Some upgrade help

plonk

Ok so im going buying some ram, hdd and thinking of buying a sound card

So if i go with komplett

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=328399

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=331914&s=sc

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=320128&s=sc

I will definately buy the hdd off komplett im just wondering is the ram and sound card better off overclockers

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SC-045-CL

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-018-GS

Any advice appreciated it will be slightly dearer if I go with overclockers so would it be worth it

Thanks

8T8

The Creative X-Fi Xtreme Gamer & Xtreme Audio are not real X-Fi's they are cut down parts that lack the functionality of proper X-Fi cards so do not buy.

The cheapest real X-Fi is the Xtreme Music version on OcUK as Komplett does not sell them anymore. Given the sound card choice & RAM I'd go with OcUK.

plonk

So the overclockers ram is better.
Also why is that sound card dearer if its not a proper one.

Thanks


Edit: Also i will have 2 512 modules of pc5300, could i put them in with 2 512 modules of pc4200. The mobo is compatable with the 2 but will the ram work together on the same mobo and i assume theat if it does they will both work at 533mhz

Thanks

8T8

You got me as to the price but to hazard a guess the X-Fi Xtreme Music is being phased out in favour of cheaper solutions that make Creative more money at the lower end so I guess profit is the answer.

Of course they don't tell people these new cards aren't proper X-Fi's so the unsuspecting buy the cheap models unaware and those in the know are forced into buying the more expensive models that go over €100 in price.


For the question on mixing modules if you install two PC4200 (DDR2-533) modules alongside two PC5300 (DDR2-667) modules it will drop down to PC4200 speeds. If the DDR2-533 modules have timings in their SPD for DDR2-667 then it will work in that mode, the only way to check is to use CPU-Z and go to the RAM SPD tab and see what it lists.

If the timings aren't present then it will drop to DDR-2 533 mode but I would not fret as the performance difference is very small in fact DDR-2 800 is a waste in most situations.

plonk

Thank you very much for your help. much appreciated