What RAM now: either OCZ EL4200, or OCZ PC-4400?

[kgs]

I need to buy a dual channel DDR RAM kit (2x256) to fit this system (notably):
ASUS P4C800-E Deluxe (Done)
P4 2.6C (Done)
Enermax EG465P-VE FC (Done)
Zalman CNPS 7000-Cu (Done)
Swiftech MCX159-P P4 [Northbridge] Chipset Cooler (Soon)

OCZ EL4200 has been out for months and has excellent reviews at anandtech and legitreviews (see OCZ review tab for more reviews). It was the fastest on the planet at max OC (stable at 280/560/1120FSB MHz in most reviews). But it is certified at PC4200 (read 266/533/1066FSB). Because it is enhanced latency, its CAS timings at max OC are 2.5-4-4-7.

The newest OCZ RAM is PC-4400. It is certified at 275/550/1100FSB. That means it is guaranteed to run at that speed, without an overclock. I believe there are few reviews for this new product, but any OCing, that is, above it rated values are only 3/6/12 MHz FSB, above cert, and still less than the EL's POSSIBLE potential. Its SPD (serial presence detect) settings are for 3-4-4-8. I have read it is best to stick with SPD values, but believe that to be true only not OCing to a significant degree, or whatever.

In researching the EL4200 I think I learned that FSB is the holy grail in terms of performance and that the CAS a-b-c-d... values take a back seat to this pursuit. But I may be wrong/mistaken/misinformed. I am certainly not knowledgable on the actual science! But this is exactly why I am asking for advice. Does the extra CAS 0.5-0-0-1 of the 2.5-4-4-7 from the possibly @OCd 280 of the EL make an improvement from the certified 3-4-4-8 at cetified 275 of the PC4400?

I assume that since I now know I will have fully adequate quiet cooling of all components and therefore assume that I will be running way up all the time, and will probably not need make further adjustments. For this reason, and because this is my one computer, I do not need the universality property of the EL4200 RAM that not long ago seemed potentially important to my purchase.

I am also not factoring in the potential consequences of OCing, whatever they may be.

The difference between the OCZ EL4200 Dual Channel "|Extreme series|" RAM pair and the OCZ PC-4400 Dual Channel "|Performance series|" RAM pair is:

The OCZ EL4200 Dual Channel "|Extreme series|" RAM pair:
this will/(may) overclock, though not all that much really. It is rated at 266 (PC4200) and will be stable at 280 for many. MY 2.6C is very new (12/16/03). But there is confusion, ESPECIALLY FOR ME, if this is true of all kits produced: that is, since the higher values are dependant on the overclockability of the specific kit, or kit series, can I likely expect to achieve this OC with a product I purchase in the very near future to behave the same way as those reviewed months ago?

OCZ PC-4400 Dual Channel "|Performance series|" RAM pair:
Its certified performance is greater than the certified performance of the EL4200 by 266 to 275 MHz. But it is less than the OverClocked performance of the tested pairs of EL4200 I have read , for sake of argument 280 to 275MHz. BUT, this it will do only at 3-4-4-8. And it will always be at 3-4-4-8. This is the bulk of my question here, I believe: the diff in the CAS numbers.

OVERALL:

Not long ago, when I first read about the EL4200 I was unsure of what I would be able to "overclock" at, and because it was both universal and the fastest RAM available it seemed the logical choice. That is, WHat th ehell is the diff b/t DDR400 and rice pudding?


As offered by a reputable performance pc store the OCZ PC-4400 Dual Channel Performance series RAM pair is now something like $40 (CDN) more expensive than the OCZ EL4200 Dual Channel Extreme series RAM pair is (which is now $20 CDN cheaper than it was before the 4400 came out). Remember that is ~$30 AM, and for the comparison is tangibly less significant than the performance question)

What to do?? What would you do?

Little to this probably, except CAS .5 here, a few MHz there, maybe $46 CDN. But to put it into perspective (my own dumb one) I could probably get the same quantity of RAM for 20% of the this price down the street at Best Buy.
And the 2.8C is already the same price as the 2.6C I just bought.
Just want an informed opinion , taking into account mainly the 2.5-4-4-7 vs 3-4-4-8, and the OCd MHz vs the non OCd MHz, and the money lastly.

From this info I gather this one RAM product vs the other goes from its rated tabing of "|Performance Series|" two steps to that of "|Extreme Series|", for us OverClockers. At least the price is right.

[Apoptosis]

Kingston, Corsair, OCZ.... All make top quality memory that is highly available in the north american market.

I'd look at price points and what you are trying to do. If you are looking for stability Corsair and Kingston are all about stability. If you are going for the highest possible overclock then OCZ should be more your direction.

I just wrote up a review on Kingston's PC-4300 and had pretty good luck with it. Here