Help with selecting proper RAM

[jdidia1006]

I am looking at the AMD A8-660K APU and Gigabyte's GA-F2A88XM-D3H MOBO.  I am having difficulty selecting the best RAM for these.  I am looking at ADATA XPG V1.0 (8GB...4GBx2).  This will be for a HTPC, also doing minimal gaming.  Nothing too demanding really.  Any thoughts would be very appreciated.  

[techguru]

whats the budget on this pc?

[jdidia1006]

I have approx $110 USD allocated for RAM

[techguru]

for a htpc..I would use a i3 and a h97 board probably a itx board

[techguru]

generates less heat..and boards are more compact

[jdidia1006]

What about RAM?

[jdidia1006]

I really prefer AMD to Intel so that is why I selected the A8-6600K and the gigabyte board with FM2+ socket.  I'm looking for some good RAM in most likely 8GB (4GBx2) to use with that APU and MOBO.  Does the speed really matter?  1600MHz?

[blu4]

What about RAM?

Any compatible RAM will do as long as it's very fast for the APU.

[jdidia1006]

Does the speed really matter in a HTPC?  Should I select something higher than 1600MHz?

[Frankie]

RAM speed generally doesn't do much but the APU is exeption, higher speeds are better. Your MOBO have support for DDR3 2400(OC)/2133/1866/1600/1333 MHz. So try to find quick RAM in your budget in your area ?

[jdidia1006]

So with an APU the speed of the RAM comes into factor because the iGPU will use DRAM to help it along?

[Frankie]

So with an APU the speed of the RAM comes into factor because the iGPU will use DRAM to help it along?

 

Exactly.

[jdidia1006]

Now I have heard that some people have had trouble with compatibility between their Gigabyte MOBO and certain brands of RAM (i.e. Crucial).  Has anyone heard of this? 

[Frankie]

Now I have heard that some people have had trouble with compatibility between their Gigabyte MOBO and certain brands of RAM (i.e. Crucial).  Has anyone heard of this? 

 

Not really, but it can happen. Go here http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4716#ov

Click on CPU / Memory Support & Downloads

Download the Memory Support List (Orange link at the top)

 

This link is for rev. 3.0 of the MOBO, check if it is rev. 3.0.

[jdidia1006]

I tried this but the when I typed in the model numbers in Amazon it was having difficulty finding the model.  Also I went to AMD's website to and the APU I selected (A8-6600K) has a spec for memory capacity @ 1866MHz.  Should this play a factor in my selection or is this something unrelated to my RAM?

[Frankie]

I am not sure but it should be able to use the 2400MHz memory. I found this A8-6600K, 1866MHz RAM on the left, 2400MHz Ram on the right.

 

[techguru]

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/9JzZK8

something like this

[Frankie]

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/9JzZK8

something like this

 

I don't think that's a good idea, I like Intel myself but in this case you gotta hand it to the APU for gaming on the iGPU.

[jdidia1006]

Here is my setup as of now...

http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/partlist/

[techguru]

I don't think that's a good idea, I like Intel myself but in this case you gotta hand it to the APU for gaming on the iGPU.

he's not gaming on it

its just a htpc

[techguru]

wrong link jdida

 

top left corner for the real link

[Frankie]

he's not gaming on it

its just a htpc

 

Still.

 

This will be for a HTPC, also doing minimal gaming

[jdidia1006]

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/xZfhJx