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Topic: Hardware

AMD officially unveils desktop RAM line ... but why should we buy it?

Summary: Come on AMD, give us a reason to buy!

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

By for Hardware 2.0 |

AMD has officially lifted the lid on a new line of desktop RAM modules. But why should we buy AMD RAM over the competition.

There are in fact three lines of RAM, each to suit a particular need:

These RAM modules are supplied by Patriot Memory and VisionTek, so this is AMD-branded RAM as opposed to AMD RAM. The difference is subtle, but it's important.

AMD is big on branding, and ever since acquiring ATI it's worked on branding OEM systems featuring AMD CPUs and GPUs. Adding a RAM brand to this makes sense in that AMD can guarantee that the RAM will be happier when overclocked using AMD's OverDrive software (although AMD's warranty doesn't cover damage caused by overlocking, even when using OverDrive). That said, the motherboard is just as critical as the RAM when it comes to overclocking (many times, more important), so even with AMD RAM, things might not plain sailing.

I don't think that AMD is working hard to convince us to buy AMD RAM here. There's no pricing, and no details on what the warranty coverage will be like on this RAM. It would also be nice if AMD covered overclocking damage done when using its OverDrive software (although truth be told, it's not easy to fry your RAM).

Given how competitive the RAM market is, how razor-thin profits are, and how many big players there are already selling retail RAM, I'm a little surprised to see AMD doing this.

Related:

Topics: Hardware, Processors

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13 comments
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  • If you have an AMD processor and AMD Video Card

    This will likely end up being your thing. They might even make it to where it works better with it, as I have noticed AMD products often do.
    Michael Alan Goff
    Reply Vote

    • RE: AMD officially unveils desktop RAM line ... by why should we buy it?

      @Michael Alan Goff

      That has been my experience. Having a system with an AMD Processor, AMD Chipset, and AMD/Radeon Video Card I find that the AMD OverDrive Utility is able to work with all those very well. Even if you do not overclock I find that the performance of these three components offer better overall performance than if an AMD Processor was put in an Non-AMD chipset board. The same goes for Intel. Their processors perform better with their chipsets compared to third party.

      At Least in my experience they do.
      bobiroc
      Reply Vote

      • Then luckily....

        @bobiroc

        ...nobody else makes chipsets for AMD processors anymore.
        Joe_Raby
        Reply Vote

  • RE: AMD officially unveils desktop RAM line ... by why should we buy it?

    I just bought some new RAM, Corsair actually since my brand of choice OCZ has gone belly up in the RAM market. I'd like to see some prices on the higher end AMD RAM though.
    Bates_
    Reply Vote

    • RE: AMD officially unveils desktop RAM line ... by why should we buy it?

      @Bates_

      I liked OCZ too. Used their chips in several builds over the years and never had one fail outside of a computer getting zapped
      bobiroc
      Reply Vote

      • RE: AMD officially unveils desktop RAM line ... by why should we buy it?

        @bobiroc I was sad to see OCZ drop out of the RAM game. They have always made solid products and offered wonderful lifetime warranties, not that I have ever had an OCZ product fail on me.
        Bates_
        Reply Vote

      • Warranty?

        @Bates

        All major name brands include a lifetime warranty for their RAM, be they Kingston, Crucial, Corsair, etc.
        Joe_Raby
        Reply Vote

  • "by why"

    Geez even the headlines don't get checked for typos...
    GoPower
    Reply Vote

    • RE: AMD officially unveils desktop RAM line ... by why should we buy it?

      @GoPower

      Typos I can live with. It is when the article is filled with lies and FUD is where I have a problem. At least a Typo is an honest mistake (most of the time)

      Not that this article/blog is one of those FUD blogs though.
      bobiroc
      Reply Vote

  • RE: AMD officially unveils desktop RAM line ... by why should we buy it?

    AMD APU, AMD RAM Radeon Edition, and AMD Radeon GPU. Call me an AMD fanboy, but I love AMD.

    I'm betting myself in getting a next generation APU, Radeon HD 7000 series, and a Radeon-Edition RAM for a next-generation computer.

    But in the meantime, with my HP dv7 6168nr, I'll be playing The Last Renmant (JRPG) in 1280x720. I can't see myself playing any games at 1920x1080 as I can't tell the difference between 1280x720 and 1920x1080 in my mom's 73" HDTV. But if I play games in my laptop's screen, I can't still tell a difference of 1600x900 and 1280x720.

    Of course, if a game does not scale the GUI to look the same regardless of the resolution, I'd probably play a game at a lowest-possible resolution--notably 1280x720. It's due to my visual impairment. If the game's text is too small, all I can do ois scale the resolution down.

    Of course this article is not about games and accessibility (let's just say that I played only a few demo versions of the Western RPG games, but I didn't care much for open world and customization). I'd be happy to buy a Radeon-Edition RAM, but not a high-end Radeon HD 7000 series GPU. But I suppose the top-of-the-line RAM with a next-gen Radeon HD 7670 GPU might be overkill for gamers that play in 120x720. Am I off-base?
    Grayson Peddie
    Reply Vote

  • I'm not sure I really get the classification here

    Wouldn't someone with a Llano chip want "Radeon RAM"? I can understand the "Entertainment RAM" for a Brazos APU, since they are designed mostly just for HD entertainment and don't have serious-enough power for new games (and the memory controller in the APU doesn't go higher than 1333MHz - or is it 1066? I forget), but Llano's have an 1866MHz memory controller and that is still considered higher than the current standard, and "entry-level gamers" isn't what they market Llano's towards. Llano's are always marketed for "mainstream gamers and PC users" (not enthusiast gamers though). The messaging here is going to be confusing until we see specs.

    Update: never mind. I read the specs from the source link. What I see is easy-to-select RAM for a system build. Entertainment series for Brazos; Performance for low to midrange E2, and A4 series; Radeon for high-end A6 and A8's and FX series. It's good to know what the memory controller speed in each processor can do and just pair it up with matching speed RAM.
    Joe_Raby
    Reply Vote

  • RE: AMD officially unveils desktop RAM line ... by why should we buy it?

    All well and good but I've never been one to overclock. I go for longevity and usually get 7-12 years from a system, barring spindle issues. Sure there is a slow pig or two here but by now they have an extra fan and filter (a real fan not a PC fan) and all they are asked do is serve extra or redundant storage for the 'new' PC bought every 5-7 years, or in one case something to run 98 on so I can use a certain ancient CAD package. Speed kills..
    opcom
    Reply Vote

  • RE: AMD officially unveils desktop RAM line ... by why should we buy it?

    AMD RAM huh? It's just rebranded though. If they make it affordable and have good warrenties then I might get some.
    Jimster480
    Reply Vote
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