Searching for the Memory Holy Grail - Part 2
by Wesley Fink on August 26, 2003 11:11 PM EST- Posted in
- Memory
Final Words
All of the modules that we tested performed very well at DDR500. If you plan to only run your new DDR500 at rated speed, then any of the memory we tested will meet your needs: Adata PC4000, Corsair XMS4000, Geil Platinum 4000, Kingston HyperX 4000, OCZ 4000, and OCZ 3700 Gold. Keep in mind that your CPU must be capable of running at a raw 250FSB or 1000FSB to run your memory at DDR500. The higher-speed Pentium 4 CPUs — the 2.8C, 3.0C, or 3.2C — cannot usually reach this bus speed and you will likely be running your memory at less than DDR500 speed. Many 2.4C and 2.6C CPUs that we have tested can run at DDR500. The new DDR500 memory is an excellent match for these processors.
Among the DDR500 group, the very different behavior of 2 Single-Bank Kingston HyperX 4000 compared to 4 Single-Bank would recommend that you buy four single-sided modules for best performance and overclocking if you choose single-bank modules for DDR500.
At DDR500 and DDR400, the fastest memory performance was found with OCZ 3700 Gold, because the memory supports faster timings than other memory tested here. The OCZ 3700 Gold ran at very fast 2-2-3-6 timings at DDR400, but still overclocked to DDR528 at 2.5-3-4-7 timings at 2.85V. For faster P4s, the OCZ is an excellent choice that will give you the headroom for the best overclock possible with your CPU, while still providing faster timings for the DDR400 range. Kingston and Adata also performed well with fast timings at DDR400, and would also be good choices for a higher-speed Pentium 4. The Adata PC4000 is selling at very low prices compared to the premium brands that we tested here; and while it is not the best overclocker, it certainly does perform to DDR500 and beyond. Adata is, however, difficult to find in the US.
The modules using Hynix memory were the best performers at the very highest speeds. Corsair, OCZ and Geil were all at the top of the performance charts from DDR500 to the highest overclock that they could achieve. But the top two here — OCZ 4000 and Geil Platinum 4000 — reached significantly higher overclocks than Corsair and turned in the highest performance numbers in our round-up.
You will find variation in performance of memory modules, and thus, we cannot guarantee that your memory purchase will achieve the same performance levels as stated in this review. However, we are truly astounded by the ability of OCZ 4000 Copper to perform at DDR 552, the fastest memory that we have tested thus far. If your CPU can handle a raw 275 bus speed (and a few can), then OCZ 4000 will provide synchronous memory performance at levels that we could only imagine a short time ago.
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Anonymous User - Wednesday, August 27, 2003 - link
#12: You are completely wrong. OCZ IS A PAID ADVERTISER. You should follow your own advice and look more carefully at the sponsored links.Anonymous User - Wednesday, August 27, 2003 - link
it has been going downhill for a longtime. fewer updates,less contentAnonymous User - Wednesday, August 27, 2003 - link
I totally agree with #14. Anandtech is just going down hill. It's funny how even though you say OCZ isn't any sort of advertiser that it's name is plastered all over the site and you always proclaim it better.You are pleasing the people that your advertisers are pimping. Simple economics. Please the folks that are advertising the product because you are giving it such high ratings.
Only blind people can't see what's going on. Business is business. I bet if you gave Corsair the high honor's then these so called Atacom people would be promoting Corsair.
Anonymous User - Wednesday, August 27, 2003 - link
"We asked major memory manufacturers to supply DDR500 or the fastest memory that they had available for comparison in our High-Speed memory roundup."That is rather disappointing. The incentive for manufacturers to cherry-pick modules for review on a site as influential as Anandtech is simply to great to be ignored.
Otherwise, a very nicely done review.
Icewind - Wednesday, August 27, 2003 - link
Meh, my 3700 Corsair is doing plenty well for me. Rather spend the money on a 5900 Ultra that will make more of a difference in my systemKristopherKubicki - Wednesday, August 27, 2003 - link
#11: OCZ is not a paid advertiser. If you pay attention to those links, you'll see its companies like ATACOM, Newegg, and SVC promoting OCZ memory. If you do not feel comfortable with OCZ, then I would suggest not using those merchants.Kristopher
Anonymous User - Wednesday, August 27, 2003 - link
What do you know... Another of their "PAID ADVERTISER" wins out again! This site has become nothing but pimping their fricken advertisers. Who believes the spew that has come from this site lately? Ever since the OBVIOUS BS review of the GeForce FX 5900. This site lost all credibility.Whoa! What do you know... "Sponsored Links (Get Listed)... And look whose down there. OCZ... Blah! This site is nothing about padding the pockets.
Anonymous User - Wednesday, August 27, 2003 - link
^^^ huh?Anyway, great review Wes, you rock!
Anonymous User - Wednesday, August 27, 2003 - link
oh bleh.. all of a sudden i feel... not coolWesley Fink - Wednesday, August 27, 2003 - link
4 chips per side is single-bank memory. It behaves like single-sided.