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.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
29 Comments
View All Comments
snout - Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - link
I would like to see the ocz up against the Team Group Extreme 800 mhz c3 sticks at 3.3.3.8. The memory choices at test make it (ocz) look better than it is.ZOOAIRZ - Saturday, December 30, 2006 - link
Reguarding article:http://www.anandtech.com/memory/showdoc.aspx?i=288...">http://www.anandtech.com/memory/showdoc.aspx?i=288...
Quote:
"On the nForce 680i the OCZ Flex XLC took DDR2 memory performance to a new gold standard. On Air Cooling, Flex XLC reached DDR2-1300 at the rated timings of 5-5-5-18."
OCZ Flex with the following stable ratios:
1) cpu: 3.22 (11x293) FSB: 1172 - linked 1 to 1 - RAM: 1172 Quake4 FPS: 127.3
2) cpu: 3.03 (7x433) FSB: 1733 -unlinked 1.3 to 1- RAM: 1300 Quake4 FPS: 122.1
Say one then ups the multiplier as follows and assume it is stable:
1) cpu: 3.52 (12x293) FSB:1172 - linked 1 to 1 - RAM: 1172 Quake4 FPS: ?
2) cpu: 3.46 (8x433) FSB:1733 -unlinked 1.3 to 1- RAM: 1300 Quake4 FPS: ?
Which combo is better/faster overall?
- 1) Linked (fast) FSB and RAM with slightly higher (+.05GHz) CPU speed
or
- 2) Unlinked (raging) FSB and RAM with slightly lower CPU speed?
This question comes from the following statement found in this article:
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=17384...">http://www.pcpro.co.uk/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=17384...
Quote:
Now you have your OCed system. Here is something to remember a
processor running 200*10 =2000MHz and a processor running
210*9.5=1995MHz yet the second is faster because its running a faster
FSB so it has more memory bandwidth.(note that if you have to use a
slower ram speed i.e. using the FSB:RAM ratio of 5:4 you wipe out this
increase in bandwidth)
I don't see a FSB:RAM ratio 1.3 : 1 wiping out too much bandwidth but I just don't know. I am just interested in the overall good of playing my favorite games And getting the most out of a PC. If gettting that crazy 1300 speed of the memory just sets a record, that doesn't do it for me.
Thanks in advance.
Gannon - Thursday, December 14, 2006 - link
Could we get better simpler graphs when doing these comparisons? I hate looking at having just these charts, the overlapping colored lines and dots are useful for analysis but not for someone who's time is valuable and simply wants to know whats the best at a glance and thats what you guys should be doing! Serving your users the information they want in the way they want it. Anyone interested in performance is going to go for the highest performing ram, but it's also good for those of us curious to be able to tell at a glance what different ram will buy us.i.e. the way firingsquad does graphs or the way you do it ususally when comparing FPS between video cards would be just as useful.
Beachboy - Saturday, December 9, 2006 - link
This OCZ Flex RAM is the equivalent of a chrome exhaust-pipe extension on a Hyundai... a $490 one that is, lol.Wesley Fink - Sunday, December 10, 2006 - link
For the Hyundai analogy to make sense we would have to have a BMW in DDR2 memory. The Flex XLC is as good as it gets, so it is the BMW even though it doesn't go a lot faster. The chrome exhaust extension on the Hyundai would be a matched pair of 2GB value dimms based on Elpida memory chips with flashy heatsinks. You will reach DDR2-800 just fine, but nothing over about 900. It will definitely get the job done.Of course the BMW isn't only about speed, and luxury cars sell well despite the fact that you probably would have a hard time justifying "value per dollar" on anything more than a Japanese V6. Some buyers want the handling and flexibility that comes with the best.
yyrkoon - Sunday, December 10, 2006 - link
I agree with your analogy for the most part. I guess the only real question is: "is it worth buying". Which of course, you've already answered in the article.I would think this memory would be perfect for you guys, in testing potential OC's of systems you're reviewing, other than that, IMO, it would be a waste of money.
</my_two_cents>
Wesley Fink - Sunday, December 10, 2006 - link
The Flex XLC actually DOES go a LOT faster, so the BMW analogy applies, but you don't get similarly big gains in performance with the big speed increases since our DDR2 processors are not particularly sensitive to memory bandwidth.It's sort of like a world where a 500 horse power engine doubles your speed, but 80% of the speed increase just goes to fighting the incresed head wind. It does not mean the Flex XLC is not a good design, because it definitely is as good as it gets in current DDR2 designs.
Avalon - Saturday, December 9, 2006 - link
It seems to me that it was the 680i that allowed the OCZ Flex to reach an outstanding DDR2-1300, so why not test previous memory modules to see how much further they'd also get on the new Nvidia platform? It seems only fair.Wesley Fink - Saturday, December 9, 2006 - link
We also tested on our standard platform - the Asus P5W-DH Deluxe - where the Flex reached DDR2-1172 on air cooling. That was the highest ever on that platform - the previous high was DDR2-1111. That was fair, which is why we tested on the current memory test bed.As we said in the review, we will add overclocking tests with the 680i going forward, but we will still do base testing with the 975x baord.
Avalon - Sunday, December 10, 2006 - link
Right, but my point was that many other modules might have a ton of additional headroom if placed into the 680i platform. I'm not contesting the fact that the Flex reached the highest speeds on the 975x, but that previous modules should be tested on the 680i to see how much of a difference it makes, not just for the Flex.