Ultimate Buyer's Guide: Desktop Memory by Aki H.

Picking memory now a days is quite easy because DDR2 800 RAM is generally everyone's favorite. However, people are also biased in that that's the ONLY RAM they recommend because other people tell them that other RAM, like DDR2 1066, isn't as cost effective. Well, there are actually certain situations where RAM other than DDR2 800 is more cost effective.

First is the price of the RAM. Now-a-days, a lot of the DDR2 800 desktop RAM is on large rebates, typically anywhere from 10 dollars to 30 dollars. DDR2 800 is usually sold around $70 to $80, and considering that you're getting 2GB of RAM for $40 to $50 after rebate, this is an awesome deal. However, this isn't the case only for DDR2 800. RAM is becoming so cheap and abundant today that a lot of DDR2 1066 modules are also getting very very low in price, some coming down to the price level of DDR2 800 memory sets. In this case, grab the DDR2 1066 RAM: it's clocked faster, and most likely, you will be able to overclock more if you want to.

The next is how much RAM you get for the single set. Today more and more users have begun to use Microsoft Windows XP and Vista X64 versions, and in this version, the OS reads over the traditional 3.25GB limit that the x32 OS's present. If you're in need for LOTS and LOTS of RAM for extreme multi-tasking, then take a look at 2x2GB sets. These will serve you extremely well, and when you need to, you can always buy a new set that's clocked faster, for more speed and power.

The final factor is the speed of the memory. If you're going to use your computer for daily use only, you won't need DDR2 1200 RAM that breaks your wallet for the speed you won't be needing. The speed of the memory is also, most of the time, telling you that it is extremely overclockable. So take a look at the clock speeds and the price to see if your RAM set is right for you, and also cost efficient.

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About the Author

A student who learned how to build a computer at the age of 15, Aki H. has now started a blogging site to help people learn more about computers. To read his numerous computer hardware articles, go to http://www.ImIcarus.com