Solved Recommendation on RAM needed
#1
Hi,

I am about to build my first HTPC based on a Shuttle Barebone XH97V (http://www.shuttle.eu/products/slim/xh97v/overview/).

Currently, I am pretty much all set with a Intel Core i3 4130T CPU and a nice SSD, but I'm a bit confused which RAM modules (and what capacity) I should exactly buy now. The Shuttle barebone lists the following for Memory support:

2x SO-DIMM slots with 204 pins
Supports DDR3-1333/1600 SDRAM memory (PC3-10600/12800)
The maximum memory clock rate depends on the processor type.
Supports Dual Channel mode
Supports max. 8 GB per DIMM, maximum total size of 16 GB
Supports two unbuffered DIMM modules of 1.5V


So my two questions would be:

1) Can I also use SO-DIMMs with less voltage? Most SO-DIMMS I found on Amazon have 1.35V instead of 1.5V. Any recommendation for a specific brand or RAM module?

2) I am planning on using OpenELEC (just waiting for the final 5.0 release once Kodi 14.0 has been released) and wanted to go with 8GB (2x 4GB) 1600Mhz DDR3 (dual channel). Any comments on that? I know that OpenELEC is anything but hungry for resources, but don't mind spending a couple more € since I already invested quite some money in the HTPC. Rather have more RAM than less ... I am using the HTPC purely for watching video and some emulators.

Many thanks!
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#2
It says "Supports two unbuffered DIMM modules of 1.5V" so get that, not 1,35V
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#3
(2014-12-23, 15:30)MatteN Wrote: It says "Supports two unbuffered DIMM modules of 1.5V" so get that, not 1,35V

OK, thanks! Wasn't sure on the voltage if this was meant as in "maximum supported". I looked a bit further and found a Corsair Vengeance 8GB kit (DDR3 1600MHz) with 1.5V which I will most likely order.
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#4
Hi There,

I'm looking to do the same once I can buy one here in the UK. I'm going to run openelec on a msata ssd and also put in a 1TB hdd/SSD depending on price.

I would be interested in how your system gets on and runs once you've built it.

Looking at shuttle website there is a list of supported memory modules http://global.shuttle.com/main/productsS...uctId=1847


Type Size Model number

DDR3 SO-DIMM 4GB A-RAM AR4GB1333D3C8V
DDR3 SO-DIMM 4GB A-RAM AR4GB1333D3V
DDR3 SO-DIMM 4GB ADATA AD3S1600W4G11-B DDR3-1600 4GB
DDR3 SO-DIMM 4GB Crucial PC12800 CT51264BF160BJ.C8F
DDR3 SO-DIMM 4GB Elixir PC12800 M2S4G64CB8HG5N-DI
DDR3 SO-DIMM 4GB G-Skill PC12800 F3-12800CL9-4GBSQ
DDR3 SO-DIMM 4GB Geil PC3-8500 GS34GB1066C7SC 4GB
DDR3 SO-DIMM 4GB Geil PC3-8500 GS38GB1066C7DC 4GB
DDR3 SO-DIMM 4GB PQI MFCCR523SA0106 DDR3-1333S 4GB
DDR3 SO-DIMM 4GB Team PC12800 TED34GM1600C11-SBK
DDR3 SO-DIMM 4GB Team PC12800 TED3L4GM1600C11-SBK
DDR3 SO-DIMM 4GB Team TSD34096M1333C9-E DDR3-1333 4GB
DDR3 SO-DIMM 4GB Transcend JM1333KSN-4G DDRIII-1333 4GB
DDR3 SO-DIMM 4GB Transcend TS512MSK64V3N DDRIII-1333 4GB
DDR3 SO-DIMM 4GB UMAX RMUMX 4GSOD1333C DDRIII-1333 4GB
DDR3 SO-DIMM 8GB ADATA AD3S1333W8G9-B
DDR3 SO-DIMM 8GB ADATA PC10600 3WCD-1509A EL1220V
DDR3 SO-DIMM 8GB DSL PC12800 D3SH12082XL12AA DDR3L
DDR3 SO-DIMM 8GB Kingston KVR1333D3S9/8G
DDR3 SO-DIMM 8GB Kingston PC12800 KVR16LS11/8 9905428-087
DDR3 SO-DIMM 8GB Kingston PC12800 KVR16S11/8
DDR3 SO-DIMM 8GB Transcend JM1600KSH-8G
DDR3 SO-DIMM 8GB Transcend PC12800 TS1GSK64W6H
DDR3 SO-DIMM 8GB UMAX RMUMX 8GSOD1333C DDRIII-1333 8GB

MotherBoard's PCB version: FH97V V1.0


Kind Regards
Greg
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#5
If anything I would use only one stick of ram instead of two (single sided even better). Not only will it use less power but performance wise its nearly impossible to tell difference.

Usually I find the best place to buy ram from is direct from crucial. Compatibility wise its very easy to use their tools
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#6
Hi Greg,

(2014-12-31, 20:06)Watersnapper Wrote: I'm looking to do the same once I can buy one here in the UK. I'm going to run openelec on a msata ssd and also put in a 1TB hdd/SSD depending on price.

I would be interested in how your system gets on and runs once you've built it.

Looking at shuttle website there is a list of supported memory modules http://global.shuttle.com/main/productsS...uctId=1847


Type Size Model number

DDR3 SO-DIMM 4GB A-RAM AR4GB1333D3C8V
DDR3 SO-DIMM 4GB A-RAM AR4GB1333D3V
DDR3 SO-DIMM 4GB ADATA AD3S1600W4G11-B DDR3-1600 4GB
DDR3 SO-DIMM 4GB Crucial PC12800 CT51264BF160BJ.C8F
DDR3 SO-DIMM 4GB Elixir PC12800 M2S4G64CB8HG5N-DI
DDR3 SO-DIMM 4GB G-Skill PC12800 F3-12800CL9-4GBSQ
DDR3 SO-DIMM 4GB Geil PC3-8500 GS34GB1066C7SC 4GB
DDR3 SO-DIMM 4GB Geil PC3-8500 GS38GB1066C7DC 4GB
DDR3 SO-DIMM 4GB PQI MFCCR523SA0106 DDR3-1333S 4GB
DDR3 SO-DIMM 4GB Team PC12800 TED34GM1600C11-SBK
DDR3 SO-DIMM 4GB Team PC12800 TED3L4GM1600C11-SBK
DDR3 SO-DIMM 4GB Team TSD34096M1333C9-E DDR3-1333 4GB
DDR3 SO-DIMM 4GB Transcend JM1333KSN-4G DDRIII-1333 4GB
DDR3 SO-DIMM 4GB Transcend TS512MSK64V3N DDRIII-1333 4GB
DDR3 SO-DIMM 4GB UMAX RMUMX 4GSOD1333C DDRIII-1333 4GB
DDR3 SO-DIMM 8GB ADATA AD3S1333W8G9-B
DDR3 SO-DIMM 8GB ADATA PC10600 3WCD-1509A EL1220V
DDR3 SO-DIMM 8GB DSL PC12800 D3SH12082XL12AA DDR3L
DDR3 SO-DIMM 8GB Kingston KVR1333D3S9/8G
DDR3 SO-DIMM 8GB Kingston PC12800 KVR16LS11/8 9905428-087
DDR3 SO-DIMM 8GB Kingston PC12800 KVR16S11/8
DDR3 SO-DIMM 8GB Transcend JM1600KSH-8G
DDR3 SO-DIMM 8GB Transcend PC12800 TS1GSK64W6H
DDR3 SO-DIMM 8GB UMAX RMUMX 8GSOD1333C DDRIII-1333 8GB

MotherBoard's PCB version: FH97V V1.0

great to hear that you're planning on setting up a machine on the XH97V barebone as well. Good choice! I finished assembling yesterday and installed OpenELEC 5.0 on it. It runs perfect so far and I will create a separate thread in the showcase section so you can see how I set up my HTPC in detail.

Re: RAM
You are right - Shuttle does give recommendation on specific ram modules which have apparently been tested to work with the built-in mainboard. I didn't see this in the first place after I asked in this thread and I planned on buying a Corsair RAM kit (DDR3 1600MHz). I went then through the list of ram modules you posted from the Shuttle website, compared some reviews on the web and in the end, I went with two 4GB sticks (=8GB) of DDR3 Transcend JM1333KSN-4G DDRIII-1333 SO-DIMM.

Image

This ram had some good reviews and I rather wanted ram which was tested by the manufacturer of the mainboard (although, a bit "slower") than something which was not tested. Frankly, there are also some manufacturers in that list I never heard of. What I can tell you already is, that 4GB would have been probably enough - at least for OpenELEC and if you don't plan on doing anything else with the machine. I have like 3% or so ram consumption as OE is super low on your systems resources. But oh well ... rather more than less, I guess.

The XH97V picked up the ram without any flaws and there are no special settings whatsoever necessary in the BIOS. So my recommendation would be: go with a module from the list instead of any "experiments". You will most probably not see any performance increase by picking "faster" ram (e.g. 1600MHz instead of 1333MHz).

(2015-01-01, 12:00)uNiversal Wrote: If anything I would use only one stick of ram instead of two (single sided even better). Not only will it use less power but performance wise its nearly impossible to tell difference.

Yes, true. I went with two sticks for dual-channel support and a bit of extra performance compared to a single stick. But as you pointed out, it's probably unrealistic to tell the difference except for benchmarks. However: the power consumption of ram sticks is generally pretty low, so I don't think that makes a huge difference either. Wink
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