Buffalo FireStix: Red Hot Name for a New High-End Memory
by Wesley Fink on July 22, 2004 12:05 AM EST- Posted in
- Memory
Final Thoughts
While Buffalo FireStix do not break any new ground in our DDR memory tests, FireStix were competitive in every way with the best DDR500 memory that we have tested. The performance was very comparable to other high-speed enthusiast memory based on Hynix B memory chips. That is, the FireStix performed at aggressive 2.5-3-4 timings at DDR500 as well as decent 2-3-3 timings when running at DDR400.It is also clear that Buffalo has paid attention to the competition in the head room we found with FireStix. The DDR500 performed with complete stability all the way to DDR528, which is very close to the next speed step of DDR533. Overclockers, who would be the main market for DDR500 memory, will be pleased to see that they can reach to almost DDR533 with a FireStix memory rated at DDR500.
If you look closely at our performance charts, you will see that FireStix did not top any charts or set any new performance records. We really didn't expect that with these new modules from Buffalo. However, that is no criticism of this new performance memory from Buffalo, as FireStix has matched the performance of similar memory from Corsair, OCZ, and Mushkin. The ability to compete effectively with the top brands in the performance memory market certainly must be counted as a success for Buffalo FireStix.
In the broader picture, OCZ 3700EB is still a better performer at DDR500, with faster timings and wider bandwidth. Around DDR400, the new DDR400 2-2-2 memory based on Samsung chips is a better performer. These new 2-2-2 DIMMs are now available from Corsair, Mushkin, OCZ, Kingston and Crucial. However, across the effective range of DDR400 to DDR528, FireStix is competitive with similar performance memory. This means that you can also consider Buffalo FireStix when shopping for performance memory.
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rahzim - Sunday, July 25, 2004 - link
Hi,Just had a few questions about overclocked/high performance ddr ram in general. Im about to build a computer waiting for the msi neo2 mb and want fast memory for it. Only thing is i read that most of the memory im looking at namely DDR550 is overclocked and wont actually run at that speed unless you overclock the fsb.
Is it just a matter of setting the timings and voltages in the mb bios to get the ram to perform at ddr550 speeds, or do i also need to adjust the fsb? Will I have any trouble getting speeds around pc4400 with a nforce3 250 chipset / athlon fx 53?
IkeEisenhower - Saturday, July 24, 2004 - link
I dunno about awful names, there seems to be a sub-trend of names that seem to denote product suitability for the "just okay" mediocre PC you get tricked into building for your cousin or some distant friend... e.g.:Foxconn Athlon motherboards,
Albatron's "Proll" (Prole?) mobos,
Powmax PSUs,
XFX video cards,
Firestix memory,
so on and so forth, they just SOUND right...
BlackMamba - Thursday, July 22, 2004 - link
I love these awful names for memory products. :)Bozo Galora - Thursday, July 22, 2004 - link
Off topic, but the blue/grey before white page load is still happening (Firefox .0.9.2)Man, these timely reviews are coming like a
waterfall.(Wesly is the best)
Are we spiffing up the site for a possible sale??
johnsonx - Thursday, July 22, 2004 - link
Isn't Jolly Rancher going to be upset about Buffalo using their name? I don't see them much anymore, but I'm pretty sure Firestix is what Jolly Rancher called their firey-hot cinnamon candy sticks. I mostly see the small bite-size ones now, but the sticks still exist as far as I know.Zebo - Thursday, July 22, 2004 - link
Excellent article thanks:)Little secret for my anandtech friends..Go the Circut City and they have the same ram labled as kingston value ram PC3200 for $68-$99 for 512 depending on the day..
You mustlook through the boxes which are clear plastic until you find one with "Hynix BT-D43" chips labeled as such... Just awesome and found on expensive PC4200 modules...as you see.
Calin - Thursday, July 22, 2004 - link
I love the colored bar for the memory in discussion. It makes reading the article much more enjoyableAnand Lal Shimpi - Thursday, July 22, 2004 - link
Fixed :)TrogdorJW - Thursday, July 22, 2004 - link
Hey, the new graphs are great. One small problem, though. All the graph images are 450x450, but the HTML is specifying a 450x337 size, so they're getting a little squished vertically.