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
Corsair CMX1024-3500LL PRO
Corsair is the most widely recognized brand of enthusiast or high-performance memory in the world. Corsair also maintains very visible support in the form of RamGuy, who provides support for Corsair products at www.asktheramguy.com and as a participant in many Forums.
Specifications
The CMX1024-3500LL PRO is rated at CAS 2, an extremely fast rating for a 1GB DIMM.
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.
Several things stand out in the performance of this Corsair. We were able to maintain 2-3-2 timings all the way to DDR456. These excellent timings are very close to the best 2-2-2 that we currently see with 512MB DIMMs. The memory was able to accomplish this at very low voltage 2.6 to 2.7 volts. In fact, the Infineon chips that Corsair uses rarely need or like higher voltage. Increasing voltage beyond 2.7V did not allow us to go any higher in overclocking, nor did more relaxed timings allow us to push higher. The limit is DDR492 - very close to DDR500.
Corsair appears to have binned these Infineon chips for fastest performance in the most used DDR400 to DDR480 range. In that range, these 1GB DIMMs perform very competitively with the best 512MB DIMMs.
Corsair is the most widely recognized brand of enthusiast or high-performance memory in the world. Corsair also maintains very visible support in the form of RamGuy, who provides support for Corsair products at www.asktheramguy.com and as a participant in many Forums.
Specifications
The CMX1024-3500LL PRO is rated at CAS 2, an extremely fast rating for a 1GB DIMM.
| Corsair CMX1024-3500LLPRO Memory Specifications | |
| Number of DIMMs & Banks | 2 DS |
| DIMM Size Total Memory |
1GB 2GB |
| Rated Timings | 2-3-2-8 at DDR433 |
| Rated Voltage | Standard (2.6V) Voltage |
Test Results
| Corsair CMX1024-3500LLPRO (DDR433) - 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 |
547.4 | INT 2654 FLT 2808 |
INT 5984 FLT 5918 |
80 | 120.8 |
| 11x218 | 436DDR | 2-3-2-7 2.6V 1T |
551.7 | INT 2825 FLT 2990 |
INT 6246 FLT 6178 |
80 | 121.5 |
| 10x240 | 480DDR | 2.5-3-2-7 2.7V 1T |
558.4 | INT 2991 FLT 3142 |
INT 6441 FLT 6360 |
79 | 122.5 |
| 10x246 (2.46GHz) |
Highest MEM Speed 492 DDR |
2.5-3-2-7 2.7V 1T |
570.6 | INT 3060 FLT 3250 |
INT 6570 FLT 6507 |
78 | 125.7 |
Several things stand out in the performance of this Corsair. We were able to maintain 2-3-2 timings all the way to DDR456. These excellent timings are very close to the best 2-2-2 that we currently see with 512MB DIMMs. The memory was able to accomplish this at very low voltage 2.6 to 2.7 volts. In fact, the Infineon chips that Corsair uses rarely need or like higher voltage. Increasing voltage beyond 2.7V did not allow us to go any higher in overclocking, nor did more relaxed timings allow us to push higher. The limit is DDR492 - very close to DDR500.
Corsair appears to have binned these Infineon chips for fastest performance in the most used DDR400 to DDR480 range. In that range, these 1GB DIMMs perform very competitively with the best 512MB DIMMs.
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Wesley Fink - Tuesday, October 11, 2005 - link
The published "ram guy" link is the one printed on the Corsair retail package. We also tried the link and it connects to the Corsair Help Forums.If you have another link please list it in the Comments.
Madellga - Tuesday, October 11, 2005 - link
I am using this OCZ kit (EL, not the one in the review) since August on a San Diego / DFI combo. It goes to 230@2.5-3-2 with 2.7V and 1T.I tried also 4 sticks (a friend bought it also) and we made to 220@2.5-3-2 with 2.7V and 2T.
I didn't try above 230, as the OCZ Guy pointed the 230 to be the limit. I am using 180/200 or 166/200 to overclock the San Diego, leaving the memory between 220-230.
It is rock solid, it can Prime all night without mistakes.
I prefer to have more memory even if a bit slower - it is much worse to have Windows writting to the swap file.
ElFenix - Tuesday, October 11, 2005 - link
just to see how much the difference is when going from 1 gig to 2 gigsWesley Fink - Tuesday, October 11, 2005 - link
We tested many applications with 1GB vs. 2GB of ram. BF2 greatly benefited, but nothing else we've tested so far really improved much with 2GB. That will likely change with the release of newer, more demanding apps and games that take advantage of the new dual-core processors.One High-Performance memory company told us that after they saw what 2GB did for BF2 they ran 1 vs 2 on every game they could get their hands on. The goal was to publish benchmarks to show the advantage of buyers using 2GB instead of 1GB - and sell more memory. They privately told us they also found no real performance improvement in anything other than BF2.
We do expect 2GB/4GB will make a difference in multithreaded and true 64-bit apps in the future. Of course multi-tasking also normally benefits from more memory.
Johnmcl7 - Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - link
The only other game I've seen people recommending 2GB for is the FEAR demo but of course it's not final yet.Good read though, I thought the discussion on the A64 and the various ram issues was particiularly useful.
John
Margalus - Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - link
2Gb make a good difference in WoW also.Vesperan - Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - link
Wesley,the memory combinations on the 'Why 1GB Dimms?' page could be shown as a 2x2 matrix (with 2/4 dimms on one axis and 1T/2T on other). Performance at each combination could be shown - except of course for 4 dimms at 1T. Currently the article contrasts the 2 dimms and 1T combination with 4 dimms and 2T, could it be possible for you to add 2 dimms at 2T?
I would just like see the effect of 1T to 2T, or 2 dimms to 4 dimms ceterus paribus - that is, all else being equal. While I dont think the missing combination (2 dimms at 2T) will undermine your arguments made, I would like to see how it fits into the overall picture.
Phantronius - Tuesday, October 11, 2005 - link
I did, BF2 runs so much better as a resultPhantronius - Tuesday, October 11, 2005 - link
1st!!! Honestly, since i've given up overclocking, I threw in 2 1gig Platnium Corsair XMS modules in my new Athlon 64 setup and it works fine and stable, couldn't give a shit if my "timings" are as *looot* as they could be.DigitalFreak - Tuesday, October 11, 2005 - link
Well good for you