Question on recommended RAM?

[GMD999]

Your latest Super PC recommends Crucial 4096MB (4GB) PC8500 DDR2 RAM with the Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P MOBO...

When I click on the Crucial Memory link I am taken to the Crucial site showing 1GB, Ballistix 240-pin DIMM, DDR2 PC2-8500 memory module
BL12864AA106A...

Are you recommending the Ballistic line? If so it only appears to come in a 1GB card size (either individual or in a 2-card kit)...

How do I get the recommended 4GB?

The only memory kit on the site that seems to meet the criteria is the 4GB kit (2GBx2), 240-pin DIMM, DDR2 PC2-8500 memory module
CT2KIT25664AA1067... Is this the one used?

[zburns]

Here is a Crucial link that gets you to the Ballistix page with 1 gig and 2 gig sticks, but note that the 1gig has a five star rating and the 2 gig a 2 star rating, so that needs to be looked at. The 1 gig sticks may be a little faster than the two gig sticks but I cannot say for sure without finding out what Crucial says. http://www.crucial.com/store/listmodule/DDR2/~DDR2%20PC2-8500~~HS~/list.html

Your mobo choice has slots for 4 sticks of Ram; you can use 4 sticks of 1gig Ballistix or 2 sticks of 2 gig Ballistix.

Other questions that need to be asked are what is your CPU choice and what OS do you plan to use; in particular 32 bit or 64 bit. 32 bit can only use about 3.5 gig, but your mobo with 64 bit can use a max of 16 gig. The point here is that I doubt if you would ever use 16 gig, but you might use more than 4 gig, say 6 gig. In that case three of your four slots would have to be loaded with say 2 gig sticks.

DDR2 Ram is pretty cheap. A year and a half ago, I paid about $ 70 per stick for 4 sticks of 1 gig each DDR2, PC 8500, Crucial Ballistix. You can really afford to change it out later if you have the need. It is best to have high quality performance right now.

Pretty sure that Ricky Tick routinely recommends 2 gig sticks of RAM, so I go back to the two star vs four star rating I mentioned above.

I just checked the Crucial page. The two star and five star ratings are customer reviews, so you should probably read them. I use 4 sticks of 1 gig Crucial PC8500 with AMD dual core 5600 and 32 bit; no complaints on my part. Very fast system.

Not trying to confuse you, so please tell us your choice of CPU and OS 32 bit or 64 bit. I can give you my opinion based on what I would do; other forum members will comment also, etc..

I just checked the link to Crucial. The two star and five star are customer reviews; mixed reviews on the 2 gig sticks but excellent on the 1 gig sticks; so a call to Crucial for an explanation is in order.

[RickyTick]

With that motherboard, I would recommend either of these 4gb kits.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145197

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146789

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146785

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227289

[GMD999]

zburns... that link you posted only shows 1gig sticks... one is for 1 stick and the other is a 2 stick kit... odd that they have such a difference in the ratings!

I am following the current MySuper PC config which is with the INTEL BOX CORE 2 DUO E8400 3.00G 6M 1333 I64 S775 processor. I plan to use Windows XP Pro SP2 (i.e. 32 bit).

RickyTick... thks for the other suggestions... Out of curiosity, will I have to make the adjustments in the Bios to make it run and recognize it as a DDR2-1066 with the Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P MOBO? I didn't see anything on this in the BIOS settings section of the main site...

By the way... great site. I built my current computer based mostly on the recommendations from the site some years ago...

[RickyTick]

That memory should work great, but if you're going to run XP 32-bit then you might want to stick to only 2 gb of ram. Shouldn't need to make any adjustments in BIOS.

Gigabyte GA-EP45 UD3P
Memory
Number of Memory Slots 4×240pin
Memory Standard DDR2 1366+/1066/800/667
Maximum Memory Supported 16GB
Channel Supported Dual Channel

[zburns]

Sorry I read it wrong or rather read it too fast!! However, the listing does not make sense so I will call them tomorrow and see if there is an error.

[GMD999]

Thanks...

Here is what I am looking at for my system and I would appreciate any comments. Note that there are differences between the current config on your site due to either pricing and/or availability

Processor - INTEL BOX CORE 2 DUO E8500 3.00G 6M 1333 I64 S775 (BX80570E8500)

Mobo - GIGABYTE SKT775 INT P45+ICH10R 4D.DDR2-1200MHZ SATA,1600/1333 FSB, HD-AUDIO,RAID 5, TPM, ATX (GA-EP45-UD3R)

RAM - 2 x 1GB, Ballistix Tracer 240-pin DIMM (with LEDs), DDR2 PC2-8500 memory module (BL12864AL106A)

Video Card - Asus ENGTX260/G/HTDI/896M

Hard Drive - WESTERN DIGITAL 640GB Black Edition SATA 3GB S DESKTOP STORAGE 7200RPM 32MB CACHE (WD6401AALS))

DVD R/W Samsung SH-S223Q

Case - Antec Sonata III

CPU Cooler - Zalman CPU Fan CNPS9500 AT Retail (CNPS9500 AT) - I am having trouble finding one at a reasonable price... any other suggestions?

[GMD999]

As a follow-up to my last note...

These appear to be the 3 differences between the and GA-EP45-UD3P Gigabyte Mobos:

GA-EP45-UD3P

PCI-Express X16 (X16) -- 2 (1x16 or 2x8)

PCI -- 2

LAN -- 2 GbE LAN

GA-EP45-UD3R

PCI-Express X16 (X16) -- 1

PCI -- 3

LAN -- 1 GbE LAN

Should I be concerned by these differences?

[GMD999]

I was browsing through some other threads and I saw one that had relevance to mine... http://forums.mysuperpc.com/showthread.php?t=2746

AussiDevil has a similar config to mine... He was looking at the same processor (Intel S775 Core 2 Duo E8500 3.16GHz) and same mobo (Gigabyte S775 GA-EP45-UD3R).

However I was confused by RickyTick's reply wherein he comments "That motherboard is excellent, but it doesn't have firewire. If you think you need firewire (IEEE 1394), then go with the EP45 UD3R board." This is the same model of board that he was considering! Was the comment meant to be that the EP45 UD3P board has the firewire??

I am also confused by this firewire issue... I see the specs for both models on the Gygabyte site showing 3 IEEE 1394 ports!

I also noticed in AussiDevil's config that he has no additional CPU cooler... Is the one that comes with the CPU sufficient for proper cooling? Why should I consider the Zalman CNPS9500? I recognize that it probably is quieter but does it definitely reduce the heat? Is it worth the $60-$80?

Thanks again...

[RickyTick]

I was browsing through some other threads and I saw one that had relevance to mine... http://forums.mysuperpc.com/showthread.php?t=2746

AussiDevil has a similar config to mine... He was looking at the same processor (Intel S775 Core 2 Duo E8500 3.16GHz) and same mobo (Gigabyte S775 GA-EP45-UD3R).

However I was confused by RickyTick's reply wherein he comments "That motherboard is excellent, but it doesn't have firewire. If you think you need firewire (IEEE 1394), then go with the EP45 UD3R board." This is the same model of board that he was considering! Was the comment meant to be that the EP45 UD3P board has the firewire??

I am also confused by this firewire issue... I see the specs for both models on the Gygabyte site showing 3 IEEE 1394 ports!

I also noticed in AussiDevil's config that he has no additional CPU cooler... Is the one that comes with the CPU sufficient for proper cooling? Why should I consider the Zalman CNPS9500? I recognize that it probably is quieter but does it definitely reduce the heat? Is it worth the $60-$80?

Thanks again...

iirc, AussiDevil had origianlly picked out a different mobo until I pointed out the lack of firewire, then he went back and edited his original post to reflect that.

The E8xxx series of cpu's come with a more than adequate cooler. The only reason for a different cooler is if you plan to overclock it.

Hope that clears thing up a bit. :)

[GMD999]

RickyTick... thanks for the clarification. Any thoughts on the config I am considering?

[RickyTick]

RickyTick... thanks for the clarification. Any thoughts on the config I am considering?

I don't think you'll be disappointed. :)

I'm a little curious about your choice of ram. Does this mean you'll be using a 32-bit operating system? and Why?

[GMD999]

I am planning to use Windows XP... (therefore the 32 bit system...) for no other reason than I know it well.

The choice of RAM is because I got a really good deal on the 2 sticks...

You now have me curious... what makes you curious about the ram?

[RickyTick]

The ram is fine, I was really interested in why you would run 32-bit XP, especially on a brand new system.

[GMD999]

The main reason for the 32-bit XP is that a lot of programs I have won't run on Vista... as an example, I have Microsoft Office 2002 and I tried it on Vista with no success. I don't need a newer Office version because it does everything I need... but if I buy Vista then I have to also buy a number of other software packages! That is my simple logic...

At least if things change and I do want to go the 64-bit O/S then my config works and I could just add 2 more 1gig sticks...

[RickyTick]

Office 2002 will work with Vista, but there are problems with Outlook.
http://www.outlook-tips.net/howto/vista.htm

You're right that you can easily upgrade later to a newer version of Office, and you can easily add 2 more gigs of ram too.