I was just wondering if someone could answer a couple quick questions about RAM. Right now I have Samsung DDR PC2700/DDR333 RAM. I have one stick of 512mb. I was wondering if I was to purchase another stick of PC2700/DDR333 RAM of 512mb, but a different brand, would it work? And if it does work, would it cause my system to be unstable? or what are side effects? Also, is ULTRA a bad choice for RAM and should I go with Crucial or Kingston? or is ULTRA an ok stick for the money.

Thanks in advance

P.S. The reason I don't want to buy another stick of Samsung RAM is becuase it is $165 compared to $60-90 for other brands.

Originally posted by tool_462:

"I was just wondering if someone could answer a couple quick questions about RAM. Right now I have Samsung DDR PC2700/DDR333 RAM. I have one stick of 512mb. I was wondering if I was to purchase another stick of PC2700/DDR333 RAM of 512mb, but a different brand, would it work?"

SHOULD work, but why chance it?

Get the SAME type, same OEM... this way, you're better assured of it working properly!

(I usually buy 'matched-pairs', which iirc, means they came from the SAME lot off the presses @ the maker's assembly lines etc. & tested @ the SAME speed-rating).

The reason I state this is, jmmijo, (another member here who's WAY into hardware, moreso possibly than myself with the 'latest/greatest' stuff) stated that OFTEN, the reason you see BIOS updates from motherboards manufacturers is because of having to account for various RAM OEM's timings in their chips etc.

(So, that said? Why chance mixing RAM sticks from diff. OEM's period I say, even IF they're the same speed-rating... what jmmijo told me (& iirc, he heard it from folks @ a mobo maker) says it's NOT worth it... there IS diff.'s in RAM sticks, especially by diff. OEM's imo!)

Originally posted by tool_462:

"And if it does work, would it cause my system to be unstable?"

I would say this is a risk you'd be taking...

Originally posted by tool_462:

"or what are side effects?"

Instabilities imo!

Originally posted by tool_462:

"Also, is ULTRA a bad choice for RAM and should I go with Crucial or Kingston? or is ULTRA an ok stick for the money."

NO IDEA on this "Ultra" RAM oem, but Crucial & Kingston have good reps... I buy Micron myself.

Originally posted by tool_462:

"Thanks in advance "

Well, no problem - this is JUST MY OPINION, & I am a "better safe than sorry type" when it comes to computer purchases usually.

You MAY want to wait it out for a guy like jmmijo & others here that are WAY into the "hardware scene" & pop together boxes like mad @ work & such as he does iirc.

Originally posted by tool_462:

"P.S. The reason I don't want to buy another stick of Samsung RAM is becuase it is $165 compared to $60-90 for other brands."

I understand that - MONEY TALK$ & LOUD! BUT... you do often get what you pay for in this arena...

APK

Thanks alot APK! I was mainly looking for another's opinion on the subject, and looks like I found someone who knows what they are talking about. I planned on shelling out the extra $80-90 for the Samsung, but buying two Ultra 512mb is cheaper than one stick of Samsung. Therefore I thought I would see what some more advanced PC builders would say before I spent the extra cash. Thanks for the insight, I think I will just wait until tigerdirect.com has a good deal on Samsung RAM.

Or if anyone knows a good place to get RAM for cheap? would be great if you could post it here, thanks!

Originally posted by tool_462:

"I planned on shelling out the extra $80-90 for the Samsung, but buying two Ultra 512mb is cheaper than one stick of Samsung."

Just checked on Crucial, and they're charging $91 for 512Mb. I've never, ever had any problems with Crucial (I buy all my memory from there as they're always so reliable) - so for a little more than the price of a stick of Samsung, you'd be able to buy 2 512Mb sticks from Crucial, and be safe in the knowledge that they'll work perfectly.

Personally, I'd go down this route, and then see if you can't sell your existing Samsung stick on e-bay or somewhere.

Rgds
AndyF

I think I am going to go that route. I would rather be on the safe side and not have to worry about stability. And what the heck, who wouldn't mind having an extra stick of 512 ram sitting around for that future fun-build or whatnot.

Thanks again for the replys!