Introduction

Every self-respecting memory manufacturer tries to create such a product line so that every customer can find required modules according to your needs and your wallet. OCZ, a well-known manufacturer of fast memory for computers, has in its arsenal "gold", "platinum", "titanium" modules with high bandwidth and low timings. In this article, we will briefly describe the features of each OCZ DDR II series to make it easier for you to choose when you purchase.

Value DDR2 Series

DDR2 Value Series memory modules are intended for users who just want good memory and who are not willing to pay extra money for some additional functions. OCZ currently sells only 533 MHz DDR2 PC4200 Value Series modules. These memory modules have capacities from 256 to 2048 MB and are sold as one die or in pairs for motherboards with dual channel DDR2 controllers. To make it easier for you to understand what kind of memory the sellers offer in their price lists, we give the numbers of the modules.

Part number

OCZ2533256V - 256 MB DDR2 module

OCZ2533512V - 512 MB DDR2 module

OCZ25331024V - 1024 MB DDR2 module

OCZ25332048V - 2048 MB DDR2 module

OCZ2533512VDC-K - a set of two 512 MB (2x256 MB) memory modules for dual channel systems

OCZ25331024VDC-K - a set of two memory modules with a volume of 1024 MB (2x512 MB) for dual-channel systems

OCZ25332048VDC-K - a set of two memory modules with a capacity of 2048 MB (2x1024 MB) for dual-channel systems

Modules OCZ memory The Value series have 4-4-4-8 timings and are fully JEDEC compliant, which means they should work with any DDR2 motherboard.

Value Pro Series

The Value Pro series differs from the simplest Value in that these modules are already designed for those users who will try to overclock the computer in some way. Value Pro memory modules are available in 533 MHz (PC4200) and 667 MHz (PC5400).

Part number

OCZ2533512VP - 512 MB DDR2 PC4200 (533 MHz)

OCZ25331024VP - 1024 MB DDR2 PC4200 (533 MHz)

OCZ25332048VP - 2048 MB DDR2 PC4200 (533 MHz)

OCZ25331024VPDC-K - 1024 MB kit of two memory modules (2x512 MB) for dual channel PC4200 systems (533 MHz)

OCZ25332048VPDC-K - 2048MB Dual Memory Kit (2x1024MB) for PC4200 Dual Channel Systems (533MHz)

OCZ25334096VPDC-K - 4096MB Dual Memory Kit (2x2048MB) for PC4200 Dual Channel Systems (533MHz)

OCZ2667512VP - 512 MB DDR2 PC5400 (667 MHz)

OCZ26671024VP - 1024 MB DDR2 PC5400 (667 MHz)

OCZ26671024VPDC-K - 1024 MB set of two memory modules (2x512 MB) for dual channel PC5400 systems (667 MHz)

OCZ26672048VPDC-K - 2048MB Dual Memory Kit (2x1024MB) for PC5400 Dual Channel Systems (667MHz)

The Value Pro memory modules have copper heat spreaders, although they operate on standard frequencies and have the usual timings of 4-4-4-8 for the PC4200 and 5-5-5-10 for the PC5400.

Performance Series

Performance Series memory modules were designed to work with lower timings. They have frequencies of 533 MHz (PC4200) and 667 MHz (PC5400). Visually, these memory modules differ from the Value Pro in the mirror coating of the heat spreaders.

Part number

OCZ2533256PF - 256 MB DDR2 PC4200 (533 MHz)

OCZ2533512PF - 512 MB DDR2 PC4200 (533 MHz)

OCZ2533512PFDC-K - 512 MB kit of two memory modules (2x256 MB) for dual channel PC4200 systems (533 MHz)

OCZ25331024PFDC-K- 1024MB set of two memory modules (2x512MB) for dual channel PC4200 systems (533 MHz)

OCZ2667256PF - 256 MB DDR2 PC5400 (667 MHz)

OCZ2667512PF - 512 MB DDR2 PC5400 (667 MHz)

OCZ26671024PF - 1024 MB DDR2 PC5400 (667 MHz)

OCZ2667512PFDC-K - 512 MB kit of two memory modules (2x256 MB) for dual channel PC5400 systems (667 MHz)

OCZ26671024PFDC-K - 1024MB set of two memory modules (2x512MB) for dual channel PC5400 systems (667 MHz)

OCZ26672048PFDC-K- 2048MB Dual Memory Kit (2x1024MB) for PC5400 Dual Channel Systems (667MHz)

When the voltage rises to 1.9 V, PC4200 memory modules can operate at 3-3-3-8 timings, and PC5400 modules - at 4-4-4-8 timings.

Enchanced Latency Gold Series

The memory "gold", and even with improved latency, is clearly designed for the discerning user. OCZ offers three module options with frequencies of 533 MHz, 667 MHz and even 800 MHz (PC6400). This memory initially operates at low timings and can withstand voltage increases up to 2.2 V. Copper heatsinks are gold-plated.

Part number

OCZ2533512ELGE - 512 MB DDR2 PC4200 (533 MHz)

OCZ25331024ELGE - 1024 MB DDR2 PC4200 (533 MHz)

OCZ25332048ELGE - 2048 MB DDR2 PC4200 (533 MHz)

OCZ25331024ELDCGE-K- 1024 MB set of two memory modules (2x512 MB) for dual channel PC4200 systems (533 MHz)

OCZ25332048ELDCGE-K- 2048MB set of two memory modules (2x1024MB) for dual channel PC4200 systems (533 MHz)

OCZ25334096ELDCGE-K- 4096MB set of two memory modules (2x2048MB) for dual channel PC4200 systems (533 MHz)

OCZ2667512ELGE - 512 MB DDR2 PC5400 (667 MHz)

OCZ26671024ELGE - 1024 MB DDR2 PC5400 (667 MHz)

OCZ26671024ELDCGE-K - 1024MB set of two memory modules (2x512MB) for dual channel PC5400 systems (667 MHz)

OCZ26672048ELDCGE-K- 2048MB Dual Memory Kit (2x1024MB) for PC5400 Dual Channel Systems (667MHz)

OCZ2800512ELGE - 512 MB DDR2 PC6400 (800 MHz)

OCZ28001024ELGE - 1024 MB DDR2 PC6400 (800 MHz)

OCZ28001024ELDCGE-K - 1024MB set of two memory modules (2x512MB) for dual channel PC6400 systems (800 MHz)

OCZ28002048ELDCGE-K- 2048MB Dual Memory Kit (2x1024MB) for PC6400 Dual Channel Systems (800MHz)

PC4200 modules have timings 3-3-3-8, PC5400 - 4-4-4-8, and PC6400 - 5-5-5-10.

Platinum Series

Perhaps this is the most numerous series. It includes modules of increased bandwidth(enhanced bandwidth) modules with reduced latency timings. The first ones have very low latencies, and the second ones are modules with a frequency of 1000 MHz and also lower timings. The enhanced latency modules operate at 2.0 V and withstand operation at 2.2 V. Both modules have platinum mirror coated copper heat spreaders.

Part number

OCZ2533512EBPER2 - 512 MB DDR2 PC4200 (533 MHz)

OCZ25331024EBPER2 - 1024 MB DDR2 PC4200 (533 MHz)

OCZ25331024EBDCPER2-K - 1024 MB set of two memory modules (2x512 MB) for dual channel PC4200 systems (533 MHz)

OCZ25332048EBDCPER2-K - 2048MB set of two memory modules (2x1024MB) for dual channel PC4200 systems (533 MHz)

OCZ2667512EBPER2 - 512 MB DDR2 PC5400 (667 MHz)

OCZ26671024EBPER2 - 1024 MB DDR2 PC5400 (667 MHz)

OCZ26671024EBDCPER2-K - 1024 MB set of two memory modules (2x512 MB) for dual channel PC5400 systems (667 MHz)

OCZ26672048EBDCPER2-K - 2048MB set of two memory modules (2x1024MB) for dual channel PC5400 systems (667 MHz)

OCZ28001024EBPE - 512 MB DDR2 PC6400 (800 MHz)

OCZ28001024EBDCPE-K - 1024MB dual memory kit (2x512MB) for dual channel PC6400 systems (800 MHz)

OCZ Platinum enhanced bandwidth PC4200 memory has 3-2-2-8 timings, PC5400 - 4-2-2-8, PC6400 - 4-3-3-8 (this memory operates at 2.1 V).

OCZ Platinum enhanced bandwidth PC8000 memory is the world's elite random access memory... These modules, powered by 2.1-2.2 V, are capable of operating at 1000 MHz with 5-5-5-15 timings.

Part number

OCZ21000512ELPE - 512 MB DDR2 PC8000 (1000 MHz)

OCZ210001024ELDCPE-K - 1024MB Dual Memory Kit (2x512MB) for PC8000 Dual Channel Systems (1024 MHz)

It is the most expensive memory module in the OCZ series.

Titanium series

The Titanium series is a cross between the Platinum and Gold series. There are only two modules in this series - 512 and 1024 MB with a frequency of 667 MHz (PC5400). This memory at a voltage of 2.2 V, it can work at timings 4-2-2-8.

Part number

OCZ2667512EBTE - 512 MB DDR2 PC5400 (667 MHz)

OCZ26671024EBTE - 1024 MB DDR2 PC5400 (667 MHz)

OCZ26671024EBDCTE-K - 1024MB set of two memory modules (2x512MB) for dual channel PC5400 systems (667 MHz)

OCZ26672048EBDCTE-K - 1024MB set of two memory modules (2x512MB) for dual channel PC5400 systems (667 MHz)

Titanium memory modules have titanium-plated copper heat spreaders.

Conclusion

All OCZ memory modules are tested before they go to the shelves to ensure that no defect gets into customers' computers. In addition, the manufacturer provides a lifetime warranty for all OCZ modules.

The memory market is arguably the fastest growing segment in the IT business. If the Joint Electron Device Engineering Council (JEDEC) committee is responsible for setting memory standards and specifications, and chipset and processor manufacturers, for the most part, adhere to these recommendations, then creating and maintaining an image in this highly competitive market is only possible with the constant release of new high-speed memory. Memory makers such as Corsair and OCZ are trying to introduce faster, better products as quickly as possible. If DDR3-1333 memory is already widespread on the market, and DDR3-1600 is starting to appear, the two mentioned competitors are already fighting for DDR3-1800 speeds.

It's nice to see that DDR3 memory, which has been on the market for only a few months, is starting to ramp up frequencies faster than previous generations of DDR memory, since frequencies have already exceeded DDR3-1333. However, higher memory frequencies are possible only if the system is overclocked, since Intel DDR3 P35 and G33 chipsets support only DDR3-800, DDR3-1066 and DDR3-1333 frequencies. Other dividers that allow memory to run at higher clock speeds will be supported by the upcoming PCI Express 2.0 chipset called X38. In the meantime, frequencies higher than DDR3-1333 can be reached only by overclocking the FSB, which only enthusiasts will dare to do.

The next generation chipsets will support additional memory dividers, which will help push high-speed DDR3 memory to the mainstream market as a motherboard can easily handle memory, say, DDR3-1600. Any user can do this. Modern high-speed DDR3 memory modules do not provide any advantages when installed in computers at the nominal frequency. But they allow you to avoid situations when memory becomes a bottleneck during overclocking. Now you can increase the FSB and CPU frequency without slowing down the memory to keep the system stable.

Our lab has received two kits from Corsair and OCZ aimed specifically at overclocking: if you want to buy Core processor 2 Duo and a decent P35 motherboard for maximum overclocking, these are the best products. Whereas a processor was in the past the most expensive component of a high-end overclocked system, today the best results are achieved by combining a processor from the upper end of the mass market with a well-overclocked system. motherboard and memory. Surprisingly, overclocking memory costs more than a processor today: be prepared to pay $ 500 or more for memory.

Each memory generation has its own clock frequency ranges. The first generation DDR ran at 100 to 200 MHz (DDR200 to DDR400), DDR2 appeared at 266 MHz and reached 400 MHz (DDR2-533 to DDR2-800), and DDR3 usually starts at 533 MHz and goes up to a level not lower than 800 MHz (from DDR3-1066 to DDR3-1600). Each generation of DDR moves to a finer process technology and lower supply voltage and heat dissipation, which allows you to achieve higher clock speeds, albeit at the expense of increased latency. Therefore, the memory of new generations needs to operate at significantly higher frequencies compared to the previous technology. So, for example, DDR2 memory outperforms DDR400 only when operating in DDR2-667 mode, and DDR3 must work in DDR3-1333 mode in order to overtake DDR2-800. Memory within the same generation is backward compatible, meaning you can buy DDR2-1066 modules and run them at 667 or 800 MHz DDR.

In addition to industry standards, there is also a memory for enthusiasts, which became popular after the growth of overclocking supporters in the late 90s. There are DDR DIMMs that outperform JEDEC standards by 50%. For example, DDR600 from GeIL, and DDR2 memory reached DDR2-1200 frequencies long before DDR3 appeared. Patriot and Corsair Unveil Record PC10,000 Memory... It looks like the gap in the case of DDR3 will be even higher, since the achievable clock frequencies, in some cases up to DDR3-2000, are already two times higher than the frequencies of the first DDR modules on 1066.

Until platforms with support for such high frequencies of DDR3 memory come out, modes higher than DDR3-1333, and this is the maximum available frequency for many motherboards, will work for the needs of overclockers. Corsair and OCZ DDR3-1800 memory today allows you to reach the highest possible level of overclocking.

Dominator DIMMs are Corsair's top-end products. The advantage of this series is the double cooling of the memory microcircuits, through the heatsinks and the printed circuit board.

The first DIMM Corsair in the Dominator line appeared about a year ago in the form of DDR2 PC2-8888 (DDR2-1111) modules, but then the company quickly expanded the range of DIMM Dominator in its portfolio. It included the CL3-4-3-9 low latency dual channel kit, as well as high-speed memory PC10,000... DIMM Dominator uses Corsair's dual solution to cool the memory chips when the heat is dissipated by the chip heatsink and printed circuit board modules. To improve cooling, Corsair also ships with a Dominator Airflow fan module that mounts over memory.

Compared to OCZ CL8-8-8-24 latency, Corsair DIMMs offer lower CL7-7-7-20 latency, which actually delivered slightly better performance in our tests. Both sets of modules operate according to specifications from a voltage of 2.0 V. Interestingly, the JEDEC specifications stipulate a voltage level of 1.5 V and CL9-9-9-24 latency at DDR3-1333 frequencies. However, we could not overclock TWIN3X memory noticeably, which indicates that DIMMs are already working at their limit, or the processor we used does not tolerate higher FSB frequencies. However, since we were able to overclock the OCZ DDR3-1800 modules to the DDR3-1900 level, the processor is not a bottleneck.

Unlike other Corsair DIMMs, DDR3-1800 Dominator modules do not contain EPP (Enhanced Performance Profiles) profiles. Recall that these profiles allow you to automatically start memory on optimal settings on nVidia nForce 6 motherboards as they set ideal latencies instead of the default SPD values, which can be quite slow.

Corsair's DDR3-1800 memory runs at CL7-7-7-20 latency, which is more than adequate given the high clock speeds of 900 MHz.

SPD settings

If you run the Corsair DIMM at lower frequencies, you can choose lower latencies. SPD is programmed with default JEDEC settings: CL9-9-9-24 at DDR3-1333 (666 MHz), but CL8 and CL6 delays are possible at frequencies up to 592 MHz and 444 MHz, respectively.

Dominator Airflow

Airflow is an optional memory cooler that ships with all Dominator DIMMs. It is installed on most motherboards and provides additional cooling for memory modules using three fans.

OCZ PC3-14400 Platinum Edition looks simpler than Dominator DIMMs, resembling ordinary memory, although they contain an original mesh heatsink. The modules are certified for latency CL8-8-8-24 in DDR3-1800 mode, which is slightly higher than that of Corsair memory. It is important to note that OCZ indicates a DIMM voltage of 1.95V, while the Corsair has it at 2.0V. As a result, the sample we received had a little headroom for overclocking, and we were able to achieve speeds up to DDR3-1900 at 2.15V. , and two hours of intense testing did not reveal any problems. Wesley Fink at AnandTech already reported overcoming the DDR3-2000 threshold but with our sample / test platform we weren't able to reach the same level. Perhaps the bottleneck was the purchased Core 2 Duo E6750 processor. Curiously, the retail version of the processor gave a higher overclocking threshold than the Core 2 samples obtained by our laboratory from Intel.

SPD settings

OCZ SPD is programmed with CL7 delays for DDR3-1333, CL6 for frequencies up to 571 MHz (DDR3-1142) and CL5 for frequencies up to 476 MHz (DDR3-952). Compared to latency on DDR3-1800, OCZ modules provide lower latency at lower frequencies than Corsair DIMMs.

DDR3-1900

We failed to overclock the Corsair Dominator DDR3-1800 DIMM. We tried to increase the frequency by 50 MHz DDR, as the smaller changes are unlikely to be noticeable. OCZ PC3-14400 Platinum Edition memory was able to reach DDR3-1900 mode and worked stably, but only when the voltage was increased to 2.15 V. Quite a lot for memory technology, which should work at 1.5 V, and according to the specifications of the modules, the voltage is already increased up to 1.95 V.

Test configuration

System hardware
CPU	Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 (Conroe 65 nm, 2.66 GHz, 4 MB L2 cache)
Motherboard	Asus P5K3 Deluxe, Rev. 1.01, chipset: Intel P35, BIOS: 0604
General hardware
Memory I	2x 1024 MB DDR3-1800 (CL 7-7-7-20), Corsair Dominator TWIN3X2048-1800C7DF
Memory II	2x 1024 MB DDR3-1800 (CL 8-8-8-27), OCZ DDR3 PC3-14400 Platinum Edition (OCZ3P18002GK)
Video card	Zotac Geforce 8800 GTS, GPU: nVidia GeForce 8800GTS (500 MHz), Memory: 320 MB GDDR3 (1600 MHz)
System hard drive
Hard disk for data	1x 150 GB, 10,000 rpm, 8 MB cache, SATA / 150, Western Digital WD1500ADFD
DVD-ROM	Teac DV-W50D
Software
NVidia graphics	Forceware 162.18
Intel Chipset	8.3.0.1013
DirectX	Version: 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
OS	Windows XP, Build 2600 SP2

Asus P5K3 Deluxe is the top-end P35 model with DDR3 support. It fully supports all current 65nm processors up to the quad-core QX6580, as well as upcoming 45nm Penryn models. Although the chipset is not designed for dual video cards, this model supports a CrossFire configuration with one video card in x16 mode and the other in x4 mode. The x4 slot (black) can also be used to install other peripherals from x1 to x16. There are three classic PCI slots for expansion cards. However, PCIe graphics cards with dual-slot coolers will not allow nearby PCI slots to be used.

The ICH9R south bridge provides six SATA / 300 ports with support for the native Native Command Queuing (NCQ), and the board itself has a lot of USB 2.0 and FireWire 1394a ports. The board uses a massive copper heatpipe cooling system to cool the 8-phase voltage regulator, northbridge, and southbridge. When overclocking the FSB above 500 MHz (FSB2000), we had to use a fan.

Our Core 2 Duo E6750 was able to run at FSB frequencies up to 530 MHz (FSB2120), that is, with a core frequency above 3.3 GHz. For benchmarks, we lowered the x8 multiplier to x6 so that the CPU core frequency does not become a bottleneck.

Tests and settings

Tests and settings
3D games
Call of duty 2	Version: 1.3 Retail Video Mode: 1280x960 Anti-aliasing: 4x Graphics Card: medium timedemo demo2
Quake 4	Version: 1.2 (Dual-Core Patch) Video Mode: 1280x1024 Video Quality: High THG Timedemo waste.map timedemo demo8.demo 1 (1 = load textures)
Video
TMPEG 3.0 Express	Version: 3.0.4.24 (no Audio) 182 MB VOB MPEG2-source (704x576) 16: 9
DivX 6.6	Profile: High Definition Profile Multipass, 3000 kbit / s Encoding mode: Insane Quality
XviD 1.1.3	Version: 1.1.3 Encoding type: Twopass - Single pass Profile @ Level: DXN HT PAL Target size (kbytes): 570000
Mainconcept H.264 v2	Version 2.1 260 MB MPEG-2 source (1920x1080) 16: 9 Codec: H.264 Mode: NTSC Audio: AAC Profile: High Stream: Program
Applications
WinRAR	Version 3.7 (Multi-Core) (303 MB, 47 Files, 2 Folders) Compression = Best Dictionary = 4096 kB
Autodesk 3D Studio Max	Version: 8.0 Characters "Dragon_Charater_rig" rendering HTDV 1920x1080
Synthetic tests
Everest	Version 4.00.976 Cache & Memory Benchmark
PCMark05 Pro	Version: 1.2.0 CPU and Memory Tests
SiSoftware Sandra 2008	Version 2008.1.12.30 Memory Test = Bandwidth Benchmark
Other
Windows Media Player 10	Version: 10.00.00.36.46

To compare the performance between two pairs of DDR3-1800 DIMMs and regular DDR3 memory at the same FSB and core frequency, we took OCZ memory and reduced its clock speed to DDR3-1350 (as close to 1333 as we could get) with delays CL9-9-9-26. This is close to the JEDEC requirements for DDR3 memory at 1333. Most non-enthusiast PCs ship with this type of memory.

Test results

We decided not to include in the test results a large number of systems, since overclocking the processor, system bus and RAM depends on many parameters, which may differ. We tested both pairs of modules in DDR3-1800 mode (450 MHz FSB and 1: 2 memory divider) and with delays specified in the specifications of both manufacturers. We compared the results with a test that ran as close as possible to DDR3-1333 with CL9-9-9-24 certified by JEDEC. When overclocked to DDR3-1900 DIMM OCZ PC3-14400 showed performance very close to Corsair DDR3-1800 Dominator.

Both memory pairs are impressive products as they circumvent the JEDEC specifications for DDR3 memory by delivering higher clock speeds. Corsair and OCZ have developed their own pre-production memory chip selection technologies, so they can offer high-speed memory, while mass-market memory runs at noticeably lower frequencies. As a result, we get DIMM DDR3-1800, but only capable of operating at very high voltages (Corsair at 2.0 V, OCZ at 1.95 V). Both pairs of modules get hot, so the case must be well ventilated for stable operation. However, we don't think a Corsair Airflow cooling module is always necessary.

The Corsair Dominator modules have slightly lower latencies, but we could not overclock them in any way on our motherboard. Asus board P5K3 Deluxe P35. The OCZ PC14400 memory has slightly higher latencies in DDR3-1800 mode, but it allowed us to squeeze another 50 MHz (100 MHz DDR) to the DDR3-1900 level. In addition, OCZ modules have lower DDR3 latencies in SPD. As our review has shown, OCZ memory has the potential to break the DDR3-2000 barrier. However, for this you need a decent motherboard and a suitable processor, our configuration was not enough. But the question is whether it is worth going that far, since the performance gain is meager.

DDR3-1333 and higher memory frequencies will be officially supported Intel chipsets next generation, such as the X38, which should provide big choice memory dividers so that you can only overclock the memory, or lower the memory frequency if your goal is to reach the FSB ceiling. The new chipsets make it possible to bring high-frequency DDR3 memory closer to the mass market, but for now the two mentioned DDR3-1800 memory sets will be of interest only to overclockers. Actually, we can't wait to see the first DDR3-2000 memory. Interestingly, prices for it will be able to jump above the current level?

Hardly any of the overclockers today have doubts about the choice of the type of RAM for the new platform. The fact that DDR SDRAM does not have a long presence on the market can be argued with great difficulty. Comparable or slightly different from DDR in a larger direction the cost of DDR2 modules, the massive distribution of AMD platforms with Socket AM2 that have become popular among the people, a huge range of DDR2 SDRAM for any requirements and wallets, and, finally, the gradual popularization of platforms with Intel Core 2 Duo among overclockers are major, but far from the only reasons reducing the demand for DDR memory.

In today's article, we bring to your attention an overview and testing of nine pairs of RAM modules with a capacity of 2 x 1Gb from one of the trendsetters in the SDRAM market - the company OCZ Technology.

advertising

When asked why the volume of modules was chosen exactly in 1 Gb, I think the answer is obvious. Constantly growing demands software and games to the computer's hardware resources have now resulted in the minimum recommended volume installed memory in the system equal to 2 Gb. I am not saying that you cannot play modern games on 1 Gb. You can. Even at 512 Mb, you will most likely be able to run them, but you can forget about the comfort in the game. In addition, according to preliminary estimates, in order to play comfortably in the super popular even before the release of Windows Vista, you need not even two, but, most likely, as many as four gigabytes of memory.

In addition, in my opinion, when purchasing a new system unit and limited funds, it is more promising to take not 2 modules of 512 Mb, but one with a volume of 1 Gb. After some time, by purchasing a second module of the same kind, you will not only gain in price, but also in stability and overclocking, since all overclockers know that a platform with four installed modules has a lower overclocking potential than a pair.

Perhaps, lyrical digressions and reservations are enough .. I propose to return to the topic of today's article and start in an unconventional way with a description of the test configuration and testing methods.

1. Test configuration, tools and testing methodology

All RAM was tested only in two-channel mode on the following system unit configuration:

• Motherboard: ASUSTek P5B Deluxe / WiFi-AP (Intel P965), LGA 775, BIOS 0804;
  • the chipset has a Cooler Master Blue Ice Pro cooler (~ 4500 RPM, 22 ~ 26 dBA);
• Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 2133 MHz, 1.325 V, L2 2 x 1024 Kb, FSB: 266 MHz x 4, SL9S9 Malay (Conroe, B2);
• CPU cooling system: Noctua NH-U12F with a pair of 120mm NF-R12 fans at ~ 800 RPM (2 x 8 dBA);
• Thermal interface: Noctua;
• Video card: Chaintech GeForce 7950 GX2 2 x 512 Mb (default = 500/1200 MHz), @ 580/1580 MHz;
• Disk subsystem: SATA-II 320 Gb, Hitachi (HDT725032VLA360), 7200 RPM, 16 Mb, NCQ;
• Case: ATX ASUS ASCOT 6AR2-B Black & Silver:
  • for blowing 120 mm case fan Noctua NF-S12 120 mm (~ 800 RPM, ~ 8 dBA);
  • for blowing out on the back wall and on the side wall 120 mm Sharkoon Luminous Blue LED case fans (~ 1000 RPM, ~ 21 dBA);
• Power supply: MGE Magnum 500 (500 W) + 80mm GlacialTech SilentBlade fan (~ 1700 RPM, 19 dBA).

Choosing high-performance memory for desktop computer, this is a rather painstaking and responsible business, which is primarily associated with the need to ensure maximum stability when operating at high frequencies, especially when using freelance modes, where every element of the computer, including memory, is critical. In the sector laptop computers, this problem is not so acute, however, the active development of mobile technologies, increasing the operating frequency and reducing the internal space of the laptop, requires an equally careful approach when choosing memory, especially for laptop assemblers, who sometimes, in order to save money, install cheap unnamed memory, explaining that when normal operation, nothing will happen, which, of course, is right, however ...

We, the buyers of expensive laptops, want our mobile assistant not only to maximize performance, but also to provide maximum stability in various conditions of use.

Today we introduce you to the OCZ Value Series, which includes modules with an optimal price / performance ratio. Despite the relatively low price for OCZ, these modules use a number of specific technologies, such as ULN2 PCB, which significantly reduces the level of electrical noise, which has a positive effect on the stability of operation, especially in offline.

So, in our review, three types of memory modules are involved, intended for use in different types laptops: from ultra-portable models based on Centrino technology, to high-performance desktop replacement class models, mobile-based desktop solutions and based modern technologies Sonoma and AMD Turion ™ 64, which use fast DDR2-533 and DDR333 / 400 memory respectively.

Before we start examining the capabilities of the presented memory modules, we would like to make a few comments regarding the possibilities of adjusting the memory parameters in a laptop. Almost all laptop models lack the ability to configure memory settings in the BIOS, which would allow you to take full advantage of the faster and higher quality OCZ modules. Therefore, the only advantage that you will get from using OCZ memory is more stability, less heat generation, and, accordingly, an increase in time. autonomous work.

OCZPC2700 ValueSeries

DDR333 memory remains one of the most popular in the laptop sector today. This type of memory will be especially relevant when used in mainstream notebook models based on the classic Centrino technology, which still uses DDR266 memory, which significantly limits the capabilities of modern high-performance Pentium-M processors. To solve this problem, we strongly recommend using OCZ PC2700 Value Series memory.

OCZ PC2700 Value Series memory modules are based on Infuneon chips with low latency (2.5-4-4-8), which allowed for a slight increase in performance on notebooks using SPD data.

By the way, the results of our tests show that the transfer of the Centrino platform to DDR333 memory provides a noticeable performance increase, which will be especially noticeable when using processors with a frequency of more than 2 GHz. Here the question may arise, why not use DDR 400 memory right away - in theory, this will allow you to achieve even greater performance. Unfortunately, the classic Centrino technology only supports DDR333, so DDR 400 would be pointless.

OCZPC 3200 ValueSeries

DDR 400 memory is currently used in some Hi-END laptops, which are based on mobile versions of desktop chipsets and processors, such as the VIA K8T800 for the Mobile processor AMD Athlon™ 64, as well as in the new AMD Turion ™ 64 platforms. The presented OCZ PC 3200 Value Series modules are based on Samsung chips with low timings of 2.5-4-4-8

Comparison of performance of OCZ PC 3200 Value Series memory with No-name modules, showed some performance increase in most types of applications, when used hard given parameters synchronization in BIOS. If your laptop allows you to use SPD data, or has the ability to change the memory parameters, then you will get a few more percent while maintaining 100% stability.

In our opinion, the use of OCZ PC 3200 Value Series memory is especially relevant in “Desktop Replacement” notebooks that use mobile versions of desktop chipsets and processors. Here you can take advantage of the full frequency potential offered by the OCZ PC 3200 Value Series modules.

OCZPC2 4200 ValueSeries

And finally, a new type of memory for the mobile sector, DDR2 533 memory type. It is used in the new mobile Intel technology Sonoma, where it can work in both single-channel and dual-channel modes, which has significantly increased performance compared to the classic Centrino technology.

To create a high performance and stable mobile platform, OCZ offers the use of the PC2 4200 Value Series modules. These memory modules are based on high-performance Elpda chips with 4-4-4-8 timings, which allows us to make an assumption about a possible increase in the performance of the mobile platform.

However, taking into account the specific features of the BIOS, which uses rigidly set frequency parameters, it is not possible to take advantage of these advantages yet, but high stability and reduced heat dissipation are guaranteed, which will have a positive effect on the battery life. The increase in performance will be noticeable only in the case of a forced change using special utilities, or in future laptop models, where it will be possible to use the full potential of the memory modules used. Although, as you can see, in this case the increase in performance is practically not noticeable, which is also due to the specific features of DDR2 memory.

Conclusion

As you may have noticed, the performance of OCZ memory does not significantly exceed the performance of other modules, including No-name, which is due to the use of hard-coded synchronization parameters that limit the capabilities of high-performance memory chips, as well as some architectural features of modern laptops (such as a processor and memory controller). However, as we said above, performance in a mobile platform is not the most important thing, much more important - stability in offline mode, which directly depends on the quality of memory, where OCZ is the undisputed leader.

We are grateful to Svega Computer for the OCZ memory modules provided for testing.

Maxim Babenkov

OCZ Technology Co, Ltd, specializing in the production of memory of all types, back in September last year presented the ATI Certified series, which includes PC2-5400 and PC2-6400 memory modules with different capacities. The memory can be supplied in 1 GB modules or in sets of two for use in dual channel mode. This delivery option looks the most relevant considering the requirements of modern gaming applications.

Modules of this series appeared on the Russian market relatively recently, so we were glad to have the opportunity to test them. In this article, we will consider one of the sets of PC2-6400 (DDR2-800) memory modules belonging to this series - OCZ2A8002GK.

Memory modules ATI series Certified are positioned by the manufacturer for extreme gamers and tested under the ATI certification program. The manufacturer not only declared high level performance and reliability of the modules, but also guaranteed their excellent compatibility with CrossFire technology. A feature of all OCZ DDR2 PC2-6400 ATI CrossFire Dual Channel modules is the use of a well-proven cooling system, which is an XTC (Xtreme Thermal Convection) heatsink with the ATI Certified logo. It is made of aluminum and painted red. Heatsink fins are installed on both sides of the module. The memory chips are mounted on both sides of the PCB. The XTC heatsink effectively removes heat from hot modules, thereby increasing their durability and stability.

The set of OCZ2A8002GK RAM modules consists of a pair of 1024 MB strips each. Each module is based on 16 64 MB chips. FBGA chips marked OCZ X42P1208401-3 are used as memory chips. The modules operate in dual-channel mode at 800 MHz with 4-4-4-15 timings (CAS-TRCD-TRP-TRAS). The nominal supply voltage is 2.1 V. Thanks to OCZ's EVP (Extended Voltage Protection) technology, the voltage can be slightly increased to 2.2 V ± 5%. Note that increasing the voltage does not deprive the user of the proprietary lifetime warranty for the modules.

During testing, these memory modules worked not only at the declared standard parameters, but also at more aggressive frequency settings and timings. The highest frequency of OCZ DDR2 PC2-6400 ATI CrossFire Dual Channel memory, at which we managed to start the system, was 930 MHz with timings of 4-4-4-14.

The bench for testing memory modules had the following configuration:

Processor - Intel Core 2 Extreme Edition QX6700 (clock speed - 2.66 GHz, L2 cache - 4 MB);

Motherboard - MSI P6N SLI Platinum;

Chipset - NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI (C55 SPP + nForce 430 MCP);

Frequency - 133-750 MHz (in 1 MHz steps);

Video card - ATI Radeon X1900XTX.

Testing conducted under management operating system Windows Professional SP2 with all installed on this moment updates. As tests, we used various synthetic test utilities included in the packages SiSoftware Sandra, Everest Ultimate Edition and Right Mark Memory Analyzer. In addition to synthetic memory tests, the 3Dmark 2006 application was used to assess the stability of the system and see how different modes memory work for results in real applications.

Note that the results of testing memory modules should be considered together with a specific chipset and model. motherboard because on other platforms, memory modules can behave in a completely different way.

The results of testing OCZ DDR2 PC2-6400 ATI CrossFire Dual Channel memory modules at 800 and 930 MHz are shown in the table.

Memory module test results
OCZ DDR2 PC2-6400 ATI CrossFire Dual Channel

Memory modes			800 MHz, 4-4-4-15	930 MHz, 4-4-4-14
RightMark Memory Analyzer 3.72	RAM Performance, Stream, MB / s
	Average Memory Bandwidth, SSE2, MB / s
	Maximal RAM Bandwidth, Software Prefetch, SSE2, MB / s
	Average RAM Latency, ns	Forward Read Latency
		Backward Read Latency
		Random read latecy
		Pseudo-Random Read Latency
	Minimal RAM Latency, 32 Mbyte Block, L1 Cache line, ns	Forward Read Latency
		Backward Read Latency
		Random read latecy
		Pseudo-Random Read Latency
SiSoftware Sandra Lite 2007.5.11.35	Memory Bandwidth Int ALU, MB / s
	Memory Bandwidth Float FPU, MB / s
	Memory Latency (Linear), ns
	Memory Latency (Random), ns
	Combined Index, MB / s
Everest Ultimate Edition 2006 3.50.761	Read, MB / s
	Write, MB / s
	Copy, MB / s

It is obvious from the results of testing OCZ DDR2 PC2-6400 ATI CrossFire Dual Channel modules that increasing the memory frequency and maintaining the corresponding timings leads to an increase in memory bandwidth and a decrease in latency. In addition, an increase is noted not only in synthetic tests, but also in other applications. If earlier we emphasized that a decrease in memory timings has a significantly greater effect on memory performance than an increase in the clock frequency, then in this case the situation is somewhat different. We simply could not overclock the memory in timings at 800 MHz. True, the memory overclocked perfectly in frequency, allowing not to degrade the timings. It is because of this that there was an increase in memory bandwidth and a decrease in latency, while maintaining the stability of the system.

The editors would like to thank the Russian representative office of OCZ Technology (http://www.ocztechnology.com) for the set of OCZ DDR2 PC2-6400 ATI CrossFire Dual Channel memory modules provided for testing.