# Catalyst goes RAM shopping **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 18, 2001, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catalyst-goes-ram-shopping/72891 "2001-07-18T05:01:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Catalyst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@Catalyst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catalyst)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2001, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catalyst-goes-ram-shopping/72891/1 "2001-07-18T05:01:38Z")
I’ve been shopping around on a few sites, and I’ve come across some extremely cheap RAM (For instance, 512 MB PC-133 for 40 bucks). After a few seconds of suprise, rip-off sirens started going off in my head. For those prices, I’m thinking something’s got to be up (especially since they’re not name-brand.) So. . .does anyone have any advice on what to get and where to get it from? Thanks in advance. Note: I’m looking for PC-133 RAM, at least 128 MB, and it’s gotta be compatible with Athlon-supporting boards. ---
**Author:** ![GWF\_Hefel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/898d66/32.png) [@GWF\_Hefel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GWF_Hefel)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2001, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catalyst-goes-ram-shopping/72891/2 "2001-07-18T13:15:55Z")
Catalyst That’s about the standard good price. You’re thinking back to the bad old days of RAM prices–3 or 4 months ago. Please pay attention. I say get it where ever it is easiest for you to purchase it. I go through [http://www.pny.com](http://www.pny.com) but only because they have the easiest configurator to find the right stick for a particular machine. ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2001, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catalyst-goes-ram-shopping/72891/3 "2001-07-18T13:26:33Z")
If you’re feeling really paranoid, you can order from [crucial.com](http://crucial.com) or [mushkin.com](http://mushkin.com). I’ve had very good experiences with both–high quality ram and they’re dirt cheap at the moment. Very reputable. I’ve also had good experiences with most of the sites linked through [pricewatch.com](http://pricewatch.com). ---
**Author:** ![Amazing\_Tiki\_God](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@Amazing\_Tiki\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazing_Tiki_God)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2001, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catalyst-goes-ram-shopping/72891/4 "2001-07-18T13:38:00Z")
I’ll second the nod for looking through price watch. I ordered half of my system (everything but the chip and hard drive) from sites linked from them. I spent very little money and it seemed like everyone of the sellers were honest and helpful. So in my experience try pricewatch and see what ya get. ---
**Author:** ![Catalyst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@Catalyst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catalyst)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2001, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catalyst-goes-ram-shopping/72891/5 "2001-07-18T18:35:24Z")
Thanks for the replies. Bear with me for a few more questions? Great :D. Performance-wise, what difference is there between 64x4 density RAM and 64x64 density RAM and is 64x64 worth the extra cost (in this case, about fifty dollars)? Also, if a stick is advertised as being compatible with my motherboard’s chipset but doesn’t say anything about Athlon or Thunderbird compatibility, how safe is it to make assumptions? Thanks again. If this should be in another forum (GQ?), I apologize. ---
**Author:** ![Catalyst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@Catalyst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catalyst)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2001, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catalyst-goes-ram-shopping/72891/6 "2001-07-19T03:04:43Z")
_Bump_ ---
**Author:** ![Homer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df788c/32.png) [@Homer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homer)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2001, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catalyst-goes-ram-shopping/72891/7 "2001-07-19T05:32:46Z")
Too bad you didn’t ask this at about 10:30 pm today, when [Dell.com](http://Dell.com) mis-listed 1 GIG DIMMS for $20, 2 for $40 with a $10 rebate. It was only up for like, 20 minutes, though. Wonder how many people got a major deal in that time, though? I mean, damn. –Tim ---
**Author:** ![Shogun\_Haircut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Shogun\_Haircut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shogun_Haircut)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2001, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catalyst-goes-ram-shopping/72891/8 "2001-07-19T06:18:01Z")
Hey, Chill out, that place your lookin at should be ok, im not sure of the differene, but i think 64x4 is better ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2001, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catalyst-goes-ram-shopping/72891/9 "2001-07-19T13:15:50Z")
I think the 64x4, etc refers to chip density. You’re better off looking at settings like cas1, cas2, etc, whether it’s ecc or not (unless you’re running a server, you’re better off without it), what it’s rated (pc100 vs pc133), etc. ---
**Author:** ![pestie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e5b9ba/32.png) [@pestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pestie)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2001, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catalyst-goes-ram-shopping/72891/10 "2001-07-19T17:51:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Catalyst \* > **Also, if a stick is advertised as being compatible with my motherboard’s chipset but doesn’t say anything about Athlon or Thunderbird compatibility, how safe is it to make assumptions?** Chipsets are tied to types of processors, so if you have an Athlon motherboard with a particular chipset, than that chipset is designed only for Athlon processors. If the RAM is designated as working with that chipset, by extension it must work with an Athlon as well. There are no chipsets that work with both Athlons and Pentiums, for example. ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2001, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catalyst-goes-ram-shopping/72891/11 "2001-07-19T19:02:27Z")
Look up both chipsets and see what type of ram they use. For example, many Intel chips use Rdram, which doesn’t work in anything. The latest motherboards use ddr memory which is similarly problematic, IIRC. Just about everything else is compatible with pc133, though, as long as you don’t get the cheapest, most generic kind (which might be a little less compatible). If worst comes to worst, call the company you’re ordering from and ask. At the very least, you’ll be able to send it back if it doesn’t work.