Situation is "Crucial" - need memory advice

[altazi]

Hi All,

I have just had my Crucial Ballistix 2 x 1GB DDR2-1066 (running as DDR2-800) fail in my Athlon X2 5000+ BE / MSI K9A2 Platinum system - for the second time. Crucial has already replaced the modules once, and I have just contacted them in this instance. To their credit, Crucial was very prompt and helpful during the RMA process. If I do get replacements, I will probably keep them as back-up.

I need to know which RAM will work best - beyond just being listed on the QVLs. I plan to move to a Phenom at some point - hence the 1066 spec. I would like to hear from people who have this motherboard, who can suggest which RAM will be the most reliable. I use this computer for work, so it has to be reliable!

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Mondoman]

The key is to stick with memory spec'd at 1.8V-1.9V (the DDR2 standard). RAM spec'd at a higher voltage is just normal RAM overclocked by jacking up the voltage, sold at a jacked-up price.
Here are some good, compatible, robust choices:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145590
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146764
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134655
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231194
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231122
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146731

 

[xrodney]

Maybe you can try look on memory or mainboard manufacturer website and forums. Its not allways just question of brand, but also exact type of memory matched to exact type of board if you want to be sure. For example i had realy serious problem running 4X2GB configuration from A-data and other brans whitch was working without errors only in 2x2GB configuration.
I did little research and on Corsair website found list of tested memory modules with my board and also get same sugestions on Asus forum from users using same board.
Now happily using 8GB of corsair 1066MHz dominators whitch even run much cooler. They was little more expensive, but they run better and i was sure they work in my mainboard as they was tested in same type of board.

http://www.corsairmemory.com/configurator/

 

[altazi]

I went down to Frys and picked up the Corsair Dominator TWIN2X2048-8500C5D. $90 with a $30 MIR - not bad for $60. Just had two successful passes on Memtest86, so I booted the OS and will run Prime95. So far, so good. I'll let it run all night.

I'd sure like to know what is with the Ballistix RAM. Why would it work great for months and then just utterly crap out - twice? It's not like I was pushing any spec or anything - plus the system is on an APC UPS.

 

[Mondoman]

There have been a number of reports of Ballistix DIMMs dying in recent months. My guess is that they're using lower-quality chips, and the elevated voltage burns them out.