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Generic RAM.

M

manflesh

n00b
Joined
Apr 27, 2005
Messages
17
:eek: :eek: :eek:
What are the real problems with this? It seems everyone here avoids it like the plague...
 
Generic RAM introduces many uncertainties.

There are many things that contribute to a memory module being a "good one." The memory chips themselves, are quite important, but you also have to look at the quality of the printed circuit boards, the soldering, etc.

Generic modules have a higher chance of being made from inferior components, since the manufacturers were looking to cut costs. The more inferior components you introduce, the lesser the performance limits, and the worse the stability.

Now, that being said, does this mean that all generic memory sucks? Not necessarily; once in a while, you might actually stumble upon a stick of generic memory that performs as well and as stably as the brand name memory types, but such diamonds in a coal pile are pretty rare, indeed.

Furthermore, if a stick of generic memory goes bad, you run a greater risk of being stuck with it, with no chance of returns. While a company might guarantee that memory module for life, that's only good for the life of the company. I'm sure many folks here can remember many a decent company that gave such a guarantee that evaporated overnight...

At least with brand name memory, you're given a hard guarantee.
 
We build systems. Lots of them. Lots and lots of them. We have learned the hard way on this. cheap ram can lead to all sorts of random, weird, strange, and hard to solve errors. Spend a few dollars more on something like Kingston Value Ram. Every time your pc starts, runs, and performs well you will thank me. Bad ram = Bad headache. Really the differance in price is dollars, the differance in having no headaches enormous!
 
crucial ram is good, also you can get a gig of some good ram, twinmos sp's that will oc with some volts, lots of volts and active cooling actually. youll need like 3.4-6v's to get ~ddr500 2-2-2-5. its good stuff though. and coming from a guy who had "generic ram" it SUCK! at a point, you cant oc past a certain stage without taking a 60+ mhz hit from dropping your divider lower. it is like the plague if you dont get decent value ram.
 
Generic RAM bashing, ctd,

One other thing: The sole purpose of buying generic RAM is to save money, but with a higher RMA rate compared to a decent name brand's offerings, you might actually end up paying more for it when it, since most places demand you pay shipping at least one way.

In addition to this, many of the less than stellar companies that sell such RAM (the bottom feeders of Pricewatch.com such as BZBOYZ.COM / PARTSPC.COM / TUFSHOP.COM), will often take in your defective RAM, and then accuse you of being responsible for damaging it, or attempt to extort more money from you in any way they want. Since you can't really go to the manufacturer to get a return, you're stuck up a certain creek without a paddle.

Save yourself the headache, and do it right the first time.
 
i find OCZ ram to have better timings than both crucial value and kingston value .. ALL at the same price point
 
mjz_5 said:
i find OCZ ram to have better timings than both crucial value and kingston value .. ALL at the same price point
Click to expand...

Seeing as timings pretty much bottom out at "Ras to Cas = 2" and "Ras Precharge = 2", and Crucial Value can achieve those, I find it hard to believe that ANYTHING could have better timings.

Nothing against generic RAM exactly (assuming it's stable). Just...TwinMOS SP & Crucial Value RAM are so good, and the price is pretty similar. It's kinda hard for me to look at two things that are within $5-10 of each other, that are going to be in my system for months or years, where one is of questionable quality and the other of first-rate quality, and not get the good one.
 
Oh... I always thought you guys were against the cheap ram but I guess "value ram" by known companies are good. I presume these are just slower but will probably operate just as well?
 
awdark said:
Oh... I always thought you guys were against the cheap ram but I guess "value ram" by known companies are good. I presume these are just slower but will probably operate just as well?
Click to expand...

Not necessarily slower. The highest priced memory isn't necessarily the best choice for your system. Memory companies price stuff (like any company) according to what they think they can get for it. People will buy high priced memory with a big clock speed sticker on it, even when something much cheaper will work as well or better. Besides...if you buy something pre-binned as DDR500, it isn't overclocking. It's just throwing money at it so you can have the same clock speed as another guy who did better research and then bought some DDR400 and pushed it beyond the rated speed. And even then...speed isn't everything. On Intel architecture, it's good to keep the memory at 1:1 with the FSB. On A64, everything's built differently and the entire concept is nonsensical. Latency means much more to an A64, clock speed (which is a bandwidth thing, not a speed thing, in spite of the name) means more to an Intel chip.
 
Reason to not buy generic RAM : it's probably not what is advertised

Case in point - my computer came with 1GB of generic PC3200 RAM. The latencies were astronomic (3-5-5-9 I think). Then it started erroring. I checked a few things out, and it is actually PC2100 with a few things changed to make it default to PC3200.
 
shadowbreaker513 said:
Reason to not buy value RAM : it's probably not what is advertised

Case in point - my computer came with 1GB of generic PC3200 RAM. The latencies were astronomic (3-5-5-9 I think). Then it started erroring. I checked a few things out, and it is actually PC2100 with a few things changed to make it default to PC3200.
Click to expand...

You're thinking generic memory, which is a different issue entirely. Value RAM typically refers to a "normal" level offering by a company that also has "high end" models, to distinguish the two. It's a marketing way of making it look good-but-slower to try and sell the higher models, when the "value" memory is probably what most people need anyway. Plus like I said, just because it's the "value" version doesn't mean it won't overclock nearly as good as the "good" stuff, case in point Crucial Value RAM vs. Crucial Ballistix.

As far as TwinMOS SP, it's actually one of their "good" models but priced comparable to a lot of value RAM, they also have TMII which doesn't have the CH-5 and is a bit cheaper. TwinMOS SP is just a really awesome OC find.
 
good choice, when you get it, tell us what the last letters or the code on each ram chip is, it should end in like -5b c or -5b g.the gs are better, but the c-s oc very well.
 
Wise decision. Crucial's customer service and support are excellent, and the lifetime guarantee gives you peace of mind.
 
i agree. i have some crucial value ram and got some pretty amazing things out of it, though it's a 128mb stick :p
 
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