Memory - CAS 2 OR CAS 3 PC133?

[Brangwen]

Here's a nagging memory question AGAIN:

I'm presently running a PIII 600E with 128MB PC100 SDRAM on an Abit VA6 mobo. I sometimes OC to 720MHz or so. I'm kicking up to 256MB SDRAM: Should I go with PC133? If so, should I choose CAS 2 or CAS 3? I'm looking at Kingston memory modules.

Thx. I appreciate your opinions.

Brangwen http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif

[Buji]

What is the performance difference between CL2 and CL3?
Solution:
CL2 parts process data a little quicker than CL3 parts in that you have to wait one less clock cycle for the initial data. However, after the first piece of data is processed, the rest of the data is processed at equal speeds. Latency only affects the initial burst of data. Once data starts flowing, there is no effect. Bear in mind, a clock cycle for a PC100 module is 10 nanoseconds so you probably won't notice a significant performance difference. Most systems will accept either latency part. However, there are some systems that require either CL2 or CL3 parts. These requirements are built into our Memory Selector™.
http://support.crucial.com/scripts/crucial.exe/faq

[Brangwen]

Buji:

Thx for the reference. I appreciate it. I'm STILL trying to determine if I'm better off with PC133 CAS 2 or 3...

Brangwen http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif

[Buji]

My understanding of latency is that PC133 at a latency of 3 becomes latency of 2 when run at 100 FSB. Check out the chip numbers and look them up at the Mfgs. site. My PC100 which is rated at 125 is 2 at 100 and 3 at 125. Ran the chip numbers thru the Micron site to figure it out. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[Roy]

CAS Latency of 2 at the default memory speed is an indicator of its ability to go faster. Of course it would then need a system setting of CL=3.

I'm very pleased with the "Mosel" from www.memman.com (http://www.memman.com) . It goes 155, my system's limit, just fine.

[Brangwen]

Roy, thx! Some great looking values. Of course I received your post / reply right after sending an order to Crucial! "About" the same price. I've been agonizing about my decision for hours, including reading just about every archived post dealing with memory at Sysopt. So I finally dove in and ordered 2 128MB sticks of PC133 CS2. Oh, well. No more agonizing! I reviewed Pricewatch and could not be certain of exactly what I would be getting for my money. Is it just me, or does it ALWAYS seem that NO MATTER what you buy or where you buy it, a year, or a month, or a week, day or second later you see a better deal?
Ahhhhh!

Brangwen http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif