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
OCZ PC4000 1024MB EB Platinum Edition
OCZ is a well-known brand of enthusiast products - memory, power supplies, flash memory and more. In the past two years, OCZ was normally at or near the top of roundups and reviews of high-performance memory. After struggling several years ago, OCZ fought back and, today, is regarded as top-quality memory with some of the best Customer Service in the business.
Specifications
OCZ rates their 2GB high-speed kit at DDR500, in-between the spec for Corsair 433 and Gigaram 533.
We also see a low voltage requirement with the OCZ 2 GB kit - very similar to the voltage specified by Corsair for their 2GB kit.
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.
OCZ did not reveal to us the manufacturer of the memory chips used in their 500EB 1GB DIMMs. There was also nothing on the DIMMs to help us in identifying the memory manufacturer. However, after running our full benchmarks on the OCZ PC4000 EB Platinum, we would be very surprised if the memory is other than Infineon. Performance from DDR400 to DDR480 is virtually identical to Corsair even down to the low voltage requirement, but performance continues on to DDR550 while still only needing the same very low 2.7V memory voltage.
Like the Corsair, this is a memory that does not need a special board with super high voltages to get the best from the memory. You can get the best from these 1GB with almost any decent motherboard, since we never needed more than 2.7V for stable performance at any speed.
We would really be interested in exactly which Infineon chips are used in this OCZ memory. It is either a slightly different chip than the Corsair, since it goes much higher in overclocking, or OCZ is doing some interesting binning of Infineon chips - something that would also not surprise us.
OCZ is a well-known brand of enthusiast products - memory, power supplies, flash memory and more. In the past two years, OCZ was normally at or near the top of roundups and reviews of high-performance memory. After struggling several years ago, OCZ fought back and, today, is regarded as top-quality memory with some of the best Customer Service in the business.
Specifications
OCZ rates their 2GB high-speed kit at DDR500, in-between the spec for Corsair 433 and Gigaram 533.
| OCZ PC4000 1024MB EB Platinum Memory Specifications | |
| Number of DIMMs & Banks | 2 DS |
| DIMM Size Total Memory |
1GB 2GB |
| Rated Timings | 3-3-2-8 at DDR500 |
| Rated Voltage | 2.6V |
We also see a low voltage requirement with the OCZ 2 GB kit - very similar to the voltage specified by Corsair for their 2GB kit.
Test Results
| OCZ PC4000 1024MB EB Platinum (DDR500) - 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 |
545.1 | INT 2657 FLT 2715 |
INT 5970 FLT 5902 |
80 | 120.4 |
| 11x218 | 436DDR | 2-3-2-7 2.7V 1T |
552.4 | INT 2831 FLT 2974 |
INT 6222 FLT 6203 |
80 | 121.5 |
| 10x240 | 480DDR | 2.5-3-2-7 2.6V 1T |
560.5 | INT 2976 FLT 3100 |
INT 6447 FLT 6376 |
79 | 123.1 |
| 9x267 | 533DDR | 2.5-3-2-7 2.7V 1T |
564.7 | INT 3213 FLT 3292 |
INT 6684 FLT 6603 |
78 | 124.0 |
| 9x275 (2.48GHz) |
Highest MEM Speed 550 DDR |
3-3-2-7 2.7V 1T |
581.2 | INT 3351 FLT 3514 |
INT 6869 FLT 6774 |
76 | 127.6 |
OCZ did not reveal to us the manufacturer of the memory chips used in their 500EB 1GB DIMMs. There was also nothing on the DIMMs to help us in identifying the memory manufacturer. However, after running our full benchmarks on the OCZ PC4000 EB Platinum, we would be very surprised if the memory is other than Infineon. Performance from DDR400 to DDR480 is virtually identical to Corsair even down to the low voltage requirement, but performance continues on to DDR550 while still only needing the same very low 2.7V memory voltage.
Like the Corsair, this is a memory that does not need a special board with super high voltages to get the best from the memory. You can get the best from these 1GB with almost any decent motherboard, since we never needed more than 2.7V for stable performance at any speed.
We would really be interested in exactly which Infineon chips are used in this OCZ memory. It is either a slightly different chip than the Corsair, since it goes much higher in overclocking, or OCZ is doing some interesting binning of Infineon chips - something that would also not surprise us.
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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