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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woodspire - Thursday, June 29, 2006 - link
What happen if instead of using 4x 512 memory you use 2 x 512 and 2 x 1024. Same speed (PC-3200), same timing, and even same brand.Still acheving dual channel ?
qquizz - Saturday, December 10, 2005 - link
Sounds great and all but a query at Pricewatch brought up a blank.Where can you buy the OCZ PC4000 EB Platinum Edition
Hurricanesan - Friday, November 11, 2005 - link
I'm looking for 2Gb memories for my new computer.I had an hard time choosing between the Corsair 3500LLPro and the OCZ 1024MB EB Platinum.
This morning, I've noticed this test. Since the OCZ was able to go up to 500Mhz and I plan using an A8N32-SLI, the choice looked easy.
But a friend of mine pointed out an old story in which OCZ was giving very good sample to the press and lesser products in the shops. I've looked about that story and now it seems to me that OCZ is really unstable in its production and not very clean ... or used to be.
I would really not like to buy those memories and find that they can't stand their specification.
Since right now it seems that both the Corsair and the OCZ are not available in stores less that 2 hours plane from me, I have a week to make up my mind.
If anyone can help me balance one way or the other, please post.
KriegsMaschine - Tuesday, November 29, 2005 - link
OCZ is the best brand I'd say. I currently have Corsair Twinx C2Pro "2x512 ddr400 Cas 2.5" and it's good... but WAY TOO expensive for it's quality. You pay too much for the brand like you would by getting a cloth from a designer. OCZ have the best performance while having reasonable prices and quality stuff for Value, Mainstream and High-End. Their tech support is very good too, as all their products. My next PSU will be OCZ ModStream 450watts.Nice article. I was thinking these days about going from 2x512 to 4x512 with my Athlon64 since it's less expensive than 2x1Gb and generaly have better timing but after reading that 1T Command was impossible with 4 DIMMS... I changed idea!
What would had been nice for the review would had been some more real game benchmarks. I mean not old stuff like Quake 3 because who care to have +20fps when you already got 550! Some newer stuff such as UT2003, FEAR, BF2, FarCry, HL2 would had been a better choice. To me those SuperPi, SandraMark... means almost nothing. All I want when getting such expensive rams is more FPS in games. Comparing 2x1Gb in 1T Command vs 2x1Gb in 2T Command would had been better too because don't you think 2x512Mb vs 2x1Gb is unfair? 0_o
Shimmishim - Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - link
what the heck? no 2x1 crucial ballistix? wow. i have a set that can do 290 mhz 1:1 with 3-3-3-7 timings and only 2.8 volts.leexgx - Saturday, November 5, 2005 - link
do not think it was out then (or it was not sent to anandtech)i just got the Crucial 2GB DDR PC4000 Ballistix from overclockers and its less then £200 for this week only (norm £240) (got the A8N-SLI premium as well)
i good to see that Ballistix stuff can do that
i probley just set me X2 3800+ at 250 so me ram is doing the same (got it at 241 now on the cpu it norm runs at 200 so its an 410mhz oc {4600+ x2})
ricleo2 - Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - link
After some recommendations from the forum here, I just got 2 sticks of GSKILL PC4000 at one gig apiece to replace my OCZ 2 sticks at 512 Megs apiece in my MSI K8N SLI PLATINUM. After comparing benchmarking results, before and after, it was not even close. RMA already approved from NEWEGG.phidjit - Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - link
It's 1024, with 2-3-2-5 timings and runs at DDR433, it seems like it would have been a better comparison to the Corsair "CMX1024-3500LL PRO" (also 1024, DDR443, but 2-3-2-6 timings).Anyone seen benchmarks for the gigaram mach10000?
It looks like it could be a bargin.
phidjit
qquizz - Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - link
These are the type of articles I come to AT to get. Thanks Wes.znir - Wednesday, October 12, 2005 - link
Thanks for the information in the review. however, i think it would be good to see result of 4x512MB high performance sticks like the OCZ PC4000 VX.