RAM: Corsair or Kingston

paulrmartin · Post by **paulrmartin** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 3:52 pm

I am getting my new computer next week and my tech suggested Kingston RAM to go in my Asus P4C800E Deluxe.

Any objections? Any comments?

I looked on the web and found a couple of comparisons and they seems to have the same specs...

voidar · Post by **voidar** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 4:12 pm

Perhaps TwinMOS is an alternative. I think Corsair is some sort of industry standard and quite pricey.

WayneSim · Post by **WayneSim** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 10:53 pm

If you are running in Dual ram mode. Then I suggest Corsair. If you arn't running dual mode then something is wrong with you

. Corsair has better specs! However it does depend of the model you get.

I recommend any ram that can do CAS 2.0. Almost all Corsair does it with it's eyes closed. CAS 2.5 on option for buget. CAS 3.0, forget it! Get another brand. I believe that some kingston is rated at CAS 3.0.

You get what you pay for!

voidar · Post by **voidar** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 11:00 pm

TwinMOS sell matched pairs too.

Nestor · Post by **Nestor** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 3:08 am

Are yo kidding Paul?

Corsair is the best posible RAM on earth... It is long to explain all the thing, but the first thing you must know is that they spend lots of time cheking every single stick, then the material is second to none. Then their RAM is used by critical time and reliability machines.

Then... I have them and they are soooo fast... Look, I'm not precisely reach you know? Nevertheless, I decided to go Corsair and I don't regret it. People say it is expensive, but THINK, how much more expensive? Do you really want to pay just a few dollars less for quite a different quality RAM?

I proudly own a couple of 512 CAS 2.0, DDR3200... "Formula One man"

Get Corsair and sleep well Paul

WayneSim · Post by **WayneSim** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 4:47 am

On 2003-11-13 03:08, Nestor wrote:
I proudly own a couple of 512 CAS 2.0, DDR3200... "Formula One man"

SAME

. I got Corsair TWINX 2x512mb XMS3200LL, matched pair. Rated at 2-3-2-6. It is faster than "Formula One". It's more like a rocket on Steroids

.

paulrmartin · Post by **paulrmartin** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 7:23 am

I have no idea what CAS 2.0 means.

The model my tech suggested is the Kingston KVR400X72C3A/512, spec'd sp[ecifically for the P4C800E-DX 875P. WHich model Corsair would you get then?

paulrmartin · Post by **paulrmartin** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 7:27 am

On 2003-11-12 22:53, WayneSim wrote:
...If you arn't running dual mode then something is wrong with you

I agree, Something IS wrong with me...what exactly does "dual mode" mean?

darkrezin · Post by **darkrezin** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 7:29 am

CAS 2 just indicates the memory latency.. 2 is a bit faster than 3

Most unbranded and cheap memory has the SPD (default memory settings stored on the chip which tells the BIOS what settings to use by default) set at CAS 3.. decent memory like Corsair or OCZ has CAS set to 2 by default. With many brands, you can change it to 2 safely without the system becoming unstable (I have used Crucial with CAS 2.5 and set it to 2 with no problems) but I highly recommend Corsair or OCZ, always had lightning fast performance with those - worth the extra cost.

peace

darkrezin · Post by **darkrezin** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 7:32 am

Dual mode is a feature on some chipsets which offers higher memory bandwidth when using 2 sticks of the same size. I'm have never done any tests on 'matched-pair' vs. non-matched but I have used them and performance has been lightning fast. Like I always tell people though, I'd rather buy 1x 512mb stick and buy another 512mb stick when it's affordable, than buy 2x 256mb chips just for dual-mode performance.

peace

paulrmartin · Post by **paulrmartin** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 8:17 am

On 2003-11-13 07:23, paulrmartin wrote:

The model my tech suggested is the Kingston KVR400X72C3A/512, spec'd specifically for the P4C800E-DX 875P. Which model Corsair would you get then?

I'd really like to get an answer on this one, please. The parts have arrived at my tech's shop but there is still time to change the RAM.

The main problem is that on the Asus site(the french one since the main site won't open) they do not mention anything made by Corsair.

_________________
Paul R. Martin - Are we listening?

[ This Message was edited by: paulrmartin on 2003-11-13 08:47 ]

WayneSim · Post by **WayneSim** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 7:11 pm

First of all you are asking the wrong person to give advice. A Tech place does NOT build computer systems for music. He does not actully care what he sells you.

The Ram you have suggested IMO is very lame RAM. CAS 3.0. Personally that ram vs any cheap ram is the same. Kingston has an ok name. They have made some great ram in the past. HyperX was pretty good from what I've been told.

I can't suggest KVR400X72C3A/512 for a HIGH end music DAW. LOW Latency is everything is a Music system. And this RAM has a HIGH Latency.

If nothing else ask your Tech shop for LOW LATENCY RAM. Tell him you want CAS 2.5 or 2.0. And NOT Kingstons 3.0 model.

First thing you must learn is when you want to build a DAW PC. Come to these forums WEEKS before you buy. That's what I do every time and it has not failed me. I research for around 1 month.

But really at the end of the day. It comes down to buget. You get what you pay for. Is this a HIGH end DAW or a buget recording setup for only home use?

One thing you will learn is, Computer systems are used by millions of people all over the world for millions of different software, hardware, soundcards... etc... My point is this, you don't want to buy a computer system that has been built especially for the internet when you record music on it.

Whatever RAM you buy we can help you set it up in the bois so it will run at it's best

.

Good Luck.

paulrmartin · Post by **paulrmartin** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 7:20 pm

Thanks Wayne.
After consulting with the guys on the pulsarmusic channel, I called my tech and we decided that Corsair CMX512-3200C2 would probably be the best choice.

One question: Do you think that CMX512-3500C2 would be better?

edit:
WayneSim wrote:"Come to these forums WEEKS before you buy. That's what I do every time and it has not failed me."

Uh...check out the number of posts I have here, Wayne.

In fact, most of my new system is based on your own posts! And I thank you for that from the bottom of my heart

_________________
Paul R. Martin - Are we listening?

[ This Message was edited by: paulrmartin on 2003-11-13 19:26 ]

WayneSim · Post by **WayneSim** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 7:56 pm

Hey Paul,
Glad I could help you. Sorry I didn't look at your post count, I was thinking I was talking to a someone who knew nothing. Sorry if I sounded a little out of place.

However I do try to answer questions for everyone, cause someone might just read your post and go WOW that was my question. I know that happened to me a few times. I didn't even need to post a question sometimes. This applys to all forums

.

Ok, you are buying great ram now

.

CMX512-3200C2 XMS3200 512MB 2-3-3-6 184
CMX512-3500C2 XMS3500 512MB 2-3-3-7 184

Both are good choices. Personally I cant decied what I would buy. Cost vs preformance is the main thing really. If you got the money get 3500, if not get 3200. I don't think there would be a huge diffence in preformance at all really.

Best of luck with your new toy

.

paulrmartin · Post by **paulrmartin** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 8:27 pm

One last question:

What do the numbers 2-3-3-6 184 means exactly?

This is the kind of stuff that confuses me the most about computer specs.

WayneSim · Post by **WayneSim** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 9:03 pm

On 2003-11-13 20:27, paulrmartin wrote:
One last question:

What do the numbers 2-3-3-6 184 means exactly?

This is the kind of stuff that confuses me the most about computer specs.

http://forums.devhardware.com/t8939/s98 ... 8a74e.html

Check this out.

Nestor · Post by **Nestor** » Fri Nov 14, 2003 1:30 am

If I were you, I would go for the 3200, the 3500 will make no difference... Believe me, the 3200 is fast enough for all our needs!

paulrmartin · Post by **paulrmartin** » Fri Nov 14, 2003 5:37 am

Thanks for the link, Wayne.

Clock Cycles!
CAS latency: 2.0 clock cycles
RAS precharge: 3 cycles
RAs-to-CAS delay: 3 cycles
RAs active to precharge: 6 cycles

I guess that command rate is 184 then, right?

Here's another link I found:
http://www.bit-tech.net/review/127

I now have to read up on these different tech specs to understand exactly what they mean and do.

Read higher, Nestor. I am getting the 3200's

Thank you so much for your support, you guys!
Can't wait til next week when I start going nuts tweeking XP. At least, I already have lots of documentation on how to do that.

_________________
Paul R. Martin - Are we listening?

[ This Message was edited by: paulrmartin on 2003-11-14 05:42 ]

virtualstudio · Post by **virtualstudio** » Fri Nov 14, 2003 3:49 pm

On 2003-11-13 19:11, WayneSim wrote:

First thing you must learn is when you want to build a DAW PC. Come to these forums WEEKS before you buy. That's what I do every time and it has not failed me. I research for around 1 month.

But really at the end of the day. It comes down to buget. You get what you pay for. Is this a HIGH end DAW or a buget recording setup for only home use?

One thing you will learn is, Computer systems are used by millions of people all over the world for millions of different software, hardware, soundcards... etc... My point is this, you don't want to buy a computer system that has been built especially for the internet when you record music on it.

Whatever RAM you buy we can help you set it up in the bois so it will run at it's best .

Good Luck.

hi Wayne,
I'm planning to build a new DAW for the POWERPULSAR I resently bought.(actualy let someone build it for me) I'm looking in the forum now for a couple of weeks, but there is a lot of contradicting info here. what do you think about the mobo, is the asus p4c800e -deluxe ok or not? what about its chipset should I want the 875p or 865pe and what is the difference ?
I know my way in a studio I can handle big hardware mixers and tape machines, but when it comes to the inside of a computer I stay a nitwit, I've tried to get it but I'm probably to old for this ...... all those terms its all abracadabra to me.

So in other words I want a stable running computer where I dont have to go and change things in bios all the time because I don't even know how!!

I want to buy the whole lot and then pay somebody to set it up

all advice is very welcome

regards
Terranova-amsterdam

Post by **hubird** » Fri Nov 14, 2003 5:22 pm

I think Nestor's queste for the best Pulsar DAW in the world is unbeatable.
On windows I would just blind follow his path!
Only one choise of him is improveable: that of the platform itselves!