RAM Suggestions Wanted

N

NeedaComputer

Member
I just purchased an 'MSI K9N Neo-F' Motherboard, with an 'AMD Athlon 64 3500+ Orleans AM2' CPU.

I read some conflicting specs. The chipset on the board is the nForce 550MCP. I have read that the board supports DDR2 800. But then I read the chipset only supports up to DDR2 667 or something less than 800.

Also, does this board support SDRAM or FB-DIMM RAM? I thought that I read it supports DDR2 SDRAM, but then again I thought I saw something say it was a DIMM RAM. (I saw this option on newegg, SDRAM had something like 428 choices, and FB-DIMM had 10)

I want 1GB of RAM cause I think I need it. Would it be better (faster/cheaper) to get 2x512 DDR/DDR2 or 1x1024 DDR/DDR2. The motherboard supports (i think) Dual Channel, excuse me if my terminology is incorrect. But it says to fill one color of the RAM slots first? Then fill the other 2?

Thanks for any help.
 
DDR2 SDRAM. A DIMM is RAM, FB-DIMM means Fully Buffered DIMM. A DIMM is Dual Inline Memory Module
 
Cromewell said:
DDR2 SDRAM. A DIMM is RAM, FB-DIMM means Fully Buffered DIMM. A DIMM is Dual Inline Memory Module
Click to expand...

So I'll get the DDR2 SDRAM. What about 2 sticks of 512mb, as opposed to 1 stick of 1024mb?
Also, just curious, what is fully buffered mean to someone like me?

ChrisDVD said:
www.crucial.com
run that test, and it will tell you alot.
Click to expand...

I can't run anything without RAM. Is this something I can run on my current computer that will tell me something about my new computer?

Thanks for the replies guys.
 
Also, just curious, what is fully buffered mean to someone like me?
Click to expand...
Probably nothing... It's a fancy type of server RAM that allows multiple DIMMs to comunicate with the memory controller through a serial conection. You dont need to worry about it since your nut running a heavy duty server.

Whats your budget for the RAM? Are you planning on overclocking?
 
If you get two sticks of RAM, yes you will be in dual-channel mode if you insert the sticks into one color first.
 
34erd said:
Probably nothing... It's a fancy type of server RAM that allows multiple DIMMs to comunicate with the memory controller through a serial conection. You dont need to worry about it since your nut running a heavy duty server.

Whats your budget for the RAM? Are you planning on overclocking?
Click to expand...

Well I thought I could get by with <$50. But after doing some NewEgg searches, it looks like I'll have to pay >$100 for something worthwhile. That's why I'd like to know if I could by 512mb now, for say ~$50, then another 512mb later, once everything is up and running.

I have no immediate plans for overclocking. That is something I'd like to learn as I go along, but I don't have any money to support any modifications to clock speed, (i.e. extra fans, crazy cooling devices, etc.).
 
Preferred, yes. It theoretically doubles the bandwidth. Performance increases are not anything drastic.

I'd say that 1 gig is a bare minimum if you are doing anything more than surfing the internet and using word. With that said, what are you going to be doing with this machine?
 
TheChef said:
Preferred, yes. It theoretically doubles the bandwidth. Performance increases are not anything drastic.

I'd say that 1 gig is a bare minimum if you are doing anything more than surfing the internet and using word. With that said, what are you going to be doing with this machine?
Click to expand...

I'll be running Ubuntu Linux on one HDD, and my ole Win98SE on the other, just like I am right now. I'd like to play some newer games on it, such as real-time strategies. I'm not into First Person Shooters. This machine will remain mostly for non-gaming programs. But i'd like to play some if I get the itch.
And if I get some more cash, I'd like it to be more for gaming/media than for ProEngineer, or big math programs, that's why I choose the AMD platform. And I choose AM2 socket just to get my self into the future, or present.
As you can see from my Socket A, K7 800mHz in the sig, I'm falling behind.
 
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