I'm getting rid of my existing RAM and getting something better, 2GB once again just better timings or PC4000, but I'm stuck between a few choices.

Ok, firstly my Gigabyte K8NF-9-RH Triton mobo can only take PC3200 apparently, but I'm told it'll take PC4000 by others, as it's essentially the same hardware just higher speed? But if I do choose PC4000 I'm told I'll lose some performance due to timings when compared to a PC3200 module.

My possible choices are then, as follows

2Gb OCZ PC3200 EL DDR Platinum (2-3-2-5) Dual Channel


2Gb OCZ PC3200 EL DDR Platinum (2-3-2-5) Dual Channel kit

2Gb Mushkin XP4000 Redline 3-3-2-8 Dual Channel

2Gb Mushkin XP4000 Redline 3-3-2-8 Dual Channel kit

I guess my final questions are:

Can my Gigabyte K8NF-9-RH Triton motherboard handle PC4000 RAM? Will it stress the board too much etc?

If it can take PC4000, would it be better to stick to PC3200 due to lower timings if I'm not OCing etc?

Would it be better to get some PC3700 and get a mix of timings and mhz?

And lastly people have said that the Redline requires a lot of voltage, but then in the spec on that site, it says "Operating at a nominal voltage of 2.6-2.9v, unlike previous Redline modules which require high voltage for rated specification, these modules operate under standard voltages."

Any advice welcome, and based upon your replies I'll be making my purchase ASAP. If you need to know anything else about my system lemme know.

Thanks.

Well..it's like this, if you don't plan on OC'ing, then go with the low latency modules.

No motherboards "Officially" suport anything higher than PC3200, since that is the highest official "JDEC" (The guys on a board who determine ram specs) rating for the older DDR-, they never recognized PC4000, so no stamp of approval!

In fact, to get around this, manufacturers will often have two ratings (Timings and speeds) one for PC3200 and one for the higher speeds, most low latency PC3200 can run well above the stock speeds.

The chip under the heatspreader is typically what decides the performance, if there are SamSung TCCD chips under there for example, then Samsung themselves rated them to be capable of PC4000 speeds with timings like 2.5-3-3-8, but are often sold and rated at PC3200 with tighter timings so they can get on the "Official" list of supported ram for the motherboards.

"Speed Binning" is something most companies like OCZ, Mushkin and Corsair do, they test the chips for both low latency and high FSB speed, the ones that run super tight timings end up in PC 3200, and the ones that run high FSB will end up in PC 4000, the ones that dont do well in either case end up in the "Generic" ram...that is a simplified version of it, but you get the idea.

So if you plan on OC'ing and want to keep the FSB of the RAM and CPU in "Synch" get the PC4000, even if you get the low latency PC3200, there should still be headroom in them at looser timings to at least PC3500 or better speeds, or you can run a "Divider" to keep them near stock speeds with the tight timings.

The older "Redline" ram in the 1GB kits or smaller (512) used Winbond BH-5 based chips, of wich I have used before with great succes, but came from Kingston in some "Lowly" PC3000 modules!

They would run on my DFI LP 939 NF-4 board at 270+FSB (DDR 540, or PC4200 roughly) with Uber tight 2-2-2-7 timings!

The catch is, they needed 3.6v to do it!

(They would also run 250FSB or PC4000 speeds with the same timings at 3.2v)

Most ram will not handle much more than 2.8v, especially TCCD chips...though some Micron chips can take 2.9 to 3.1v

The larger sized 1GB modules don't use BH-5 unfortunately, they usually use TCCD or Micron chips, and that is why the high voltage is no longer needed to get the best performance from them.

Hope that answered most of your questions!

Yeah pretty much, thanks.

Only thing is, as you say with the redline it needs high voltage. My mobo won't gimme more then 3v... However, in the reviews I've read of the Redline 2GB dual channel and on the links above it says, as I quoted already: "...unlike previous Redline modules which require high voltage for rated specification, these modules operate under standard voltages." So if I go for the PC4000, would the Redline be best assuming it will run at 2.8-3v? I only want 500mhz out of it, nothing more really, and the Redline seems to offer the best timings @ 500mhz.

Quote: Originally Posted by Mr. Fiddles Yeah pretty much, thanks. Only thing is, as you say with the redline it needs high voltage. My mobo won't gimme more then 3v... However, in the reviews I've read of the Redline 2GB dual channel and on the links above it says, as I quoted already: "...unlike previous Redline modules which require high voltage for rated specification, these modules operate under standard voltages." So if I go for the PC4000, would the Redline be best assuming it will run at 2.8-3v? I only want 500mhz out of it, nothing more really, and the Redline seems to offer the best timings @ 500mhz.

NP!

Like I said, though I'm sorry if It wasn't real clear though...the new redline 1GB Modules (2GB Kits) use other chips than the WindBond BH-5 ones that are so voltage hungry, the ones they use now are happy with 2.8v or so, probably Samsung TCCD or something from Micron.

I am realy disappointed they never made BH-5 in anything larger than 512MB sticks, can you imagine running 1GB sticks at 500+FSB at with 2-2-2 timings?

Most 1GB sticks other than theses Redlines run at 3-3-3 or 3-4-4, the last number i left off cause that is usually the least important timing in terms of how it efffects overall performance.

The first number is the most important (CAS, or "Case Address Strobe") and just follows down the line in importance...I won't get into details as to the rest of the terms...you can look them at the links I will post at the bottom.

So if the redline would run at 2.5-3-3, it would probably be faster than the ratings they use (3-3-2)

The timings are basically how many clock cycles it takes to perform an "Operation" so obviously CAS 2 ram is faster than CAS 3, and CAS 2.5 is in the middle.


CAS Latency Bulletin CAS explained


Corsair Memory - Technical Resources: Memory Buyers Guides# General tech info

Macromedia Breeze Flash Guide (Audio)