OCZ Introduces DDR3-1800

Conclusion

When Kingston introduced the first real low-latency DDR3 we were impressed with the ability of the memory to reach DDR3-1500 at 7-7-7 timings at a reasonable low voltage. Many enthusiasts were also impressed with DDR3-1500 at 7-7-7 timings, as they should have been. However, some held out that it would take DDR3-1600 or DDR3-1666 that could run at 7-7-7 timings to get their attention.

A couple of weeks ago, Super Talent and TEAM introduced new DDR3 memory rated at DDR3-1600. In fact the Super Talent is actually rated at DDR3-1600 at 7-7-7 timings and it runs with complete stability at DDR3-1600 7-6-5 at 1.8V. The new Micron Z9 memory chips made this development possible, and we expected that every enthusiast memory maker would soon have DDR3 kits capable of DDR3-2000 and faster timings.

With the 1600 milestone, and the associated DDR3-2000 that memory could also reach, the reasons for not coveting DDR3 memory instead of DDR2 are officially gone. The fact is, DDR3 is faster than DDR2 today, and you won't have to wait a year to see that. Many manufacturers have announced super fast DDR3 based on these new Z9 Micron chips, and some of the offerings just sweeten the pot further.

OCZ PC3-14400 is such a memory. Rated at a blistering DDR3-1800 this is the fastest production DDR3 you can buy - at least for a few days. We have already heard a DDR3-1866 will be announced shortly. Perhaps more important than the rated speed is the fact the new OCZ memory promises an even more aggressive binning with the 1800 rating at 8-8-8 timings. The OCZ DDR3-1800 in fact handily exceeds it rated specs, reaching DDR3-2040 at the rated timings of 8-8-8 and an astounding DDR3-1900 at 7-7-7- timings at 2.1V. This is all evidence that, as we expected, OCZ managed a bit better binning for these DIMMs.

This OCZ PC3-14400 Platinum also proves that Micron Z9 chips can be very good at mid-range speeds. This is the first DDR3 memory we have tested that is completely stable at 5-5-4 timings at DDR3-1333, an achievement that sounded unlikely in early June when we were happy to be running DDR3-1333 at 9-9-9 timings. All in all the new OCZ DDR3-1800 is a very satisfying product, with a broad range of chart-topping, stable DDR3 performance that will keep any enthusiast happy for a while.

We had a conversation a few days ago with a memory industry Engineer where we were discussing the incredible development of DDR3 memory since it was first introduced just a couple of months ago. He commented that so much progress has been made in such short time that "I wonder what we can do next year for an encore?" We don't have an answer for that question, but we do think there is one majorstumbling block to DDR3 and that is the current astronomical price, a price that is two to three times higher than DDR2.

We understand the high price point for new technology, and that prices will inevitably drop. Indeed, there are only two real vendors for retail DDR3 memory right now: Elpida and Micron. However, several of the heavyweights like Samsung, Qimonda, and possibly Hynix are ready to launch their own DDR3 memory chips. Early word is these new entries will be very competitive with Micron Z9. If that is truly the case Enthusiast DDR3 memory prices will surely drop.

There are also the genuine performance improvements brought by DDR3 memory that can run twice as fast as DDR2. You won't get double the real-world performance with DDR3 running at twice the clocks of DDR2, but as you have seen in our testing here, an 8% to 10% improvement in real-world gaming is definitely possible. This will be reason enough for enthusiasts who value performance first to move quickly to DDR3 - and that will also lower prices over time.

We are genuinely pleased with all the new Micron Z9 memory products, and we are particularly pleased with the performance of this OCZ PC3-14400 Platinum Edition. We are confident you will also be pleased with the performance of this memory if you can find a way to handle the price. That matters a great deal for many buyers and not so much for others. If you can afford the price of admission you won't be disappointed. If you can't then buy cheap, fast DDR2 and put whatever you have saved into a faster CPU or an upgraded video card. Generally you will get more bang for your buck by putting money into those two areas.

On the other hand, if you already own the top video card and the top-performing CPU then DDR3-2000 memory will look like the next "must-have" product to squeeze another 8% or so performance out of your top-line build. Value buyers will never understand this, but for some enthusiasts the only thing that matters is having the best that is available.