OCZ Flex XLC: PC2-9200 Pushes the Envelope
by Wesley Fink on December 8, 2006 8:00 PM EST- Posted in
- Memory
Game Performance Comparison
Real-world benchmarks - specifically gaming benchmarks - provide the most useful measure of memory performance if you keep in mind what they represent. Memory is just one small part of overall gaming performance, and the AnandTech benchmarks keep everything the same except memory speed. Even the CPU speed is kept constant (except for the overclocking test). As a result performance improvements in FPS are very small because the only factor influencing the test results is memory speed. Many factors affect system performance, and memory speed is just one of those factors.
Results for high-end memory are very close at tested speeds. Therefore, the scale range was reduced to better show the small differences in these memory benchmark results at each speed. Please keep this in mind when viewing the charts. A normal zero scale would make performance differences appear much smaller than these expanded scale charts. Values for all tested memories at each speed are included below each chart for reference.
The AT memory test suite uses Far Cry, Half Life 2 and Quake 4 for memory testing because they are sensitive to memory performance.
Despite the fact that memory is varying from 3-2-2-5 timings at DDR2-400 all the way to 5-5-5-18 timings at DDR2-1172 all three games continue to show improvement in frame rates as memory speed increases. Put another way, performance continues to improve as memory speed increases. This is the best evidence you will find to prove that increasing memory speed does increase performance - even to DDR2-1067 and beyond. The OCZ Flex XLC again mirrored performance of the other Micron-based memory until we reached the top speed. There it broke away from the pack, producing the highest game test results we have seen so far at the overclocked speeds. OCZ Flex XLC is a great performing memory. Even Air-Cooled the Flex XLC set new performance records in every test category, and there is still the promise of even better performance with water cooling.
Real-world benchmarks - specifically gaming benchmarks - provide the most useful measure of memory performance if you keep in mind what they represent. Memory is just one small part of overall gaming performance, and the AnandTech benchmarks keep everything the same except memory speed. Even the CPU speed is kept constant (except for the overclocking test). As a result performance improvements in FPS are very small because the only factor influencing the test results is memory speed. Many factors affect system performance, and memory speed is just one of those factors.
Results for high-end memory are very close at tested speeds. Therefore, the scale range was reduced to better show the small differences in these memory benchmark results at each speed. Please keep this in mind when viewing the charts. A normal zero scale would make performance differences appear much smaller than these expanded scale charts. Values for all tested memories at each speed are included below each chart for reference.
The AT memory test suite uses Far Cry, Half Life 2 and Quake 4 for memory testing because they are sensitive to memory performance.
Despite the fact that memory is varying from 3-2-2-5 timings at DDR2-400 all the way to 5-5-5-18 timings at DDR2-1172 all three games continue to show improvement in frame rates as memory speed increases. Put another way, performance continues to improve as memory speed increases. This is the best evidence you will find to prove that increasing memory speed does increase performance - even to DDR2-1067 and beyond. The OCZ Flex XLC again mirrored performance of the other Micron-based memory until we reached the top speed. There it broke away from the pack, producing the highest game test results we have seen so far at the overclocked speeds. OCZ Flex XLC is a great performing memory. Even Air-Cooled the Flex XLC set new performance records in every test category, and there is still the promise of even better performance with water cooling.
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photoguy99 - Saturday, December 9, 2006 - link
Thanks for your help Wesley, it's just takes a little time for me to get my head around this stuff.Just to clarify, I think I see the answer two #2:
If you have an unlocked CPU, the only benefit to this memory is a 5-8% performance increase.
In this case I don't think it matters if you are an extreme overclocker - extreme as you wanna be - this is the only benefit you can ever get with this RAM with an unlocked CPU, no matter what you do.
If you have the cash, nothing wrong with a small performance bump for $300 extra - I am not judging anyone who buys this, just trying to clarify.
regards,
pg
photoguy99 - Saturday, December 9, 2006 - link
apologize for double post, accident...photoguy99 - Saturday, December 9, 2006 - link
Sorry for being ignorant here, but can someone help break this down:1) What % faster is FlexXLC-1150 on real life benchmarks (on average), compared to value DDR2-800, at the same CPU speed?
2) Do I understand correctly that if you have an unlocked CPU multiplier, then the only benefit to this memory ever is the % improvement from question 1?
Wesley Fink - Saturday, December 9, 2006 - link
The tables on page 4 show performance at the same 2.93GHz from DDR2-400 to DDR2-1172. There are also results on the last line for the top speed on the 975X at stock 11X multiplier - so results can be compared to previous test results. You can see the performance differences in each benchmark in those tables. Performance increases are there as speed increases, but they are extremely small. We also commented several times in the review that those shopping for value per dollar should buy a good value to mid DDR2 memory rated at least DDR2-800.Flex XLC is for extreme overclockers who want as few limits as possible on their overclcoking. With the ability to run to DDR2-1300 it allows great flexibility in OC settings.
photoguy99 - Saturday, December 9, 2006 - link
Thanks for your help Wesley, it's just takes a little time for me to get my head around this stuff.Just to clarify, I think I see the answer two #2:
If you have an unlocked CPU, the only benefit to this memory is a 5-8% performance increase.
In this case I don't think it matters if you are an extreme overclocker - extreme as you wanna be - this is the only benefit you can ever get with this RAM with an unlocked CPU, no matter what you do.
If you have the cash, nothing wrong with a small performance bump for $300 extra - I am not judging anyone who buys this, just trying to clarify.
regards,
pg
cmdrdredd - Friday, December 8, 2006 - link
Why is there no 1T memory results testing? The bandwidth scores from this memory even at DDR2-1300 are pathetic to say the least. My Current system with 2Gb crucial DDR2-667 10th anniversary running DDR2-1000 at 5-4-4-8 gets 7607 Int/7631 Float buffered scores with Sandra. This is on a P5B Deluxe with E6400 running 3.2Ghz (400x8)Wesley Fink - Saturday, December 9, 2006 - link
We try to get memory as close to stock speed and multipliers as possible in our testing, which yields comparable data but not the higher bandwidths you are seeing at extremely high bus speed overclocks. End users can get high numbers with overclocking, which are great for ego comments, but that tell us very little about comparative performance. Run your memory at the same settings and compare bandwidth. Those are numbers that relate to memory comparisons. This memory will run at 8x400 just like you are using and bandwidth will be similar to what you are seeing.The standard bandwidth scores at DDR2-1300 are pretty much in line with expectations, but the unbuffered scores are extremely low. We don't yet have an answer for why that is the case on the 680i but we are trying to find answers. The 680i runs a 2:3 ratio at that speed, where the 975X is running 1:2 at its highest speed. The underlying "strap" can make a huge difference in apparent memory performance and it is usually programmed by the board maker, and not always visible or adjustable to the end user.
1T is useful for a very small performance increase on some boards, generally below DDR2-800. However, that option is not available on all boards and it really makes a small differenc on current DDR2 platforms. The differences you are seeing in bandwidth are the result of high FSB overclocks and not 1T.
Hulk - Friday, December 8, 2006 - link
I for one feel the most important part of a memory review is what timings will it run at each frequency and at what voltage?I realize that info is in the memory reviews but always in a little table that you must click to enlarge.
Please put the timings/speed/voltage in a bar graph as well. Speed on the x-axis. Timings and voltage in the horizontal bar for each speed tested. We know that if the memory works at a certain frequency/latency/voltage the performance will be the same for any stick at those conditions.
Better yet, tell me how fast it will run 4-4-4-12 and 5-5-5-18, as well as a few other timings.
But as always the reviews are great. Thanks for your hard word.
yyrkoon - Friday, December 8, 2006 - link
I'm curious, if the savvy enthusiast used chilled air in place of water, what the end results would be. I don't think it would be hard to built something that forced cool air through these memory sticks instead of water. i.e. Chilled air in, and hot air vented out.End result should be a cooler safer system overall.
Griswold - Saturday, December 9, 2006 - link
Other than "for shits and giggles" I see no point in doing that. Water will do a better job. Remember, air is such a bad heat conductor, compared to water.A properly installed watercooling system is also very safe.