Question about RAM
 

I have a 512 stick of some generic DDR RAM and was looking to get a second stick of 512. I have another computer with another stick of 512 so I put it in to see if the 2 sticks would be dual channel and they were but I had to put the 2nd stick back in the other computer. Now I want to get another stick for my computer. I was wondering if there is a noticable difference between generic RAM and name brand ram. Should I just buy name brand 2x512 and replace the generic ram or just buy another 512 stick of generic?

Unless you're doing serious memory-intensive work (video editing, software compilation, etc.) you probably wouldn't notice the difference between generic memory and the "expensive" stuff.

That said, I've got Corsiar XMS Platinum TwinX1024 CL2 memory in my box :-D

And surfing forums with it? ;)

Oh, the humanity.

I usually buy more expensive ram, because it's actually tested before it leaves the factories (or so I'm told). Much like SCSI drives vs. IDE, the SCSI drives are tested and actually hand-touched whereas the IDE drives are not. One of the reasons for the cost difference.

Whatever you buy though, make sure you get memory that comes with a lifetime warranty. If it goes bad, take it back or RMA it and you should get a comparable stick of ram.

if you going to run the duel channel you going to want some decent branded ram, and a match pair, Same manufacture, same timeings, etc. etc. etc. But as skaven said unless your doing some major video editing or photoshopping your not going to notice a HUGE diffrence.

Example Encodeing 40 min movie with 1 gig non DC = 3.97 mins
Example Encodeing 40 min movie with 1 gig DC ram = 3.60 mins

(just tossing out numbers here people i know that there way off but its just an example)

If you dont do any memory intensive applications, I would just get another stick of generic 512 ram (or get kingston or corsair value memory). If it doesn't run in dual-channel, dont worry about it... dual-channel honestly isn't that much of a performance boost at all unless your memory in constantly fully loaded; and if that were the case, I would recomend you to get a twin pack of the expensive stuff and toss your generic stick.

Buy name-brand Value ram. A good example would be Corsair's Value ram. You don't need XMS or anything fancy.

-Lasereth