Ram

[Aaron_T]

ok so i finally opened up my PC and found out the make and model of my motherboard.

i have a Gigabyte K7 TRITON DDR 400+ FS333 model GA-7VAXP. REV: 1.2

i need to know which kind of ram would be compatible with this motherboard as at the moment i only have a 256mb chip and wish to upgrade to about 2gb if possible.

can anyone reccomend some decent RAM which would be compatible, thanks, help would be greatly appreciated.

[Seedler]

Do you want performance ram or just value ram?

OCz and Kingston all make good value rams, and I don't know any high performance rams that'd be compatible with your mobo

[Aaron_T]

whats the difference between performance and value, basically i was just looking to upgrade to about 2gb worth not really bothered about high performance or all that jazz :)

[Appzalien]

If your running Windows XP your OK with 2gig but if by some slim chance your still on Win98 forget it, 512mb max. From the motherboards I see on their site you have 3 slots for ram so inorder for you to get 2gig you will need 2 - 1gig sticks of DDR400 Ram most likely unbuffered. Pairs of 1gig ddr ram are more expensive and for good ddr performance you will want matched pairs.

[Seedler]

whats the difference between performance and value, basically i was just looking to upgrade to about 2gb worth not really bothered about high performance or all that jazz :)

Okay, then i guess you dont overclock at all so it's safe to say that you can go with value rams...performance rams are just better at overclocking

2 gigs of ram is nice, but to save some $$$, I'd say get the cheapest 3x512mb of any brandname (or even generic) ram you can get. Right now, if you want really cheap ram that still perform well if you dont overclock, check out this page:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Submit=ENE&N=2010170147+1052307857&Subcategory=147&description=&srchInDesc=&minPrice=&maxPrice=&ATTR1=&ATTR2=&ATTR3=&ATTR4=2010170147+1052307857&ATTR5=&ATTR6=&ATTR7=&ATTR8=&ATTR9=


All this means is that you can get 1.5 gig of ram for only around $100, wheras if you go for 2 gigs, you'd be spending over or close to $200. Just my 2 cents.


EDIT: Definitely go with this, this is probably the cheapest reliable 2x1GB ram you can get:

G.SKILL Value 1GB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400 (PC 3200) System Memory - Retail $68.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231036

[Virtualbody1234]

What are you using you PC for that would require 2GBs of RAM. Wouldn't 1 GB do the job?

Also note that your mobo runs the RAM at 333MHz.

[Seedler]

What are you using you PC for that would require 2GBs of RAM. Wouldn't 1 GB do the job?

Also note that your mobo runs the RAM at 333MHz.

I think he just wants to future proof his comp a bit

[Virtualbody1234]

What are you using you PC for that would require 2GBs of RAM. Wouldn't 1 GB do the job?

Also note that your mobo runs the RAM at 333MHz.

I think he just wants to future proof his comp a bit
Yeah I know. That's why I mentioned the 333MHz bit.

[lynx]

Check to see if it has the KT400 or the KT400A Northbridge chip. You may be able to find this out using Everest.

If it is the KT400A Northbridge it supports DDR400 memory, which would seem likely from your original description. I doubt that you'll see much difference in performance between DDR333 running sync and DDR400 running async though.

[Virtualbody1234]

lynx, the mobo has the KT400 chip.

Check here:

http://www.giga-byte.com/MotherBoard/Products/Products_Spec_GA-7VAXP.htm

or

http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/Motherboard/Products_Spec.aspx?ProductID=1409

[Aaron_T]

yeah the motherboard defintely supports DDR400 memory :unsure:

and i was originally just gonna go with 1gb but i thought i might aswell go higher coz i dont really plan to upgrade again.

i was reccomended to purchase kingston RAM its apparently cheap on computerorbit.co.uk.

unless anyone can suggest something better :)

[Virtualbody1234]

DDR400 isn't mentioned as a Memory Type in the specs.


Memory Type : DDR333 (PC2700) / DDR266 (PC2100) / DDR200 (PC1600) -184pin
Max capacity : Up to 3GB by 3 DIMM slots

Edit: I personally think you should only buy 1x512MB stick and put it with your 256MB stick for a total of 768MB. I don't see spending a lot more upgrading a 333MHz FSB system.

[clocker]

and i was originally just gonna go with 1gb but i thought i might aswell go higher coz i dont really plan to upgrade again.

You should be upgrading now.
Spending money on a gaggle of PC2700 RAM today is nonsensical.

[lynx]

lynx, the mobo has the KT400 chip.

Check here:

http://www.giga-byte.com/MotherBoard/Products/Products_Spec_GA-7VAXP.htm

or

http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/Motherboard/Products_Spec.aspx?ProductID=1409
Agreed, the GA-7VAXP is not supposed to support DDR400, unless it is one of the intermediate boards (REV: 1.2) half way between that designation and the full GA-7VAXP-A (http://www.giga-byte.com/MotherBoard/Products/Products_GA-7VAXP-A.htm).

I've seen plenty of instances where a new product line required an upgraded chip and they stopped getting the older chip for the existing boards. That's why I told him to check rather than just assume. :rolleyes:

[Aaron_T]

well printed on the mobo it said DDR400+ that would suggest to me that it supports that right?

[Virtualbody1234]

well printed on the mobo it said DDR400+ that would suggest to me that it supports that right?
Not necessarily. Check what Northbridge chip you have.

[Aaron_T]

i thought you already said it was a KT400, how would i double check open the PC up again? :unsure:

[Virtualbody1234]

Check to see if it has the KT400 or the KT400A Northbridge chip. You may be able to find this out using Everest.

If it is the KT400A Northbridge it supports DDR400 memory, which would seem likely from your original description. I doubt that you'll see much difference in performance between DDR333 running sync and DDR400 running async though.
The above post explains that quite well.

http://www.lavalys.com/products/download.php?pid=3&lang=en

Even if it does support DDR400 RAM, the CPU is still running at 333MHz. That's why I recommended the you buy only one 512MB stick to add to your 256MB.

[Aaron_T]

thanks VB i guess that would work out for the best means i save money and surely that 512 chip should boost performance :)

but what if the two types of RAM are different makes could this cause compatability issues? :unsure:

[clocker]

but what if the two types of RAM are different makes could this cause compatability issues? :unsure:
It could but probably won't.
A more likely scenario would be differences in memory timings in which case the faster RAM would default to the timing of the slower stick.
Usually....
My Patriot sticks won't even POST with any CAS other than 2 or 2.5...paired with a CAS3 module and I doubt the PC would turn on.

beep.....beep....beep....

[Reefa_Madness]

Here is another option, one that would help you avoid compatibility problems with your current stick...buy a 2 x 512 kit of PC3200.

A 2 x 512MB set of value ram from Corsair or similar can be had from the egg or other similar online retailers for pretty cheap these days. Here is an example:

Patriot 2 x512 set of PC3200 (2.5-3-3-7 timings) for about $75, shipped
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820220037

A simple search at the egg will get you a bunch of similar ram as the one linked above. If you stick with a name brand (Corsair, Mushkin, Kingston, OCZ and even Patriot) then you should have not problems with quality, plus many of these will have lifetime warranties, should a problem subsequently occur.

To me the advantage of buying a 2 x 512 kit are as follows:

1) No concerns with compatibility with your current 256 stick. The current value of a 256MB PC2700 stick is likely to be in the $15-$25 USD range and not worth (in my mind) the aggravation of it possibly not playing nice with a new single 512MB stick. Just park your 256 stick for emergencies, like an RMA need, or sell it (for the price of a burger, fries and soda) or give it away.

2) PC3200 will downclock to PC2700 speeds and usually will do so at tighter timings so while the rated timings at PC3200 speeds might be 2.5-3-3-7 (like the Patriot above), at DDR333 speeds those timings could perhaps be closer to 2.5-3-3-7 (just kidding...don't know what the SPD timings will actually be at DDR333 speeds due to the various chips used, but usually they are tighter than at DDR400 speeds, but will vary from kit to kit).

3) Resale value of a 2 x 512 kit will be better and in higher demand than trying to sell off a single 512MB stick, should you later upgrade your computer and go with either 2 x 1GB set of perhaps a DDR2 rig. The difference to you in net cost from buying a single 512 and then selling it vs buying a 2 x 512 kit and later selling it will not be that great and you would have avoided the compatibility issues mentioned in (1) above and have enjoyed the performance benefits of a full gig during the time you used it.

4) Depending on your next upgrade...you might even be able to use it, should you go with a Socket 939 rig, for example.

An approximate $75 expenditure (notice I did not use the word "investment") and you are good to go until such time as you upgrade the entire rig. That would be my suggestion.