1GB DIMMs: FAST 2GB DDR Kits from Corsair, Gigaram, and OCZ
by Wesley Fink on October 11, 2005 2:55 PM EST- Posted in
- Memory
Gigaram 2GB Dual Channel PC-4200
Several weeks ago, we were contacted by a memory company called Gigaram to ask if we would be interested in reviewing their new 1GB modules. Since we were planning a review of the Corsair and OCZ 1GB DIMMs, it seemed a good fit to include Gigaram.
Who is Gigaram? Gigaram is a California based memory module manufacturer established in 1996. Founders were a team of engineers with over 12 years experience in the memory industry. Based on the current product offerings, which include a number of memory products targeted at the enthusiast, Gigaram is keenly interested in the Enthusiast and Gamer market.
If you would like to know more about them, you can start at their website, www.gigaram.com. Perhaps an even better indication that Gigaram is a serious player is that you can find their memory products for sale at New Egg, which is the largest E-tailer on the web.
Specifications
While also based on Infineon chips like the Corsair, Gigaram is rated at the much slower 3-4-3-8 timings, but at the much higher speed of DDR533. This is a higher rated speed than what we could reach with the Corsair memory, so either Gigaram is using different Infineon chips or the binning setup is quite different.
Voltage is rated at 2.9V-3.0V - again, a much higher voltage rating than what we found with Infineon chips on the Corsair memory.
Test Results
To be considered stable for test purposes, Quake3 benchmark, UT2003 Demo, Super PI, Aquamark 3, and Comanche 4 had to complete without incident. Any of these, and in particular Super PI, will crash a less-than stable memory configuration.
The performance of the Gigaram 1GB modules was significantly better than what we expected from the published specifications. In every case, it met at least the memory timings of the much faster rated Corsair memory. Considering both are built with Infineon memory chips, this is not really a surprise.
However, the voltage that can be handled by the Gigaram 1GB memory is much higher than the Corsair DIMMs, and the Gigaram handles the higher voltages by providing better performance. That is not really a compliment, since the Corsair goes to about the same places everywhere (but the top) on the much lower 2.7V.
Since the voltage requirements and performance are quite different, we suspect that the Corsair and Gigaram use slightly different Infineon memory chips in their design. We have heard that manufacturers are using both C-5 and C-6 chips in their high-speed 1GB DIMMs, and we know Gigaram uses CE-6.
Considering that this is the first time that we have ever tested a Gigaram memory, we have to say that we are impressed. This memory clearly belongs in the same league with Corsair and OCZ, which is no small feat for a new memory company pushing into the High-Performance memory market. Time will tell if Gigaram delivers the same level of performance throughout their retail deliveries, but we certainly like what we tested.
Several weeks ago, we were contacted by a memory company called Gigaram to ask if we would be interested in reviewing their new 1GB modules. Since we were planning a review of the Corsair and OCZ 1GB DIMMs, it seemed a good fit to include Gigaram.
Who is Gigaram? Gigaram is a California based memory module manufacturer established in 1996. Founders were a team of engineers with over 12 years experience in the memory industry. Based on the current product offerings, which include a number of memory products targeted at the enthusiast, Gigaram is keenly interested in the Enthusiast and Gamer market.
If you would like to know more about them, you can start at their website, www.gigaram.com. Perhaps an even better indication that Gigaram is a serious player is that you can find their memory products for sale at New Egg, which is the largest E-tailer on the web.
Specifications
While also based on Infineon chips like the Corsair, Gigaram is rated at the much slower 3-4-3-8 timings, but at the much higher speed of DDR533. This is a higher rated speed than what we could reach with the Corsair memory, so either Gigaram is using different Infineon chips or the binning setup is quite different.
| Gigaram 2GB Dual Channel PC-4200 Memory Specifications | |
| Number of DIMMs & Banks | 2 DS |
| DIMM Size Total Memory |
1GB 2GB |
| Rated Timings | 3-4-3-8 at DDR533 at 2.9-3.0V |
| Rated Voltage | 2.9-3.0V |
Voltage is rated at 2.9V-3.0V - again, a much higher voltage rating than what we found with Infineon chips on the Corsair memory.
Test Results
| Gigaram 2GB Dual Channel PC-4200 (DDR533) - 2x1GB Double-Bank | |||||||
| CPU Ratio at 2.4GHz | Memory Speed |
Memory Timings & Voltage |
Quake3 fps |
Sandra UNBuffered | Sandra Standard Buffered |
Super PI 2M places (time in sec) |
Wolfenstein - Radar - Enemy Territory fps |
| 12x200 | 400DDR | 2-3-2-7 2.5V 1T |
544.4 | INT 2650 FLT 2808 |
INT 5953 FLT 5910 |
80 | 120.3 |
| 11x218 | 436DDR | 2-3-2-7 2.7V 1T |
550.9 | INT 2806 FLT 2949 |
INT 6237 FLT 6177 |
80 | 121.4 |
| 10x240 | 480DDR | 2.5-3-2-7 2.8V 1T |
557.4 | INT 2992 FLT 3025 |
INT 6445 FLT 6373 |
79 | 122.8 |
| 9x267 | 533DDR | 3-3-3-7 2.9VV 1T |
561.0 | INT 3147 FLT 3383 |
INT 6665 FLT 6593 |
78 | 123.5 |
| 9x278 (2.45GHz) |
Highest MEM Speed 556 DDR |
3-4-3-7 3.0V 1T |
569.1 | INT 3296 FLT 3496 |
INT 6905 FLT 6855 |
76 | 124.9 |
The performance of the Gigaram 1GB modules was significantly better than what we expected from the published specifications. In every case, it met at least the memory timings of the much faster rated Corsair memory. Considering both are built with Infineon memory chips, this is not really a surprise.
However, the voltage that can be handled by the Gigaram 1GB memory is much higher than the Corsair DIMMs, and the Gigaram handles the higher voltages by providing better performance. That is not really a compliment, since the Corsair goes to about the same places everywhere (but the top) on the much lower 2.7V.
Since the voltage requirements and performance are quite different, we suspect that the Corsair and Gigaram use slightly different Infineon memory chips in their design. We have heard that manufacturers are using both C-5 and C-6 chips in their high-speed 1GB DIMMs, and we know Gigaram uses CE-6.
Considering that this is the first time that we have ever tested a Gigaram memory, we have to say that we are impressed. This memory clearly belongs in the same league with Corsair and OCZ, which is no small feat for a new memory company pushing into the High-Performance memory market. Time will tell if Gigaram delivers the same level of performance throughout their retail deliveries, but we certainly like what we tested.
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woodspire - Thursday, June 29, 2006 - link
What happen if instead of using 4x 512 memory you use 2 x 512 and 2 x 1024. Same speed (PC-3200), same timing, and even same brand.Still acheving dual channel ?
qquizz - Saturday, December 10, 2005 - link
Sounds great and all but a query at Pricewatch brought up a blank.Where can you buy the OCZ PC4000 EB Platinum Edition
Hurricanesan - Friday, November 11, 2005 - link
I'm looking for 2Gb memories for my new computer.I had an hard time choosing between the Corsair 3500LLPro and the OCZ 1024MB EB Platinum.
This morning, I've noticed this test. Since the OCZ was able to go up to 500Mhz and I plan using an A8N32-SLI, the choice looked easy.
But a friend of mine pointed out an old story in which OCZ was giving very good sample to the press and lesser products in the shops. I've looked about that story and now it seems to me that OCZ is really unstable in its production and not very clean ... or used to be.
I would really not like to buy those memories and find that they can't stand their specification.
Since right now it seems that both the Corsair and the OCZ are not available in stores less that 2 hours plane from me, I have a week to make up my mind.
If anyone can help me balance one way or the other, please post.
KriegsMaschine - Tuesday, November 29, 2005 - link
OCZ is the best brand I'd say. I currently have Corsair Twinx C2Pro "2x512 ddr400 Cas 2.5" and it's good... but WAY TOO expensive for it's quality. You pay too much for the brand like you would by getting a cloth from a designer. OCZ have the best performance while having reasonable prices and quality stuff for Value, Mainstream and High-End. Their tech support is very good too, as all their products. My next PSU will be OCZ ModStream 450watts.Nice article. I was thinking these days about going from 2x512 to 4x512 with my Athlon64 since it's less expensive than 2x1Gb and generaly have better timing but after reading that 1T Command was impossible with 4 DIMMS... I changed idea!
What would had been nice for the review would had been some more real game benchmarks. I mean not old stuff like Quake 3 because who care to have +20fps when you already got 550! Some newer stuff such as UT2003, FEAR, BF2, FarCry, HL2 would had been a better choice. To me those SuperPi, SandraMark... means almost nothing. All I want when getting such expensive rams is more FPS in games. Comparing 2x1Gb in 1T Command vs 2x1Gb in 2T Command would had been better too because don't you think 2x512Mb vs 2x1Gb is unfair? 0_o
Shimmishim - Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - link
what the heck? no 2x1 crucial ballistix? wow. i have a set that can do 290 mhz 1:1 with 3-3-3-7 timings and only 2.8 volts.leexgx - Saturday, November 5, 2005 - link
do not think it was out then (or it was not sent to anandtech)i just got the Crucial 2GB DDR PC4000 Ballistix from overclockers and its less then £200 for this week only (norm £240) (got the A8N-SLI premium as well)
i good to see that Ballistix stuff can do that
i probley just set me X2 3800+ at 250 so me ram is doing the same (got it at 241 now on the cpu it norm runs at 200 so its an 410mhz oc {4600+ x2})
ricleo2 - Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - link
After some recommendations from the forum here, I just got 2 sticks of GSKILL PC4000 at one gig apiece to replace my OCZ 2 sticks at 512 Megs apiece in my MSI K8N SLI PLATINUM. After comparing benchmarking results, before and after, it was not even close. RMA already approved from NEWEGG.phidjit - Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - link
It's 1024, with 2-3-2-5 timings and runs at DDR433, it seems like it would have been a better comparison to the Corsair "CMX1024-3500LL PRO" (also 1024, DDR443, but 2-3-2-6 timings).Anyone seen benchmarks for the gigaram mach10000?
It looks like it could be a bargin.
phidjit
qquizz - Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - link
These are the type of articles I come to AT to get. Thanks Wes.znir - Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - link
Thanks for the information in the review. however, i think it would be good to see result of 4x512MB high performance sticks like the OCZ PC4000 VX.