If I get a 512mb(256mbx2) Pc3200 400mhz Dual channel DDR memory, for a gamming comp. Should I get the knigston hyper-x high performance memory w/heat spreader, or the corsair XMS high performance memory w/heat spreader? Or a plan 512mb(256mbx2) Pc3200 400mhz Dual channel DDR memory is just fine? Also what do the heat spreaders do?
I would go with the Corsair, personally. All the heat spreaders is absorb the heat created by the RAM but RAM doesn't really create much heat anyways, unless you're planning to do some overclocking. It also looks nice if you're going for aesthetics.
The only major difference between the Value Select and XMS is that the XMS generally have lower latencies, and are a little better quality. If you dont do any oc'in, you will hardly notice a difference.
actually, i can barely o/c at all with my memory.
basically, they o/ced it for me and i bought it for the higher price... grrr
kinda of like how my 3800+ can EASILY (no vcore raising) reach 4600+ speeds.
same with memory, buy the worse stuff and o/c it to the better stuff
NOTE: this normally isn't the case with video cards because of difference in actual architecture, such as 20 vs. 24 pixel pipelines.