Best RAM for Budget OC?

[MidnightUT]

Hey Guys,

 

This will be my first time playing with DDR2. My last set of RAM was a set of G.Skill HZ DDR sticks and while they were a bit finicky getting started I've been very happy with them. From my experience RAM is usually the biggest hassle of a good stable overclock. I'm hoping to get to 3Ghz with an Intel E2180 on a Gigabyte DS3R board, but I'll be happy with whatever. I've started trying to gather info on good solid budget memory to pair with setup but there is a ton of good priced RAM out there and I'm having trouble narrowing it down.

 

I'm shooting for spending ~$50 or less on a 2x1GB set. That price isn't set in stone, just looking for the best bang for the buck.

 

Here are some of the sets that I've been trying to find out more about.

 

G.Skill F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ

$45

Thoughts: I've been happy with my current G.Skill sticks, price is right.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820231098

 

Crucial Ballistix BL2KIT12864AA804

$65 - $25 = $40 (AR)

Thoughts: I hear a lot about these sticks, seems people love them but have a lot of returns?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820146565

 

OCZ Reaper HPC Edition OCZ2RPR8002GK

$70 - $25 = $45 (AR)

Thoughts: Heatpipes seems a bit much, but hey if it works and doesn't get in the way of the cpu heatsink.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820227231

 

Mushkin with EPP Profile 996533

$60 - $10 = $50 (AR)

Thoughts: Don't know much about mushkin.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820146673

 

CORSAIR XMS2 TWIN2X2048-6400C4DHX

$92 - $40 = $52 (AR)

Thoughts: Nice timings, mixed reviews, not worth the $40 rebate risk unless these are amazing sticks.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820145177

 

As always I'm open to any and all suggestions. These are just the sticks that have caught my eye so far.

 

-Mid

[Guest element]

Perhaps the Crucial. Others with experience with US market could help.

[Guest r3d c0m3t]

Go with the Reaper's or the XMS2, I can personally recommend the Reapers as I have my own set and they'll overclock well once you slap enough voltage on them. If you go with the XMS2 route you won't be disappointed as they overclock just as well, if not better than the Reaper's.

[RHKCommander959]

ddr1 crucial ballistix had alot of returns because of corrosion....

 

i've heard the ddr2 variants are all good i think.

[MidnightUT]

Thanks for all the replies guys.

 

I ended up going with the GSkills. Mainly to avoid the rebate hassle as much as anything as I've already got several other rebates to deal with.

 

I ruled out the Reapers because I wasn't sure about clearance issues with my HSF. I dismissed the Ballistix because I read several reports that Crucial changed how they manufacture them and that the new ones aren't nearly as good as they used to be even though they're selling them as the same sticks.

 

My second choice was the Mushkin sticks. It was pretty much a coin flip with the GSkills, but the sheer popularity of the GSkills and a touch of Brand Loyalty on my part moved them into #1.

[Prospector]

I have the Tracer version of the Ballistix and they are great.

[MidnightUT]

I have the Tracer version of the Ballistix and they are great.

 

Did you buy them within the last couple of months? I think this is a fairly recent change.

 

I'm not sure if they changed manufacturing of the Tracers as well, and I could be completely incorrect so don't take what I say as fact. I just didn't feel it was worth the risk/hassle since there were several other decent choices in the same price range.