Cheap Reliable RAM?

Redwolf · October 26th, 2002, 09:38 AM

Normally, when I buy RAM, I head straight for Crucial, since they are so reputable. But I am in an intresting situation called 'almost broke' syndrome. I want to get a gig of RAM on a buget. All I need is either a stick of 1GB of RAM, or 2 512MB sticks of RAM, which must be PC133 Non-ECC RAM.

Can I get some cheap, reliable RAM? I don't want to spend over $70.

Redwolf · October 26th, 2002, 09:56 AM

As I look around, it seems to me that getting a 1 GHZ atholon may be a better option. What do you guys think? I currently have:

800mhz Duron 200FSB on Thermosonic Thermoengine (thinking about updating fan to Vantec Tornado and 80-60 adapter), and Artic Silver 2 Goop.
MSI K7T Pro 2A
256mb RAM (on 2 128mb RAM chips)

shawshank62 · October 26th, 2002, 09:58 AM

If you have a comp usa/staples/etc. they usually have ram on sale every week. It usually runs around $35 for 512, I would check the ads.

BM

shawshank62 · October 26th, 2002, 10:00 AM

If you wanted to get a processor, and you said you only wanted to spend about $70. Try this site, a OEM Athlon XP 1700+ for $66.

http://www.tcwo.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi...gi2Ty0WsEswCKH

BM

osprey4 · October 26th, 2002, 10:01 AM

OK, so you can only afford $70 for RAM, but you can afford a new Athlon?

shawshank62 · October 26th, 2002, 10:04 AM

RAM vs CPU, that is tough...If i were you I would go with the ram. I dont know why, I just like a lot of ram. The processor is great also, I just got mine 3 days ago. That is a question you have to answer yourself...Ram...Cpu...but if you only have 256 mb of ram, I think i would go with the ram.

BM

Redwolf · October 26th, 2002, 10:07 AM

The Atholons are pretty cheap right now.

Hmmm...I think right now I want to put in some nice fans in my case, so I may just bump up to 512mb for now.

Or maybe 768 if that staples deal is on.

shawshank62 · October 26th, 2002, 02:01 PM

I'm sorry, i read the add wrong, at Best Buy, you can get 512 mb of PC133 for $60 after mail in rebate. Sorry.

BM

Redwolf · October 26th, 2002, 02:49 PM

Oh well. Thanks anyway

Scott Tiger · October 26th, 2002, 03:02 PM

Head over to either Crucial or Kingston and chech out what they have available for you. I get a 512 meg stick of CAS2 PC133 for $52 shipped from Kingston the other day. Crucial had a similiar deal last week too.

To answer you second question - $70 is all you have right now but in a couple months you'll likely have another $50 or so again, right? I'm making up numbers here but my point is that the price of RAM flucauates. The price of CPU's always goes down. Since the price of PC133 is really reasonable right now I'd just get that. I wouldn't spring for a GiG though as you'll have 768 if you just combine the 2 256 sticks with a stick of 512 (assuming that you have three DIMM slots and that your mobo can take a stick of 512). You won't notice the difference much in Windows between 768 megs and 1024 megs of RAM. So once you've got the 512 stick you shouldn't have to spend any more money in that dept.

Once you've got some more money saved up then get an newer CPU. Don't know much about your board but I'm assuming that its got a KT133A chipset, ie, you can use processors with a 266 mhz FSB. How knows, you might just get a 1800+ for $60 or so in a few months.

That's my $.02 anyway.

Oh, I did exactly as you're planning now BTW. I just got a Gigabyte G-something (mobo) with a 1600+ and the aforementioned 512 megs stick of RAM. Not state-of-the-art but it runs darn good and cost me very little. A similiar setup with DDR would have set me back about $125 more.