Please help, before I buy the wrong thing.

[usegobos]

Ok, so I have an A7N8X, the Asus Nforce 2 mboard. Now, according to toms hardware, the ideal Ram is cas 2, great, but it also says go for 400 mhz. This sounds great, considering the news that new AMD processors will run at 400 mhz. But, other sites are saying its better to run at 266, while others say better performace will be seen at 333. I am wanting to optimize my system in about one year, getting a good price on a high end amd, so I don't mind the performance hit now, of a mismatch of ram and processor speeds.
So what I want to hear, if anyone knows, is something like "If you get a 333 mhz ddr, then you will be optimized for the 2700, 2800 AMD's, or get 400mhz if you want to be optimized for future chips." However, I don't know which is true, but I do want to go ahead and order my ram, but am quite confused about what is the optimum speed for it.
I will be getting corsair xms, btw.

Thanks for any help.

Al

 

[andlcs]

Get the Corsair XMS PC3200 400MHz CL2. You can run it any speed PC2100, 2700 and 3200...

 

[Tilepusher2]

Yo U,

Questions: What do you use your computer for? How long before you plan to buy it? How long is it going to have to last without a upgrade or replacement?

My take: Get 2 sticks of 256mb of PC3500(DDR433) it is only a $20ish difference(each stick) more in price. The "Optimum" speed for your computer will be based on what is your cpu's FSB. XP 2400+ & slower use a 133/266 mhz fsb, so PC2100 would be optimum in the nForce2 mobo. XP 2600+ to 2800+ use a 166/333 fsb so PC2700 would be optimum for these cpu's. Anything faster has not been officially released, so it might just be BS about future AMD socket A cpu's using DDR400. They just might move to DDRII. If you are refering to the Hammer CPU's, they will not fit in your Socket A mobo, so don't worry about that upgrade. All the faster DDR like PC3500, is backward compatibile with the slower stuff like PC2100. DDRII is going to be a different form of DDR that is faster/higher bandwidth & a different slot shape. The only reason I say to get the fastest one out there is based on the $20 price difference, if it were a lot more for the faster DDR, I would say just get the PC2700.

Peace Out..........tile

Why do you want to believe me?

 

[Crashman]

I'd get PC3200 (DDR400) and try different modes. Check it out, you'll need at least PC2700 (DDR333) if you ever upgrade anyway, and if you get DDR400 from the outset you'll still have room to overclock your next (DDR333 bus) CPU!

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