Is this a good RAM replacement (downgrade)?

[Djang0 1]

My memory has lifetime warranty and one of the modules from my PC2-8500 kit failed. However because the modules are obsolete the closest replacement they can offer is a PC2-6400 kit.

 

Corsair Vengence TWIN2X4096-8500C5D

4GB kit PC2-8500 (1066MHz) 5-5-5-24 2.1V

for

Corsair XMS TWIN2X4096-6400C5DHX

4GB kit PC2-6400 (800MHz) 5-5-5-15 1.8V

 

I believe that both models have the same heat spreader. Is this a reasonable replacement or should I seek some kind of refund and buy another brand of PC2-8500 modules?

[Crewecut 1]

I worry that the slower RAM would reduce performance. Look around if any other RAM of that class is still available, if so, go for a refund. Otherwise you're facing the slower kit, or you face an upgraded build...

[Djang0 1]

Does anyone have any idea how Corsair XMS PC2-6400 overclocks? I had been running the PC2-8500 at stock speed.

[flyingnoob 25]

I had the C5DHX, although actually rated @2.1V, and it clocked very badly, but i didn't know whether it was my old board (p5n 32 e sli) or not, corsair should upgrade if old ram is obsolete(thats from corsair themselves)

If i HAD to accept one, it would be the vengeance.

Memory serving me correctly, the C5DHX only comes in 2GB sticks

[Dave_YVR 997]

I honestly doubt that you'd see any difference. Benchmarks maybe, but in real performance actually noticeable to the eye? Unlikely.

[Djang0 1]

Corsair said that the XMS PC2-6400 they offered is the best DDR2 they have and that refund is not an option. They did say that they could offer DDR3 and I'm waiting to hear back from them, although I really wasn't planning for a new system and don't have the money right now. I've searched a bit and there are very few PC2-8500 2x2GB kits available, and it appears that DDR2 is relatively more expensive than DDR3.

 

So if they offer a DDR3 replacement am I justified in expecting an 8GB kit rather than a 4GB kit? I get the impression that 8GB DDR3 for 64-bit systems is the standard compared to 4GB DDR2 when I built my system a few years ago.

[Djang0 1]

I've decided to go with the PC2-6400 that they offered. They offered an 8GB Vengeance DDR3 kit but I'd only be interested in a Dominator DDR3 kit.

[Djang0 1]

The RAM arrived but it looks as though I'm not going to get more than about 40MHz additional speed if I overclock which implies an overcock of around 3.8GHz if I'm lucky :( (I was running at 3.93GHz stable). So I might sell these replacement modules and buy some other DDR2-8500. I'm not planning to overclock the memory so don't want to spend more than about £70, what do people think about these 4GB DDR2-8500 kits:

 

Kingston HyperX Genesis KHX8500D2K2/4G @ 2.2V

£55.99

G.Skill F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK @ 2.0-2.1V (not sure why they specify a voltage range?)

£61.99

 

Thanks in advance for any replies.

[Djang0 1]

I'm inclined to go with the Kingston but at 2.2V and given they have regular heat spreaders, might heat be a problem?