=<em>F-A-S-T</em>= DDR Memory: 2-2-2 Roars on the Scene
by Wesley Fink on August 5, 2004 12:05 AM EST- Posted in
- Memory
Test Results: OCZ PC3200 Platinum Rev. 2
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. We have included results for RCW-ET using the Radar benchmark.| OCZ PC3200 Platinum Rev. 2 (DDR400) - 2 x 512Mb Double-Bank | ||||||
| Speed | Memory Timings & Voltage | Quake3 fps | Sandra UNBuffered | Sandra Standard Buffered | Super PI 2M places (time in sec) |
Wolfenstein - Radar - Enemy Territory fps |
| 400DDR 800FSB |
2-2-2-5 2.5V |
330.3 | INT 2907 FLT 2937 |
INT 4514 FLT 4512 |
129 | 70.7 |
| 433DDR 866FSB |
2-2-2-5 2.65V |
358.9 | INT 3194 FLT 3201 |
INT 4925 FLT 4826 |
119 | 76.9 |
| 466DDR 933FSB |
2-3-3-5 2.65V |
374.3 | INT 3213 FLT 3206 |
INT 5183 FLT 5205 |
113 | 80.7 |
| 500DDR 1000FSB |
2.5-3-3-5 2.65V |
400.0 | INT 3358 FLT 3364 |
INT 5597 FLT 5590 |
106 | 86.8 |
| 533DDR 1066FSB |
2.5-3-3-5 2.75V |
421.8 | INT 3594 FLT 3628 |
INT 5925 FLT 5905 |
99 | 91.4 |
| 557DDR 1114FSB |
3-3-4-6 2.85V |
434.6 | INT 3726 FLT 3665 |
INT 6169 FLT 6157 |
95 | 95.1 |
OCZ was very excited when we were recently talking about the performance of their DDR400 2-2-2 memory. Engineers there were explaining that they had found an effective method to screen the Samsung chips for even faster memory speeds. We were also told that the most recent shipments of Samsung TCCD chips were also yielding a higher percentage of chips with high memory speed performance than they had seen in earlier shipments. Based on our results, OCZ must be on to something because the PC3200 Platinum Rev. 2 zoomed past DDR500, zoomed past DDR533, zoomed past DDR550, and achieved a stable top speed of DDR557.
We were certainly impressed that every memory in this roundup made it to DDR500, which is a 25% overclock to the DDR400 rated speed. But what can you say about a DDR400 that delivers a 40% overclock? OCZ has done an outstanding job with their DDR400 2-2-2, a memory that spans the range from DDR400 to DDR550. Nothing else here comes close to the range demonstrated by OCZ PC3200 Platinum Rev. 2.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
47 Comments
View All Comments
Wesley Fink - Thursday, August 5, 2004 - link
#12 and #13 - Both Crucial Ballistix PC3200 and OCZ PC3200 Platinum Rev. 2 are available in the market. Crucial is a direct marketer as you have discovered.#14 - In your situation I would shop for price for DDR400 2-2-2. The XP boards respond best to Latency as low as you can feed them, but you are not likley to reach OC levels that will be a concern with any decent DDR400 2-2-2 memory. None of the DDR500 will have latencies like 2-2-2 at DDR400.
#15 - There is just one DDR400 Crucial Ballistix (PC3200) - but it is available as 256MB Single-Sided or 512MB Double-Sided dimms as mentioned in the review.
bigtoe33 - Thursday, August 5, 2004 - link
Wesley comments the OCZ was the best from the TCCD modules tested with incredible headroom, so much so it was decided top homours would be shared.Also going by comments already seen here many feel the Crucial modules were very cherry picked.
I know on many forums the 3200 and 4000 is not doing quite so well as the samples seen here.
I do trust Wesleys's testing though, if his modules hit these speeds, they did hit it...
Its always best to get good reviews like this one and then go search for results on forums.
Potem - Thursday, August 5, 2004 - link
#11 - Thanks had not thought to go directt from Crucial. That is such a good price compared to the alternatives I am worried if is right stuff but description matches. Wesley did not give a part number. Crucial list part number BL6464Z402.bupkus - Thursday, August 5, 2004 - link
I have a 2500+ Barton on an epox 8RDA+ so I'm happy with a fsb frequency of 200. Is my best option to target some PC3200 with low timings or should I think about some hyperX PC4000 on sale?drewintheav - Thursday, August 5, 2004 - link
Is it possible that you were sent a version of the Crucial Ballistix memory that is not indicative of what someone can really buy? Also, it seems like you said that Crucial Ballistix pc3200 was the best overall so why does OSZ PC3200 Platinum Rev. 2 also get a gold editors choice?Potem - Thursday, August 5, 2004 - link
The question is what is the availablity of either of the Gold Editors Choice recommendations? The MSI K8N Neo2 was recommended over a month ago and is still not available in the US (though is fianlly expected to change any day or hour now). I have searched indivdual stores and done both price watch and PriceGrabber searches for both OCZ PC3200 Platinum Rev. 2 and Crucial Ballistix 3200 and have come up empty. In the case of OCZ 3700EB it does sell but the stores often sell out and OCZ having troubles keeping up with demand.rjm55 - Thursday, August 5, 2004 - link
I was all set to buy the Corsair 3200XL and bitching about the high price when I saw this roundup. Thanks for making my life easier. The Crucial is $267 for 2x512MB direct from Crucial and the Corsair is $361 for the same thing at New Egg. Thanks for helping me save a cool $100.Is there any way to tell if the OCZ is the latest Rev. 2 stuff? I noticed the package in the picture is new. Do you look for the new package to be sure you're getting the latest stuff?
bigtoe33 - Thursday, August 5, 2004 - link
Another GREAT review from the FINKSTER....;-)Commenting on G die micron, yield is VERY up and down so i do feel they were choice cut's, EB does pretty much the same speeds with 95%+ of all customers ram running well above rated timings and speed anyway.You guys with the 4000 balistix should have looked at the 3500 and 3700EB ;-)
Thanks again Wes.
Tony
ThePlagiarmaster - Thursday, August 5, 2004 - link
Wesley, it sounds like you need to ask MSI for a new bios to get their board more compatible with these new samsung chips? Maybe all manufacturers will need to release a bios update to take full advantage of these new samsung chips?Just a thought.
Wesley Fink - Thursday, August 5, 2004 - link
#5 - We used the same benchmarks in our DDR2 roundup and tested the DDR2 to DDR2-686. That should give you a better idea of comparative performance between DDR and DDR2. We also compared DDR and DDR2 performance in that review, and fast DDR400 performs about like DDR2-533. Just dlick the 'Memory' tab at the top of the page and you will find the DDR2 roundup.#7 - It will be a few weeks, but we DO have some OCZ DDR2 EB modules with better timings that will be included in an upcoming DDR2-667 roundup. Many of the DDR2 modules in last month's roundup ran fine at 3-3-3 timings - much better than the rated timings.