SURVEY: Do you use the QVL when buying RAM?
Igor
when they're picking out RAM for their PC?
I'm considering a motherboard but can't find any of the brands/models
recommended in its QVL. How important is it that I follow the QVL?
William
"Igor" <som...@somewhere.org> wrote in message
news:vmdb64508k2a0sdoh...@4ax.com...
Igor:
Many of the RAM manufacturers have their own QVL lists for the mobo's they
support. When I was looking for some fast ram for my mobo I went to
Crucial's web site and found what ram they guaranteed would support my mobo
for the speeds I wanted to run the ram at. These lists are usually updated
more often and more extensive than the QVL lists put out by the mobo
manufacturer.
I was having some strange problems with the ram I had in my mobo at the time
and I wanted to be sure I hade the proper ram for this mobo when I was
updating to 4 gig. And yes, this is very important for assuring good
performance from you mobo and ram, especially if you intend to do any over
clocking in the future.
William
larry moe 'n curly
Igor wrote:
Not much, because only a few manufacturers produce all the actual RAM
chips used on modules, and so many modules are made with their
untested (UTT) chips that it's a lot more important to buy modules
that aren't defective (and it takes a couple of days to verify that,
by using both Gold Memory and either MemTest+ or MemTest86).
Inclusion in a QVL isn't a good indication of high quality because
even brands like Kingston and Mushkin are listed, and they haven't
been particularly reliable for me. It's safest to buy modules whose
chips have their manufacturer's full part number visible on them,
something you can Google for the complete specs, because that means
the modules were made with prime quality chips. In the US that pretty
much limits us to Crucial/Micron modules, and then only those models
without heatsinks.
Andy Burns
> How many people follow their motherboard's QVL (Qualified Vendor List)
> when they're picking out RAM for their PC?
I recently purchased an ASUS P5E-WS-PRO, but the motherboard claims to
support 1066MHz DDR2 but the QVL only lists 667MHz and 800MHz parts, so
I went ahead and bought some Corsair 1066MHz.
I had immediate RAM problems, and of course the intiial answer from ASUS
was "not on the QVL mate, tough!" but it turned out to be a board that
was about to die for other reasons anyway, when it was RMAed the
replacement hummed along just fine with the same memory, even with the
same BIOS version and settings.
So the answer depends on what level of security blanket you want I guess.
TVeblen
I always have used the QVL to match RAM to MB. If the listed memory is not
easily available or too pricey I move on to the next board. I do not have
enough experience/knowledge with these components on the manufacturing level
to play any games with it.
John E
I have never used the QVL to choose memory. I'm using 2 sets of 4GB (2x2GB
modules) Corsair xms2 DHX on my Asus Maximus Formula (I). The maximum size
for Corsair quoted in the QVL is a 1GB part. Waste of slots.
In my view, they are almost always out of date, when you take into account
current trends in RAM prices, and manufacturer's new products.
John
noname
"TVeblen" <killth...@hal.net> wrote in message
news:rqmdnTsDdsMAg_vV...@comcast.com...
>
> "Igor" <som...@somewhere.org> wrote in message
> news:vmdb64508k2a0sdoh...@4ax.com...
>> How many people follow their motherboard's QVL (Qualified Vendor List)
>> when they're picking out RAM for their PC?
>>
>> I'm considering a motherboard but can't find any of the brands/models
>> recommended in its QVL. How important is it that I follow the QVL?
>
I use the QVLs and customer/hardware reviews. Often you'll see reviews with
RAM not listed on QVLs. I'm using a P5E with 2x1GB GSkill DDR2 800 that
were not on the QVL, but got excellent reviews from customers and run great.
Also, as previously mentioned, look at the memory vendors website for more
info.
john
mr deo
There's normally die numbers released in the QVL, or you can go to the
webpages of the QVL mfgr's and look at the same numbers they have.. Once you
have those numbers then you can go to any module mfgr out there and see if
they are supplying that type of ram.
My last major build has been a while, but this was the best way to do it in
the past, if that's not avail then just try to go by reviews, if
overclockers can take it to the next level while using standard ram
settings, and all the timings are more agressive than what your going to use
then I'd say it's good to go..
My .02
scrooge
wrote:
If a motherboard will only run with a couple of certified ram
sticks, I'd prefer a different motherboard.
I go by what people post in forums, etc.
If a board is fussy. Fuck it.
JR Weiss
I look at it, but don't necessarily go by it...
For example, Gigabyte's lists for the P35-DS4 and X48-DS4 doesn't include
several significant high-end vendors and RAM lines, but Crucial Bakllistix and
OCZ Reaper both work fine.
I wouldn't buy any "value" RAM that isn't on the list, though...
geoff
1. The QVL.
2. Memory used in an article where a machine is built and tested.
3. Crucial.com
Which one I use depends on availability, price, etc.
--g
The Coward Robert Ford
> If a motherboard will only run with a couple of certified ram
> sticks, I'd prefer a different motherboard.
>
> I go by what people post in forums, etc.
>
> If a board is fussy. Fuck it.
MB's are usually only fussy about ram that has tight timings. If you run
the cheaper stuff with not so tight timings it runs fine. Or you can
manually change the timings on the more exotic ram and it will probably be
ok too. I just buy the cheap stuff from good manufaturer's and have never
had a problem on any mb so far.