RAM Compatibility question...

[fpantovich]

Hey, all...I am going to be buying a 1GB stick of RAM soon and have a question about compatibility since my model was discontinued.

I'm currently running 2x512 PC3200 Geil Golden Dragon Series RAM rated at DDR400 6332. I currently have it running at 210MHz instead of 200 and at 9222 timings in Dual Channel mode. I am looking to purchase a 1GB stick of at least PC3200 DDR RAM with similar timings to the original specs or better, but am worried about having compatibility issues while running in Dual Channel. I am looking at buying the following RAM and was wondering if anyone has any experience or knowledge on compatibility of the two different types of RAM. Please advise as I want to be as close to certain as possible before forking out the dough. BTW, PC3200, 1GB in 1 stick, and CAS 2 are my absolute minimum requirements and I'm lookin to spend no more than $100 shipped if you want to make any suggestions. Here's what I have found so far, but still lookin around:

(First Choice) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820220045

(Second Choice) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231031

All suggestions are much appreciated. Thanks.

EDIT: Also, I forgot to mention that the OCed specs include upping the voltage from 2.6v to 2.7v...that's the only way I could get it stable...dunno if this'll help ya'll any, but based on default specs, the Patriot RAM might be my best choice...if ya'll no somewhere where I might be able to get it a little cheaper, GREAT :-)

EDIT2: Also, I am looking to upgrade my spare PC's RAM from 256MB PC100 to 512MB PC3200 (It's an old ECS K7S5A, so it has capability of both)...if anyone knows somewhere where I can get 1 512MB PC3200 or 2x 256MB PC3200 chips for like $30 or so shipped that would be great, CAS and quality doesn't matter, but PC3200 does due to FSB of CPU that's in it...it's currently underclocked due to the RAM...thanks...

[Shabow]

Hmmm if you add that 1 gig card into the bunch you will not be running in dual channel mode anymore. You memory runs just as fast as its slowest unit...and I can see you match up the memory correctly..

Patriot makes a good piece of memory...so therefore I would have to choose that stick...and also for the fact that is 10 bucks less...

[fpantovich]

actually I would be running in dual channel...the 2 512MB chips (totaling 1GB) would be in slot 1 & 2 and the 1GB stick would be in slot 3...slot 3 is the dual channel slot, if whatever is in there is equal to slot 1 (with an empty slot 2) or the total of slot 1 and 2 combined, then you run in dual-channel ;-)...

I think I'll go with the Patriot as well...even though you are the only one to post within the thread, I've gotten a few IM's since I posted that recommended the same thing...

Thanks all for the recommendations...

any suggestions on cheap RAM for my "EDIT2" question??

[RamonGTP]

I had three sticks of ram in my old NF2 based system, each stick was different. One was a Corsair XMS PC3200 running Winbond BH-5 chips, the other was a Corsair XMS PC3200 running Samsung TCCD chips, and the other was a Mushkin Black PC3200 running Winbond BH-6 chips and dual channel worked just dandy on that baord (NF7-S)

[fpantovich]

yeah, I'm debating between switching back to my old NF7-S v2.0 board or using the AN7 for when I upgrade the RAM...dunno if I completely like the AN7's performance as compared the the NF7-Sv2...I had better success OCin with the NF7 than I have had with the AN7...but we'll see...I'll probably just stick with the AN7 cuz it's already in the box, lol...thanks, again for all the help, ttyl...