DDR 3 ram choices

[Alsisgevat]

I know there are a lot of ram threads open so sorry if one like this already exists,but i bought a Motherboard that supports ddr3 triple channel ram,but the ram are expensive and different makes and speed,i am gonna get windows 7 64bit(currently only have 32bit) so it can support more than 4gig ram,i am looking at 6 or maybe 8gig if not way out of price reach and doesn't have any like heat problems or shit like that.

So my quistion is this,what would be the best choice of triple channel ddr3 ram when considering price and performance on a 64 bit and also the make like Kingston ext.? Also currently i have 4 gig of ddr3 ram(2x2) but windows 32bit when looking at system info it reads 4gig but uses only 2.99,previously it used 3.25(before i upgrade mb,cpu,psu and ram)Why now only 2.99?

 

[WhiteCoon]

corsair do a good triple channel kit mostly 3x 2gb kits for a good price (can be quite expensive with the best/fastest ram) and 6x2gb kits.

Haven't heard much about the performance but kingston do a 3 x 4gb kit.

 

[Alsisgevat]

Oh...4x3...that more than i thought,do you know the speed and prices?

 

[MK2]

Hi,

It would be handy to know what your budget is.
I use the 6GB OCZ Platinum OCZ3P1600LV6GK kit. It's 1600Mhz with CL7 latency. I thought it had a good price/performance ratio and I am very happy with it.
Could not find it on Newegg but this one is also nice: Newegg.com - OCZ Platinum 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model OCZ3P1600C6LV6GK

MK2

 

[Alsisgevat]

Thanx MK2,like your choice of ram,my price range would be like...um....for the 6gig or maybe 8gig about R2000,Dont know what price currency in other countries are,but that works out at 220-250 dollars.

 

[madtownidiot]

You'll get the best performance out of whatever memory you choose by going with a matched set of 3 DIMMs, otherwise you can't use triple channel mode.. which can be explained most simply by comparing it to a raid 0 HDD setup .. the same way DDR2 only works in dual channel mode with matching pairs, DDR3 triple channel mode only works with matching sets of three.

My advice: get a 3rd DIMM of the exact same memory you already have installed and enable triple channel mode in BIOS. That would give you a bigger boost in performance than buying any other pair of DIMMS.. (even if you got a pair of 2x4GB DIMMs) and you'll keep the option to add a second matched set of 3, if you decide to add more later

Even if they're not the same capacity as the first matched set, you'd still have triple channel mode if you later added a 2nd matched set (say 3x4GB).. DDR3 is going to keep dropping in price. DDR4 is already here.. but probably won't be manufactured in enough quantity for the mass computer market for at least another year

 

[Alsisgevat]

madtownidiot.Cool,but see i have 1600 ddr3 2x2 sticks so 4gig,and they come in a pack of 2,so will then have 8gig,but i thought triple channel was a certain tipe,not like any 3.But that would work out nicely,but would be cheaper to by a new set of 3x2 ddr,or what? Also my board has 6 ram slots,so 6-1gigs? or even 6-2gigs?

 

[MK2]

My pleasure, as madtownidiot suggest it's best to stay with tripple channel and a matched set. I don't know what you are using your computer for but 6GB of RAM is usually more then enough. With the budget you have you also could look at RAM with a higher speed together with low latency. The fastest RAM is always the RAM with the highest speed and lowest latency. Ofcourse Kingston and Corsair are good choices as well.

MK2

 

[Alsisgevat]

MK2, I am looking at ram above the 1600 speeds,like 2000 or so,and i like Kingston they have nice performances.And my rig is built for games and drawing.So it would be smarter to get just 1 extra ram of the same tipe,but like i said it only comes in 2x2,so 4 sticks=8gig,which is great,but the ram i got is a bit rare.

 

[MK2]

At the moment i'm looking as well for RAM around the 2000Mhz for my next upgrade, but I could not find that much I like. Most of the RAM at 2000Mhz has higher latencys.
The only ones I could find I like are the Corsair Dominator GT CMG6GX3M3A2000C7 wich is very expensive: https://shop.corsair.com/store/item_view.aspx?id=766411
The Gskill F3-16000CL6T-6GBPID wich I can't find in The Netherlands: G.SKILL-Products this is the one I would prefer the most because it is guaranteed to work with my Asus Rampage II Extreme motherboard and the OCZ Reaper OCZ3RPR2000C6LV6GK wich is about 350 dollar: OCZ DDR3 PC3-16000 CL6 Edition Reaper Low-Voltage Triple Channel OCZ Technology

MK2

 

[madtownidiot]

Even if you bought a second kit of 2x2 of the exact same memory and set 3 DIMMs in the correct slots, usually by leaving an empty slot between DIMMs, those 3 would work in triple channel mode. Some, but not all mobos can also simultaneously run a set of three in triple channel mode with a 4th in single channel, but part of the DDR3 specification is that any 3 matching DIMMs (model#, capacity & timing) can be run in triple channel mode. Its not really necessary for all three DIMMs to come from the same package in order to get triple channel mode. They're just sold that way for convenience. If someone has lead you to believe you have to buy a triple channel kit in order to get triple channel mode, they're full of sh*t if they weren't sorely misled by some greedy vendor who wanted to make a quick dollar.
I just don't see the point in throwing away good parts.

 

[Alsisgevat]

Thanx mate.Nice!What is the specs of your motherboard?And i am going to get 3x2,bt still looking at 2000mhz at low latency

 

[MK2]

Don't know if you ment my motherboard but this is the one: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. - Motherboards - ASUS Rampage II Extreme
There is already a newer one out: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. - Motherboards - ASUS Rampage III Extreme
Have to stick with certain Asus boards if I want to keep using my OC station but I don't see a reason to switch to the newer, the major difference with the Rampage III is USB3 and SATA3. I don't have any USB3 periphials and My HDDs don't need SATA3 and when I upgrade my SSD I will go with one that uses PCIe.


MK2

 

[Alsisgevat]

madtownidiot,yeh the guy did say i had to buy a triple channel kit,so didnt know better,my only problem is that my ram is 1600 and only 4gig,2 stics.And i would love two fill 6slots of 1 or 2 gig each then its like 2 triple channels...or am i missing something?

 

[Alsisgevat]

MK2,nice,i wanted to know because my board supports the usb3,but its not the extreme 3,but allsow asus,but i am VERY happy with it,got nice performance out of it and it supports the upcoming cpu built on the 32nm board

 

[MK2]

I see, your's is also a nice board.
Mine supports also the new CPU's, was thinking of buying the i7 980x or 990 if it's already out as a christmas present for myself in a couple of months.

You don't have to fill up the slots, you can use 3 slots for 3x2GB, 6 slots for 6x2GB, 3 slots for 3x4GB or 6 slots for 6x4GB.

MK2

 

[Alsisgevat]

Thanx,yeh i am happy about it,the 990 is just expencive,im happy with my rig,its not the best but each component is atleast under top 5 on performance charts(acording two testers),so i just need triple ram,and i will get that 3x2gig but the 2000 speed with low latency...or maby 6x4gig haha-overkill.By the way how do i put a pic above my name like the fat cat you got?

 

[MK2]

LOL, the fat cat is almost like my own cat, if you click on my avatar you can see some pictures of my cat and my rig in my profile.

If you want to change your avatar just go the the top of the page and click on Quick Links, go to Edit Your Details, on the left of the page under Settings & Options you see Edit Avatar, click that and you can change your Avatar.

MK2

 

[Alsisgevat]

Thanx,will check out your rig,gonna uploads some pics of my rig too...once i know how haha.Thanx 4 the advice appreciated it.

 

[MK2]

My pleasure, good luck with choosing your RAM!

MK2