, b/c you'll be limited to only 2GB in your system for total memory, and depending how long you want your system to last 2GB might not be enough with vista coming out and looking to be memory hungry, plus memory makes everything faster

i recently read someone getting a set of G.Skill DDR-800 2x1GB with Cas 4 for $190. thats a great deal...check it HERE

now for some reason that says intel platform only, but this set does not, for only a couple bucks more, check that HERE

both have lifetime warranties so i wouldn't worry

 

[Ycon]

DDR2-533 is all you need to get going, but Id still go with DDR2-667 since all the memory makers prefer 667 MHz speeds over 533 so there are higher performing kits @ 667 for just the same price.

 

[The_OGS]

Hi slim142,

The difference between DDR2-667 CAS3 and DDR2-800 CAS4 will not be that noticable.

DDR2-800 CAS4 'is' DDR2-667 CAS3, right?
Instead of buying PC5400 you buy PC6400, and run it @ 667MHz with tighter timings.
DDR2-800MHz is AM2 speed (1:2) anyway - Conroe will perform well with PC-5400 @ 533MHz (1:1 synchronous) and tighter timings.
I would buy at least PC6400 anyway, on principle, as a better investment - however if you are starved of cashish and planning Conroe implimentation, 2 x 1GB PC-5400 is a bit less $$ than 2 x 1GB PC6400...
-ideally, go with 2GB Corsair PC6400;
-to reduce cost, move to PC5400;
-to further reduce cost, move to 2 x 512MB PC6400;
-in final financial desperation, get 2 x 512 PC5400
But try to stick with big name-brand memory! I have had great success with OCZ, but I have always loved Corsair...
Can't WAIT for Conroe to appear, LoL :^)
Regards

 

[slim142]

Well I dont wanna go with PC5400 because if its the same (exept with the corsair one)then I would prefer PC6400.

IcY18 you are right but you see, gettin 1 stick of 1gb cost me the same as getting 2 sticks of 512 and I think I would get more perfomance with dual channel enabled right? Also if in the future I put 2 sticks of 1gb I would have 3Gb 😉
Does it make any difference if one dual channel has 2x512mb and the other dual channel has 2x1gb? or will I get more perfomance if all the ram ports have the same ram brand and model?

1Tanker thanks for your easy explanation. Anyways I knew I should get CAS 4 because as you said, CAS 5 will really waste perfomance.

 

[The_OGS]

any difference if one dual channel has 2x512mb and the other dual channel has 2x1gb?

No. There used to be, maybe in the first dual channel rigs (ie. SocketA) but modern DDR2 rigs are very tolerant of mixing sizes like that. Apparently they are even tolerant of mixing make and model of RAM stick too! Within reason I'm sure... (they must both be same size and have SPD settings that are recognized and agreed apon). So that's great; a good thing.
I was just observing that the cheap (CAS5) PC-6400 runs better at slower speeds. Of course, CAS4 will be even better (CAS3 @ 533MHz?) but you said it costs too much...

will I get more perfomance if all the ram ports have the same ram brand and model?

Not performance - stability. Reliability.
L8R