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DDR2 Takes Off: OCZ PC2-4200 Rev.2 and ASUS P5AD2-E |
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Maximum Overclock, ASUS P5AD2-E, Final Thoughts
PUSHING THE LIMIT:
We finally tried to figure out the maximum stable frequency for our DDR2 sticks. We could push the OCZ to 674 MHz with latency timings of 3-2-2-2 while CPU and memory were running synchronously at 1:1. This gave us a bandwidth of around 7300 MB/sec in Sandra, the best result we achieved in our test. After reducing the timings to 4-3-3-8 and running CPU and RAM asynchronously at 3:4 we could push the frequency up to 814 MHz. At this frequency the bandwidth was lower than at 674 in 3-2-2-2; obviously the higher frequency could not compensate for the higher (slower) latency. This bandwidth drop is not specifically related to the OCZ DDR2 modules - it can be observed with other products as well, be they DDR1 or DDR2. Lower (i.e. better) latencies are generally more beneficial for bandwidth and overall system performance than running the memory at higher frequencies and higher, less aggressive latencies.
We observed the same phenomena with Samsung PC2-4200 and Crucial Ballistix PC2-5300. The latter would yield the highest bandwidth at 650 MHz and 4-4-3-10. We could push it to around 700 MHz in 5-5-5-10, but again we could see that the higher frequency did not compensate for the higher (slower) latency timings.
OCZ bandwidth in EVEREST
OCZ bandwidth in Sandra
OCZ bandwidth in ScienceMark 2.0
ASUS P5AD2-E:
A few words about the motherboard we used for this test: OCZ’s PC2-4200 Rev 2 memory and ASUS's P5AD2-E are certainly a perfect match. But there is more to this motherboard than sheer performance. With 8 SATA channels, 3 RAID controllers for SATA and PATA, wireless LAN, dual Gigabit LAN, IEEE1394 a/b (FireWire 800) and many more features the P5AD2-E is the most complete board we have ever tested. In the course of our tests we achieved some stunning results with this product, not only regarding the OCZ memory. System performance at stock speed was consistently above the results we achieved with the Intel 925XE reference board. But even more amazing was that we could run the P5AD2-E with a front-side-bus frequency of 4 x 360 MHz = 1,440 MHz. Our 3.46 GHz Extreme Edition, a processor type which is not known to be a good overclocker, managed 4,046 MHz air-cooled on this board. Another great feature with ASUS motherboards are the frequent BIOS updates. Within the 6 weeks we used the P5AD2-E for the OCZ PC2-4200 tests, ASUS posted 3 BIOS updates, each one better than the previous one.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Without doubt OCZ PC2-4200 Rev 2 is the best performing DDR2 in the market as no other product is currently capable of running at 667 MHz with latency timings of 3-2-2-2. Unfortunately the OCZ dual channel kit carries a hefty price tag of around 400 US$, which means not many users will have the opportunity to enjoy this product. Crucial's Ballistix is a little cheaper, but nonetheless not a good alternative considering that OCZ is performing and overclocking clearly better. Even though the Samsung modules gave the lowest performance and did not run at 667 MHz they are still acceptable in terms of value for money considering that a set of 2 x 512 MB only costs around 200 US$.
To sum it up: There is no longer anything to complain about, in terms of DDR2 performance, with OCZ PC2-4200 Rev 2 available now. Bear in mind that DDR2 is still at the beginning of its development and over the next few years we will see even faster DDR2 memory. However, for the time being OCZ PC2-4200 Rev 2 is the product to beat. OCZ is already a well established name for high-end PC components; with their PC2-4200 Rev 2 they have added another highlight to their product line.
Further reading:
JEDEC specifications for DDR2 here (PDF).
Product description OCZ PC2-4200 Rev.2 here.
Product description Crucial Ballistix PC2-5300 here.
Product Description Samsung PC2-4200 here.
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