Picking a RAM

[DeViliShChild]

I'm looking for 8GB of RAM in the form of 2x4GB dual channel sticks. I want to make sure I get the best bang for my buck and a quality set of RAM.



1. What is the difference between these two sets?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428

 

2. Is there a better option then the two listed above? If so please let me know. 



CPU: i5 4690k
Mobo: Asrock z97 pro3

 

 

 

[TBNRunity]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233180&cm_re=corsair_vengeance_4x2-_-20-233-180-_-Product

 

Another good choice of ram. Also, I would just go with the cheapest ram there is from a trusted company like corsair, crucial, kingston, g.skill, etc

[patrickjp93]

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233180&cm_re=corsair_vengeance_4x2-_-20-233-180-_-Product

 

Another good choice of ram. Also, I would just go with the cheapest ram there is from a trusted company like corsair, crucial, kingston, g.skill, etc

To be fair, all the bad RAM makers died out a good time ago. There are value brands like Team which are dirt cheap but highly reliable as I've found out. Corsair and G.Skill ask for too much unless you're intending to overclock your RAM.

[DeViliShChild]

 

 

 

To be fair, all the bad RAM makers died out a good time ago. There are value brands like Team which are dirt cheap but highly reliable as I've found out. Corsair and G.Skill ask for too much unless you're intending to overclock your RAM.

 

Team brand only seems to be 10$ cheaper with same latency and timings. Is it still worth it to go with the Team when the gap is so small?

[patrickjp93]

Team brand only seems to be 10$ cheaper with same latency and timings. Is it still worth it to go with the Team when the gap is so small?

vs. what kit? at 16GB 2x8 they're currently $30 below the competition when I checked earlier.

 

As per worth it, as I've said I've seen great performance and reliability out of the kit we have. My Dad's recorded more than 10 hours of video and rendered it using the kit and not run into a single problem.

[DeViliShChild]

vs. what kit? at 16GB 2x8 they're currently $30 below the competition when I checked earlier.

At all of the  8GB kits (2x4GB)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&IsNodeId=1&N=100007611%2050011857%20600006127%20600052012%20600006069

[Lotus]

Unlike CPUs, all DDR3 memory sticks share the same architecture. 1600MHz CAS 9 will perform the same as another stick with 1600MHz CAS 9. There's literally no difference in performance and operation. The presence and quality of a heat sink on the stick is mostly just for looks too. Really, if you care about price to performance, you'll get the cheapest stick with the specs you want.

[patrickjp93]

At all of the  8GB kits (2x4GB)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&IsNodeId=1&N=100007611%2050011857%20600006127%20600052012%20600006069

Okay, fair enough. Economies of scale and all. Up to you then what you want.

[DeViliShChild]

Last question then, if I decided to get more RAM later on, will I get the same performance from two Dual Channel Kits of 2x4GB (so 16gb total) as compared one dual channel kit of 2x8GB. Assuming CAS, timing, and MHZ are the same.

[DeViliShChild]

Unlike CPUs, all DDR3 memory sticks share the same architecture. 1600MHz CAS 9 will perform the same as another stick with 1600MHz CAS 9. There's literally no difference in performance and operation. The presence and quality of a heat sink on the stick is mostly just for looks too. Really, if you care about price to performance, you'll get the cheapest stick with the specs you want.

Is there any negatives to having the heatsinks on the RAM? besides possible clearance issues?

[Lotus]

Is there any negatives to having the heatsinks on the RAM? besides possible clearance issues?

Nope. It keeps the memory cooler from a practical standpoint, but memory usually isn't at risk of overheating anyway. Mostly they're just there to look cool.

[patrickjp93]

Nope. It keeps the memory cooler from a practical standpoint, but memory usually isn't at risk of overheating anyway. Mostly they're just there to look cool.

I'd qualify this a bit more carefully. If your case has decent airflow and you keep wires out of the way, you could go no heatsink up to probably 2000MHz. after that, a heatsink becomes more essential as voltages rise and clock rates do.

[TheProfosist]

I would get the crucial that is 1.35v cas8 and true low profile. It's orange. I forgot the exact model, sorry.

[DeViliShChild]

I would get the crucial that is 1.35v cas8 and true low profile. It's orange. I forgot the exact model, sorry.

Is this what you are referring to?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148656

[TheProfosist]

Is this what you are referring to?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148656

Correct, glad I gave you enough info to find it!

[i_build_nanosuits]

Last question then, if I decided to get more RAM later on, will I get the same performance from two Dual Channel Kits of 2x4GB (so 16gb total) as compared one dual channel kit of 2x8GB. Assuming CAS, timing, and MHZ are the same.

same thing, memory run on dual channel mode with this CPU so the performance will be exactly the same with both configurations.

[i_build_nanosuits]

Is this what you are referring to?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148656

Avoid crucial ballistix they have a very high rate of failure...of all the ram sticks that have been mentionned so far these are IMHO the better because of the price and reliability results:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428

 

Do you have a bulky cpu cooler? do you need low profile sticks?

[DeViliShChild]

Avoid crucial ballistix they have a very high rate of failure...of all the ram sticks that have been mentionned so far these are IMHO the better because of the price and reliability results:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428

 

Do you have a bulky cpu cooler? do you need low profile sticks?

I have the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus so yes it is bulky, plus im using 2 fans on it. 

However, It just barely goes over the first slot, i'm thinking getting a slightly thinner fan would do the trick if I ever needed to add another 2x4GB  set

[i_build_nanosuits]

I have the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus so yes it is bulky, plus im using 2 fans on it. 

However, It just barely goes over the first slot, i'm thinking getting a slightly thinner fan would do the trick if I ever needed to add another 2x4GB  set

i run this as well you dont need a lower fan profile you can just slightly raise the fan off of the motherboard about a couple millimeters and it will clear the ram...but it would still be best to go with low profile sticks...i made some shopping for you, here's my recommendation:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231550

 

This would be best IMHO, low profile, cheap, 1866mhz cas 9... and match your motherboard colors..dead sexy sticks on a black PCB.

 

Available in 2133mhz as well for 5$ more if you feel like you want more...but honestly this won't affect performance outside of some benchmarks and a handful of sotwares and certainly not in gaming:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231554

 

personaly i'd go with the ares 1866mhz kit.

[TheProfosist]

Avoid crucial ballistix they have a very high rate of failure...of all the ram sticks that have been mentionned so far these are IMHO the better because of the price and reliability results:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428

Do you have a bulky cpu cooler? do you need low profile sticks?

I have had very good experience with them. I did have to RMA 1 of 4 sets and that was after 6-8 months of use. The motherboard did also die so that could have done them in.

They are a great combination of true low profile, low voltage (haswell), and a lower than average cas.

[i_build_nanosuits]

I have had very good experience with them. I did have to RMA 1 of 4 sets and that was after 6-8 months of use. The motherboard old died so that could have done them in.

They are a great combination of true low profile, low voltage (haswell), and a lower than average cas.

1/4 is considered a very high rate of failure...i had 1/1 bad luck with these...

[DeViliShChild]

i run this as well you dont need a lower fan profile you can just slightly raise the fan off of the motherboard about a couple millimeters and it will clear the ram...but it would still be best to go with low profile sticks...i made some shopping for you, here's my recommendation:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231550

 

This would be best IMHO, low profile, cheap, 1866mhz cas 9... and match your motherboard colors..dead sexy sticks on a black PCB.

 

Available in 2133mhz as well for 5$ more if you feel like you want more...but honestly this won't affect performance outside of some benchmarks and a handful of sotwares and certainly not in gaming:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231554

 

personaly i'd go with the ares 1866mhz kit.

I do like the smallness of the heatsink of the ares and the color.  It will probably come down to a 1866MHZ 9 cas blue RAM . Thanks for your input!

[TheProfosist]

1/4 is considered a very high rate of failure...i had 1/1 bad luck with these...

Like I said could have also been the MB since it had to be RMA'd also.

[i_build_nanosuits]

I do like the smallness of the heatsink of the ares and the color.  It will probably come down to a 1866MHZ 9 cas blue RAM . Thanks for your input!

it's a very good choice, can't go wrong with that.

[i_build_nanosuits]

Like I said could have also been the MB since it had to be RMA'd also.

could be, but it's a well known fact ballistix tracer sticks are not very good/reliable.