Generic RAM vs Brandname RAM

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Aeron

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What is the technical difference between generic (using term loosely. The cheapest ram) ram and branded "gaming" ram? For example, how does the gaming performance of Kingmax compare to Mushkin, OCZ, Corsair, all of them DDR 2 and 1066mhz?

If, for example, I can buy 4gb of Kingmax DDR 2 1066mhz for R 480 and 2gb OCZ Reaper DDR 2 1066mhz for R 460 or 2 gb Mushkin DDR 2 1066 mhz for R 500, which should I rather buy for gaming purposes?
 
Are you going to OC things or not?

I just buy the cheap ram, Transcend, Hynix, Kingston.
 
Yea timings make a big difference in performance, i currently have 4gb ocz platinum ddr800 ram running at ddr900 with 4-4-4-12 timings. I had generic ddr 800 ram which i could not overclock at all and the timings were a lot slower (5-5-5-15). After benchmarking my machine i noticed that the ocz ram put my score up quite a bit.
 
The difference between 2GB RAM and 4GB ram would be bigger than the performance increase between various types of the same speed (assuming that you were running out of RAM, and started paging).

To put it differently: if you had only 2GB RAM and your system ran out of RAM - then you would see a massive decrease in performance; whereas you would probably not see any noticeable difference between "high quality" and "regular" RAM under normal usage. Buy the expensive RAM if you need to overclock....
 
Conradl said:
To put it differently: if you had only 2GB RAM and your system ran out of RAM - then you would see a massive decrease in performance; whereas you would probably not see any noticeable difference between "high quality" and "regular" RAM under normal usage. Buy the expensive RAM if you need to overclock....
Click to expand...

Well put.
 
Brandname Ram gives like 1-2% performance increase which = like 3-5fps in games. Definitely get generic. Atleast if it blows or whatever you don't have to pay a fortune to replace it as well.
 
PeterCH said:
Ok and you want to overclock for a better score, right?

So in fact you're paying money for some numbers.
Click to expand...

The point should be that those numbers are indicators of performance?

But I know a lot of people care more about the numbers, especially when you're OC'ing the fastest stuff you can buy already.
 
It depends on what you are looking for. In your case, Im pretty sure the end goal is not a high 3D mark score.

If its purely for gaming purposes, then in my experience there is absolutely no difference in brand name ram and generic cheap ram.

Brand name ram should overclock better. But if you just want to put it in and play, and are not fussed about messing with latencies, clock speeds and voltage settings, then you are definitely better off with the 4gb of Kingmax DDR 2 1066mhz for R 480
 
I use generic Kingston RAM. I don't see the point in paying an arm and bit extra for RAm that can overclock a bit better. You never see visual difference in performance.
 
Stickfigure said:
Brandname Ram gives like 1-2% performance increase which = like 3-5fps in games.
Click to expand...

Conradl said:
The difference between 2GB RAM and 4GB ram would be bigger than the performance increase between various types of the same speed (assuming that you were running out of RAM, and started paging).

To put it differently: if you had only 2GB RAM and your system ran out of RAM - then you would see a massive decrease in performance; whereas you would probably not see any noticeable difference between "high quality" and "regular" RAM under normal usage. Buy the expensive RAM if you need to overclock....
Click to expand...

Thank you guys. Made my choice - Rather 8GB Kingston than 4 or 6 GB expensive ram.
 
serious overclocking requires hardcore ram that wont flip over and play dead when you overvolt them
 
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