OCZ Flex XLC: PC2-9200 Pushes the Envelope
by Wesley Fink on December 8, 2006 8:00 PM EST- Posted in
- Memory
Final Words
In a recent memory review we commented that the best DDR2 memory in the market is able to run at DDR2-800 3-3-3 timings and DDR2-1066 at 4-3-4. OCZ PC2-9200 Flex XLC has not changed the performance dynamics at those speeds. It is still based on Micron D9 memory chips, and in fact it requires 4-4-4 timings at DDR2-1067 due to the aggressive binning for the top speed. OCZ Flex XLC is not a new record setter at the useful speeds of DDR2-800 and DDR2-1066 - or the speeds of 400, 533 or 667.
OCZ Flex XLC does break new ground, however, at the top. Flex XLC demolishes our old overclock record of 1116 on the ASUS P5W-DH by almost 5% - reaching a stable memory speed of DDR2-1172. Performance is even more compelling on the NVIDIA nForce 680i, where Flex XLC reaches DDR2-1300!
These new performance records were set on air cooling, so there is still more headroom left with XLC. It comes equipped with a copper/aluminum water block heatsink, which is ready to be connected to a water cooling system with the integrated 3/8" nipples. Since we have not really covered water-cooling in the past we decided it was best not to report water-cooling results here in the AT review. However, there is a bit more headroom with water, and those using water cooling can expect even better results.
We were really skeptical when OCZ told us this was a "flexible" memory - a record-setter on either air or water cooling. Now that we have run OCZ PC2-9200 Flex XLC through our test suite we definitely agree. Flex XLC will perform very well in your system even if water never comes near it; if you use water cooling you may get even more. On air only, Flex XLC has set new overclocking records.
As with most other components, the best does not come cheap. A 2 GB kit of OCZ Flex XLC will set you back about $490 with the introductory rebate. This is more than twice what value DDR2 will cost you, but the price is definitely in the ballpark with other top DDR2 memory. We have said in recent reviews that Core 2 Duo and AM2 are not particularly bandwidth sensitive. As a result we have recommended that value shoppers go for value and midrange DDR2 parts and put the savings in a video card or CPU upgrade. If you look strictly at performance gains with Flex XLC it will be hard to justify the price on performance increases alone.
However, looking at just performance numbers misses the point with OCZ Flex XLC. A board like the NVIDIA 680i has options to go to overclocks we never thought would be possible on the Core 2 Duo. A memory like OCZ Flex XLC allows you to go further in overclocking, with fewer restrictions, than any other memory we have tested so far at AnandTech. If you are a dedicated overclocker OCZ Flex XLC is a must-have product. If you want the best memory performance possible in your system the Flex XLC is the best. However, if you prefer to measure every component by a "bang-for-the-buck" formula then pass on Flex XLC, buy a value or mid DDR2-800 rated at least DDR2-800 and put the savings in a video card or CPU upgrade.
It is good to see some real innovation the DDR2 memory market, and OCZ should be congratulated for shaking things up with a water-cooling ready retail product. It was also smart of OCZ to ensure that the product would blow away even those users who use regular air cooling. Corsair has also recently introduced a couple of really innovative DDR2 memory products that we will be looking at in our next DDR2 review. It will be interesting to see if OCZ stands alone or whether the day of aggressively binned and record-setting DDR2 products is just dawning.
Mad overclockers will love OCZ PC2-9200 Flex XLC. Water-cooling enthusiasts will add Flex XLC to their wish list. Performance fans will want the flexibility of a top DDR2-1300 memory speed. However, those shopping for value per dollar memory are shopping in the wrong category.
In a recent memory review we commented that the best DDR2 memory in the market is able to run at DDR2-800 3-3-3 timings and DDR2-1066 at 4-3-4. OCZ PC2-9200 Flex XLC has not changed the performance dynamics at those speeds. It is still based on Micron D9 memory chips, and in fact it requires 4-4-4 timings at DDR2-1067 due to the aggressive binning for the top speed. OCZ Flex XLC is not a new record setter at the useful speeds of DDR2-800 and DDR2-1066 - or the speeds of 400, 533 or 667.
OCZ Flex XLC does break new ground, however, at the top. Flex XLC demolishes our old overclock record of 1116 on the ASUS P5W-DH by almost 5% - reaching a stable memory speed of DDR2-1172. Performance is even more compelling on the NVIDIA nForce 680i, where Flex XLC reaches DDR2-1300!
These new performance records were set on air cooling, so there is still more headroom left with XLC. It comes equipped with a copper/aluminum water block heatsink, which is ready to be connected to a water cooling system with the integrated 3/8" nipples. Since we have not really covered water-cooling in the past we decided it was best not to report water-cooling results here in the AT review. However, there is a bit more headroom with water, and those using water cooling can expect even better results.
We were really skeptical when OCZ told us this was a "flexible" memory - a record-setter on either air or water cooling. Now that we have run OCZ PC2-9200 Flex XLC through our test suite we definitely agree. Flex XLC will perform very well in your system even if water never comes near it; if you use water cooling you may get even more. On air only, Flex XLC has set new overclocking records.
As with most other components, the best does not come cheap. A 2 GB kit of OCZ Flex XLC will set you back about $490 with the introductory rebate. This is more than twice what value DDR2 will cost you, but the price is definitely in the ballpark with other top DDR2 memory. We have said in recent reviews that Core 2 Duo and AM2 are not particularly bandwidth sensitive. As a result we have recommended that value shoppers go for value and midrange DDR2 parts and put the savings in a video card or CPU upgrade. If you look strictly at performance gains with Flex XLC it will be hard to justify the price on performance increases alone.
However, looking at just performance numbers misses the point with OCZ Flex XLC. A board like the NVIDIA 680i has options to go to overclocks we never thought would be possible on the Core 2 Duo. A memory like OCZ Flex XLC allows you to go further in overclocking, with fewer restrictions, than any other memory we have tested so far at AnandTech. If you are a dedicated overclocker OCZ Flex XLC is a must-have product. If you want the best memory performance possible in your system the Flex XLC is the best. However, if you prefer to measure every component by a "bang-for-the-buck" formula then pass on Flex XLC, buy a value or mid DDR2-800 rated at least DDR2-800 and put the savings in a video card or CPU upgrade.
It is good to see some real innovation the DDR2 memory market, and OCZ should be congratulated for shaking things up with a water-cooling ready retail product. It was also smart of OCZ to ensure that the product would blow away even those users who use regular air cooling. Corsair has also recently introduced a couple of really innovative DDR2 memory products that we will be looking at in our next DDR2 review. It will be interesting to see if OCZ stands alone or whether the day of aggressively binned and record-setting DDR2 products is just dawning.
Mad overclockers will love OCZ PC2-9200 Flex XLC. Water-cooling enthusiasts will add Flex XLC to their wish list. Performance fans will want the flexibility of a top DDR2-1300 memory speed. However, those shopping for value per dollar memory are shopping in the wrong category.
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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.