Hi, I'm new here and this is my first plea for help. I'm putting together a system with a Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3L motherboard. Does anyone have any recommendations for what kind of RAM I should be using? I'm not going to be doing any overclocking. I'm not sure what the timings mean. Should I stick to 4-4-4-12? Also, the motherboard manual states it accepts DDR2 at 1.8 volts. Does that mean I can only use memory that is rated at 1.8 volts? It seems most are 2-to-2.2 volts these days. Thanks.
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Memory for Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3L
- Thread starter ruby1993
- Start date
DDR2 is so damn cheap right now if you are not brand loyal I'd go to the [H]ot Deals forum and find a deal on a 2x2gb kit for probably around $50 or so; might have a rebate might not. G.Skill, Corsair are just two brands who I know have had sub $50 4gb packages recently
You can always bump up the voltage. You probably don't need more than DDR2 800 but you need to decide if you need 2GB or 4GB of ram. Are you using a 64-bit system (such as XP 64bit or Vista)? If so, go for the 4GB.
For 4GB, take a look at this Corsair which has tight timings: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145194
Good price for the Corsair but you will need to manually set those timings in bios.
For 4GB, take a look at this Corsair which has tight timings: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145194
Good price for the Corsair but you will need to manually set those timings in bios.
I have two of these boards so will chime in. The BIOS defaults to 1.8V for the memory so if you get memory that is rated to run at 2.0V you simply bump up the voltage to 2.0v
Some memory just says it supports 2.0V or 2.2V but that is for overclocking sometimes and it can run at 1.8V just fine. Other memory like the OCZ Gold memory HAS TO run at 2.0V otherwise you will get weird blue screens lockups and crashes.
I have used the OCZ Gold, the PQI Turbo mem and both needed 2.0V. Right now on both boards I am Running Corsair memory, one is the DHX 800MHz (4x1GB) and some XMS2 (2x2GB) both are rated to run at 5-5-5-18. Since I have an e8400 (on both boards) and overclocking is a breeze I am running at 800MHz and 4-4-4-12 timings at 2.0V so I get a 3.6GHz OC and everything runs along great.
With current prices I would stick to 4GB reguardless of 32bit or 64bit. in 32bit you will only get to use 3.25GB but it does give a nice imporvement, don't listen to the naysayers who say 4GB will give no advantage over 2GB in 32bit OS. I know first hand that it makes a great diffrence on a gaming rig. Things load faster and run smoother, you can alt-tab smoothly while in game and etc. While all games may not benfit on the FPS side it does help with those intensive games that page to the hard drive a lot. A perfect example is Crysis.
e8400@ 3.6GHz, EP35 board, 320GB 7200RPM SATA, Radeon 4850
Crysis patched to latest version. I am using the Triple C Pack with the TOD mod. Triple C is installed and configured for level 4 visuals which give excellent PQ and Features.
1280x720 DX9
...........2GB mem.....4GB mem (3.25 seen b 32bit OS)
min.....17.89.............29.86
max.....68.86............66.99
avg.....51.29.............51.035
You can see while it doesnt exactly boost my max fps or average fps it does help bring the minimum fps up quite a bit and helps smooth out the game tremendously
I put up the 720p results because I grabbed them real quick off my 37" LCD bedroom HTPC. The minimum fps does stay up like this on 1080p as well (downstairs my other HTPC is using a 4870)
Hope this helped some
Some memory just says it supports 2.0V or 2.2V but that is for overclocking sometimes and it can run at 1.8V just fine. Other memory like the OCZ Gold memory HAS TO run at 2.0V otherwise you will get weird blue screens lockups and crashes.
I have used the OCZ Gold, the PQI Turbo mem and both needed 2.0V. Right now on both boards I am Running Corsair memory, one is the DHX 800MHz (4x1GB) and some XMS2 (2x2GB) both are rated to run at 5-5-5-18. Since I have an e8400 (on both boards) and overclocking is a breeze I am running at 800MHz and 4-4-4-12 timings at 2.0V so I get a 3.6GHz OC and everything runs along great.
With current prices I would stick to 4GB reguardless of 32bit or 64bit. in 32bit you will only get to use 3.25GB but it does give a nice imporvement, don't listen to the naysayers who say 4GB will give no advantage over 2GB in 32bit OS. I know first hand that it makes a great diffrence on a gaming rig. Things load faster and run smoother, you can alt-tab smoothly while in game and etc. While all games may not benfit on the FPS side it does help with those intensive games that page to the hard drive a lot. A perfect example is Crysis.
e8400@ 3.6GHz, EP35 board, 320GB 7200RPM SATA, Radeon 4850
Crysis patched to latest version. I am using the Triple C Pack with the TOD mod. Triple C is installed and configured for level 4 visuals which give excellent PQ and Features.
1280x720 DX9
...........2GB mem.....4GB mem (3.25 seen b 32bit OS)
min.....17.89.............29.86
max.....68.86............66.99
avg.....51.29.............51.035
You can see while it doesnt exactly boost my max fps or average fps it does help bring the minimum fps up quite a bit and helps smooth out the game tremendously
I put up the 720p results because I grabbed them real quick off my 37" LCD bedroom HTPC. The minimum fps does stay up like this on 1080p as well (downstairs my other HTPC is using a 4870)
Hope this helped some
-=Antimatter=-
2[H]4U
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2005
- Messages
- 3,343
I haven't had issues with Corsair DDR2-800 in two builds with this board. I use OCZ DDR2-1000 in a DS3R as well.
Mike Clements
Gone but not Forgotten
- Joined
- Oct 31, 2006
- Messages
- 2,049
+1
Just remember the rule on voltage: As little as possible, as much as necessary
I missed this earlier but this is a great example of why 4gb IMO is required and should be considered the entry level pointWith current prices I would stick to 4GB reguardless of 32bit or 64bit. in 32bit you will only get to use 3.25GB but it does give a nice imporvement, don't listen to the naysayers who say 4GB will give no advantage over 2GB in 32bit OS. I know first hand that it makes a great diffrence on a gaming rig. Things load faster and run smoother, you can alt-tab smoothly while in game and etc. While all games may not benfit on the FPS side it does help with those intensive games that page to the hard drive a lot. A perfect example is Crysis.
e8400@ 3.6GHz, EP35 board, 320GB 7200RPM SATA, Radeon 4850
Crysis patched to latest version. I am using the Triple C Pack with the TOD mod. Triple C is installed and configured for level 4 visuals which give excellent PQ and Features.
1280x720 DX9
...........2GB mem.....4GB mem (3.25 seen b 32bit OS)
min.....17.89.............29.86
max.....68.86............66.99
avg.....51.29.............51.035
You can see while it doesnt exactly boost my max fps or average fps it does help bring the minimum fps up quite a bit and helps smooth out the game tremendously
I put up the 720p results because I grabbed them real quick off my 37" LCD bedroom HTPC. The minimum fps does stay up like this on 1080p as well (downstairs my other HTPC is using a 4870)
Hope this helped some