New Memory Highs: Corsair and OCZ Introduce DDR550

Final Words

Corsair XMS4400 and OCZ PC4400 both perform as specified at their rated speed of DDR550. This makes these the highest rated memory that we have tested at AnandTech. Both also equal old records or reach new highs in memory speed at DDR560 to DDR571. While the OCZ reaches further than Corsair's DDR550, performance across the curve is very similar and the memory performance is, in most cases, so close that it is hard to choose one over the other. In Quake 3, though, OCZ PC4400 managed to set a new performance record.

It should also be mentioned that both memories were exceptionally stable to about DDR533-540, but neither were particularly outstanding in stability at the highest speeds. It was also interesting that the gains above DDR533 were pretty small. This could have been the fault of other system components, but since all testing was done on the recommended Asus P4C800-E, there is no place left to go. We do believe that the 10,000 RPM SATA RAID may be compromising stability at some of the highest memory speeds despite the PCI/AGP lock on Intel's current chipsets.

While it's true that these two DDR550 memories reach new high speeds in our performance tests, it is not to say that they are the fastest memory we have tested. Performance is much more than a speed setting and the lower timings required to reach these higher speeds took their toll on performance. Compared to OCZ 4200EL and Corsair XMS4000 PRO, the performance at the same speed was slower with the timings required for DDR550. At the other end of the scale, we also saw slower DDR423 with 2-2-2-6 timings meet or best DDR533 performance with the slower timings required for DDR550.

The fastest memory that we have tested thus far is the truly excellent OCZ 4200EL. It remains #1 in most of our benchmarks, and it is still the best high-speed memory that we have tested. Corsair XMS4000 PRO and Mushkin 4000 High Performance perform just as well as OCZ 4200EL, but their range is not quite as wide as the incredible DDR400 to DDR560 that we found with OCZ4200EL. If we were in the market for high-speed memory, we would choose one of these 3 memories over either Corsair XMS4400 or OCZ PC4400.

In the end, Corsair XMS4400 exceeded its specifications and performs very well at DDR550, which is an incredible bus speed of 1100MHz or 1.1GHz. OCZ PC4400 performed about the same throughout the range, but reached an even higher maximum overclock. Both of these DDR550 memories perform as promised. However, the fastest high-speed memory overall is still OCZ 4200EL, with Corsair XMS4200 PRO and Mushkin 4000 High Performance very close in performance.

We all want DDR500 that can run at 2-2-2-6 timings, but until that becomes a reality, memory like OCZ 4200EL, Corsair XMS4000 PRO, and Mushkin 4000 High Performance provide excellent speed and decent timings. If top-speed at any cost is your goal, then XMS4400 or OCS PC4400 will let you reach new highs in memory speed at voltages that won't fry your board.

After the reach to new highs, it seems all the companies that specialize in memory for the Computer Enthusiast have recently announced faster DDR400 memory. Considering how well very fast DDR400-433 performs compared to high-speed memory at slower timings, we understand why this is a hot topic again. Our next look at memory will examine performance of some of the latest, faster DDR400.