DDR2 OCZ memory...

[casey]

I just ordered for the second time the OCZ 2 GB PC2-6400 DDR2. The last time I cancelled the order because they were out of stock. It's $199.99 with a $50 rebate.
My question is, since I just found out that AMD will also be dropping prices to try and keep up with Intel, will I be able to use this DDR2 memory in a Intel board if I decide to go the Intel route? I was content to sit and wait for the Intel price drop and was just going to finish some projects where I had most of the parts. Now with AMD also dropping prices I'm lost. I have a seagate 160 gig Sata drive, another 1 gig of PC2 5400 OCZ memory, Geo Force PCIe 7300GSOC and this will be going into
an Abit KN9 SLI M2 940 Motherboard. The motherboard is very very new and just went on sale. I know I'm taking a chance with a motherboard I know very little about. This will be running an AMD M2 3500+ until I decide if I'm going AMD or Intel. At least with this board I should be able to go very high with AMD, if I decide to go that way. I guess all I can do is wait and see.

[mylanta]

Larry,
Ram really isn't specific to Amd or Intel, but can be to the motherboard so the answer to that question really depends on the Intel mobo you would use. I would bet it would work...and I will also bet you will never buy an Intel cpu and board!

[casey]

I'm not really up on Intel motherboards and since the regular DDR memory is one type and the DDR2 is another will the Intel Motherboard designate which memory will be used. Like AMD motherboards say AM2 ?
I guess I know if I read the specifications I will find out what memory fits but was just wondering about having a lot of DDR memory sticks and now buying DDR2 sticks
which is prevalant in Intel...

[mylanta]

I'm not really up on Intel motherboards and since the regular DDR memory is one type and the DDR2 is another will the Intel Motherboard designate which memory will be used. Like AMD motherboards say AM2 ?

Yes they will be for DDR2 now but then so are Am2, as a matter of fact that's the whole reason for Am2



I guess I know if I read the specifications I will find out what memory fits but was just wondering about having a lot of DDR memory sticks and now buying DDR2 sticks
which is prevalant in Intel...
[/quote]


Get ready for it DDR2 is "prime time" now....

[Dan18960]

I have been using DDR 2 for months now. I always go for the fast RAM speed I can get - not the price. I prefer 667 or higher speed.

I have found the faster the RAM the faster the system even with a slower processor.

[casey]

Just received my OCZ PC2 6400 2x1gig Platinum Edition
memory. I had to laugh when I first opened it up as it seemed the first thing that came to my mind is it's to pretty to stick in a computer. They are covered with I believe a heatsink that's colored Gold and has a big Z in the middle. Tomorrow I receive my motherboard and will
start the assembly...I just hope this memory works as well as it looks...

[mylanta]

Just received my OCZ PC2 6400 2x1gig Platinum Edition
memory. I had to laugh when I first opened it up as it seemed the first thing that came to my mind is it's to pretty to stick in a computer. They are covered with I believe a heatsink that's colored Gold and has a big Z in the middle. Tomorrow I receive my motherboard and will
start the assembly...I just hope this memory works as well as it looks...

I know what you mean Larry. I always bought the Value Select brand of Corsair or Kingston. When I built this dual core 4200, my first real Amd planned build, I decided to order Corsair XMS and they came in in these beautiful cases with blue heat synchs attached with the inlaid Corsair name on them, and I felt the same way!

[casey]

I must admit my use of OCZ memory isn't turning out to be pleasant. Over two weeks ago I sent the PC6400 back to OCZ because they said they had to reset SPD setting to make it work in my new board. I had PC5400 to use and that worked okay. I sent it back and finally on Wed. they said I'll get it today. This is faster ram so I was looking forward to it. Well to shorten things up it didn't work. It seems to do just what the other memory did.
So I went to their forum and after telling me to update my bios to MSI 1.3.1 which they said just came out, I had to remind them I had an abit board and already had updated to the latest version. They then said it wasn't the memory but the board and bios even though they are having the same problem with Asus, MSI boards. Finally after trying a few setting where after each one you must clear the cmos and reset time, date and default settings the guy says I could send him the memory and he could check it. That p*$$ed me off as I just got it back today. I told him they aren't doing the OCZ reputation any good as they still haven't fixed the problem after weeks of trying..

[mylanta]

Larry,
Once again I really feel, and you are proving it, if it is not listed as compatible for the motherboard, I don't buy it. I would hammer them for a return and buy someone that shows it works.

[dbarrow]

This is one more place where you have to search out forums relating to that particular mobo ... the place where you find consumer gripes and suggestions of what works best.
Some mobos just don't get along with some ram, no matter how good or expensive.

I usually go to the mnfr. user forums ... like Asus forums or Abit forums ... where you see people posting complaints. Somebody always chimes in with "this works".

Stick to compatibility lists.... that's what they are for.

Ram that can go faster than recommended is not necessarily a good choice. Unless you plan to OC the CPU and raise the FSB, it will run at default speeds and the stuff intended for overclocking will perform much worse at stock speeds. It is meant to be cranked up and usually with a voltage boost as well.

A correct match with the FSB and low latencies is where you get speed out of the ram. Low latency PC3200 will perform much better than PC5400 at stock CPU speeds.

[casey]

In my own defense, the board says it will handle PC6400 memory and the memory was not overclocked or was intended to be. The reason the cpu was slower then originally planned was the price cuts coming out this month. No sense buying slower ram only to have to buy faster stuff when you finally buy the CPU you wanted.
It seems that the forums for this board weren't avaialble
yet because the board just was released. I don't mind waiting for the fix but I hate when they keep changing what they are saying...

[casey]

Here are just some of the correspondence :

This after I was repeatedly told that the only way to get this memory to work was changing the SPD setting in the memory. I then told them that the memory I had already had the settings they were saying needed to be set.

This was two weeks ago when memory already was sent back:

I wanted to follow up and ask if you had a chance to ship your defective memory to us yet for reprogramming/replacement. We will be able to fix the issue with an SPD update as you have been told, so we’ll keep an eye out for it to arrive here.

Senior Technical Support Representative

Yesterday:
First I'm told:
We can RMA your ram back and forth 10 times and it won't solve the issue, because its not related to the ram itself....the board will not accept modules without Micron IC's at the 800 MHz level in a 2 x 1GB kit. The PC2-5400 you have should work fine...have you tried it yet?
Then I'm told:
I think we can help you but you need to mail Eric directly so that he can get you swapped out to a module that is fine with your board. There may be a slight delay while we qualify the Abit board so please if you can bear with us while we help you.

Now, this is no excuse, I think we can help you but you need to mail Eric directly so that he can get you swapped out to a module that is fine with your board. There may be a slight delay while we qualify the Abit board so please if you can bear with us while we help you.

[mylanta]

In my own defense, the board says it will handle PC6400 memory and the memory was not overclocked or was intended to be. The reason the cpu was slower then originally planned was the price cuts coming out this month. No sense buying slower ram only to have to buy faster stuff when you finally buy the CPU you wanted.
It seems that the forums for this board weren't avaialble
yet because the board just was released. I don't mind waiting for the fix but I hate when they keep changing what they are saying...

But Larery, the board saying it would handle PC6400, and having it say the model number of your Ocz is compatible is like saying all cars run on gasoline, therefore my diesel Jetta will run on gasoline.
Speed of ram is the least important contributing factor in ram compatibility. Density, ecc and cas latency are what does the trick...that's why I use configurators. I never have ram fail to work, not ever.

[mylanta]

Here are just some of the correspondence :

This after I was repeatedly told that the only way to get this memory to work was changing the SPD setting in the memory. I then told them that the memory I had already had the settings they were saying needed to be set.

This was two weeks ago when memory already was sent back:

I wanted to follow up and ask if you had a chance to ship your defective memory to us yet for reprogramming/replacement. We will be able to fix the issue with an SPD update as you have been told, so we’ll keep an eye out for it to arrive here.

Senior Technical Support Representative

Yesterday:
First I'm told:
We can RMA your ram back and forth 10 times and it won't solve the issue, because its not related to the ram itself....the board will not accept modules without Micron IC's at the 800 MHz level in a 2 x 1GB kit. The PC2-5400 you have should work fine...have you tried it yet?
Then I'm told:
I think we can help you but you need to mail Eric directly so that he can get you swapped out to a module that is fine with your board. There may be a slight delay while we qualify the Abit board so please if you can bear with us while we help you.

Now, this is no excuse, I think we can help you but you need to mail Eric directly so that he can get you swapped out to a module that is fine with your board. There may be a slight delay while we qualify the Abit board so please if you can bear with us while we help you.


Once again you are proving why I have never bought Ocz ram. I have never yet checked a new motherboard on thier configurator and found any new motherboards listed. I won't chance that and Crucial, Corsair and Kingston always have the newest boards listed with what is compatible.

[casey]

First I never bought OCZ memory before but I would say that's because I never heard of it. Second if the fix this memory and it works as good as the OCZ PC25400 memory I will be pleasantly surprised and aslo will save myself a lot of money.

Kingston:
1GB 800MHz DDR2 Non-ECC CL5 DIMM $200.00 Approx: availability 7/ 20/ 06
2GB 800MHz DDR2 Non-ECC CL5 DIMM (Kit of 2) $400.00 Approx:availability 7/ 20/ 06

[mylanta]

First I never bought OCZ memory before but I would say that's because I never heard of it. Second if the fix this memory and it works as good as the OCZ PC25400 memory I will be pleasantly surprised and aslo will save myself a lot of money.

Kingston:
1GB 800MHz DDR2 Non-ECC CL5 DIMM $200.00 Approx: availability 7/ 20/ 06
2GB 800MHz DDR2 Non-ECC CL5 DIMM (Kit of 2) $400.00 Approx:availability 7/ 20/ 06


Yeah but so far they haven't (and you are the one belly aching about that not I) and all this irritation is time, and I value my time wasted, as I am sure you do also!

[casey]

Yeah but so far they haven't (and you are the one belly aching about that not I) and all this irritation is time, and I value my time wasted, as I am sure you do also!

Funny but I didn't really put this in the belly aching category. I just thought I was ranting to get rid of some
emotion but even if it is belly aching and a waste of my time, I have to say that for $250 I can waste a lot of time. Now I know your time is worth a lot more then mine but that to me is a good bit of change.

[dbarrow]

OCZ is top ranking stuff, one of the top five brand names.
You may have to change your settings and set the timings manually as timing by SPD may be yielding something your mobo/chipset does not care for.
Try manually setting the timings at the stock latency settings they give you after turning off timings by SPD.

Also, look up the specs on the ram at OCZ and note the voltages.
Some of this high speed stuff requires a vdim voltage boost to work properly. They should specify a voltage range for it. Start in increments and work up through the max range. With the correct voltage boost, you may be able to lower timings, ie: T4 may work at stock voltage but can be lowered to T3 with a 10% increase.

[casey]

I tried all the voltage changes and the different timings that were listed and suppose to work.Even the memory has the setting on it. The only problem with doing what you say is after every setting that doesn't work you must clear the Cmos change the memory to the working memory and set the cmos again and change an increment of voltage or timing. This isn't exactly fun as after you get it all set you must change the memory again and when it doesn't work you have to go thru the whole thing again. I know because that's what I was doing. OCZ tech is now telling me AGAIN they have a fix but he wants me to E-Mail him to specialize my problem. It's sound suspiciously like "send us the memory and we will fix it."

[Terry Hanushek]

Larry

OCZ tech is now telling me AGAIN they have a fix but he wants me to E-Mail him to specialize my problem. It's sound suspiciously like "send us the memory and we will fix it."
How do you email a memory stick? :rolleyes: :) :D

Terry

[mylanta]

You beat me to it Terry!!!!

[casey]

Larry


How do you email a memory stick? :rolleyes: :) :D

Terry

Well, I guess you guru's never had to send anything back to the factory or to a store. If you did you would know that they won't accept anything unless you have a Return Merchandise number on it. And the way you get a Return Merchandise number is to E-Mail them and then they tell you where to E-Mail so they can issue you a Return Merchandise number. Now, what the tech is insinuating to me is they have a fix but they don't want to put it out on the boards because it doesn't fit all situations and they want me to set up the E-Mail link so they can see if it would help me. That's my interpretation of our recent posts. I hope that makes everything a little bit clearer. What I really think is he wants the E-Mail link to give me a RMA which only will be good for certain amount of time and then he can say they tried and I didn't cooperate.. Is that better: Capiche::::

************************************************** ************************\\
I just realized that you guys are so famous that you probably don't even have to get Return Merchandise Numbers like us regular guys. You probably just put your name to it and they accept that. Sorry I'm not that famous and I still have to E-mail for a Return Merchandise number.

[casey]

Listen fellows, that computer is running right now with OCZ memory in it without any problems . What I really like is the CPU temp is 75F. The memory is PC25400 667mhz but it is two 512 sticks. I would prefer the two
1 gig sticks of PC26400 800 mhz just to see the difference..