PC8500 memory = expensive overvolted PC6400 memory?

[kittyhawk]

I noticed that PC8500 (DDRII - 1066) memory is run at 2.0V (or sometimes even higher).

Could PC8500 memory actually be overvolted PC6400 memory, but sold at much higher prices?

 

[badge]

Think of DDR. PC2100, PC2700, PC3200, PC4000. The upward speed precession is not simply achieved by overvolting the same chips.

This is not overvolted PC6400 sold at higher prices and it easily runs beyond PC8500 specs.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231145

 

[badge]

The introduction to this article may shed some light on the subject.
http://www.anandtech.com/memory/showdoc.aspx?i=3053

 

[ausch30]

According to JEDEC the highest DDR2 memory is DDR2 800 at 1.8v so anything sold above that speed is just overvolted PC6400. Some manufacturers might seek out the best chips to use in their higher end modules but as long as you buy quality DDR2 800 you should have no problem running at or above 1066 speeds. Take this for example
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/memory/display/ddr2-800_7.html#sect
This is the memory I'm currently using which is PC6400 and they had it up to 1138 at 2.3v and 1130 5-5-5-15 at 2.1v.

 

[badge]

Are you saying RAM manufacturer's 'rebadge' their PC6400 to higher rated speed simply by overvolting it and selling it for higher prices? Some do, but I don't think it is widespread.

 

[badge]

Mushkin sold you your PC6400 and you can clock it to near PC8500 levels at CAS 4. If you set it to CAS 5 it may clock above PC8500 levels. You can increase specified voltage too to achieve faster data transfer rates. Mushkin did you a favor by selling the chips you have at PC6400 levels. The RAM rates well above the standard for PC6400.

I would bet Mushkin's PC8500 is rated at CAS 5, 2.0-2.2v. Besides 'binning' of the chips (quality) I would 'guess' Mushkins PC8500 is a different chip or at least from a different 'lot' of chips of higher bin. I may not be right, but my 2 cents anyway.

 

[ausch30]

As I said the standard for DDR2 memory is 1.8v. If you believe there really is DDR2 1066 memory then try to find some 1066 which runs at 1.8v. Mushkin's XP2 8500 is rated at 5-5-4-12 2.2v-2.35v. You are correct in the binning process so with buying higher speed RAM in most cases you are buying superior chips but I don't know of any high quality DDR2 800 that won't run at 1066 and beyond and just because it's sold as 8500 doesn't guarantee it will overclock better or faster than DDR2 800 it's just guaranteed to work overclocked to 1066.

 

[badge]

I use PC28000 '2GB' DIMMS rated at 2.0-2.1v. I have PC6400 Micron D9's 1GB DIMMs that will run over 1000mhz., but not at 2.1v. I haven't had my PC28000 2GB DIMMs long (in the link I posted), but I am sure they will clock well above 1200mhz. and totally stable and probably at 2.2v Which of course my PC6400 D9's will not do. All from the same company, G. Skill.

 

[ausch30]

This is an image of my RAM running at Mushkin's ratings for their 8500 and I paid $110 for 2x1gb. The price difference between Mushkin's 6400 and 8500 is only $10 which leads me to believe they are likely the same chips but I think other companies might skimp on the lower speed parts to come in at a lower price point. Also a lot of companies sell overvolted 667 as DDR2 800, if you look at the specs you will see something like DDR2 800 2.2v and when you put it in your system it will be running at DDR2 667 1.8v and you will have to manually increase it. The things companies do to screw consumers.

 

[badge]

Yeah, My PC6400 will do the same thing, but I paid a fortune for it last year! I could put up a screen shot of my PC28000 at 1200+ mhz. But not with my PC6400.

 

[ausch30]

What are the SPD ratings for those PC2 8000?

 

[badge]

PC28000 1000mhz. 2.0-2.1v 5-5-5-15. Eight gigs cost $250. Funny to say that. I just installed it yesterday. Works perfect at those Mfg. specs.

 

[ausch30]

At $31.25 a gig that's a really good price.

 

[badge]

I just installed the RAM last night. I set it to mfg. specs and haven't had time to tweak it at all. Yeah, great price and the RAM appears to have some headroom.

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/4272/pc28000123bu5.jpg

 

[badge]

This is 8 gigs at 2.1v 5-5-5-15 no problem.

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/7972/8gbs123ho7.jpg

 

[badge]

I just noticed CPUZ picks it up as PC6400! Rebadged! No, I think CPUZ just doesn't have the software to distinguish from PC6400. Afteraall, it's designated as PQ by G. Skill! 8)

 

[ausch30]

No it's just that JEDEC standards don't go over 800 so all DDR2 memory has to have a SPD rating of 400, 533, 667 or 800 at 1.8v, anything above that will be listed as EPP.

 

[badge]

Here PC Wizard designates it as PC28600 535mhz., then shows four DIMMS as being PC6400.

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/5002/dimms1238000zi7.jpg

 

[ausch30]

I think that one is a little confused because at first it has it running at 535 then it's 6400@399MHz. Buying higher rated RAM is less important than buying higher quality RAM. Your G.Skill is good memory but there are other companies which aren't so good and if you buy looking at price alone your likely to get burned. A lot of people will see 2x2GB PC8500 $98 or whatever and as I stated before a lot of companies will sell RAM at their EPP speeds like DDR2 800 5-5-5-15 2.2v when the SPD is DDR2 667 5-5-5-15 1.8v so their paying 800 prices for 667 memory.

 

[badge]

PC Wizard is showing an 'overclock profile' which apparently includes a 'PC8600' rating for the RAM speed. OC'd from PC6400 speeds. Here are the X38 chipset specs:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131221

http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3&l2=11&l3=572&l4=0&model=1850&modelmenu=1

 

[hybrid]

Hey i just joined but here is something i have found,

Crucial DDR2 PC8500 2048MB CL7, 1.8V, 256Meg x 64, 240pin, 1066Mhz at:
http://www.crucial.com/store/partspecs.aspx?IMODULE=CT25664AA1067

it doesnt look like it comes with a heatsink so here is one from newegg.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185047

Since it is PC8500 and running at 1.8v and 1066mhz DDR2 some memory may be overvolted to look like PC8500 but not all is. hope this resolves the issue

 

[andrern2000]

Ok, so I bumped over this old thread with my case exactly questioning the same:
Is DDR2-8500 is just overvolted 6400??

How about these products of Patriot?

PATRIOT PGS24G6400ELK (2 X 2G) DDR 2 Module Kit - VIPER II Series ( VIPER Heat Shell II ) DDR2 GAMING EDITION Equipped with lightweight aluminum heat-dispersing shields, 5-5-5-12 $89.99
PATRIOT PDC24G6400 ELK (2 X 2G) DDR2,CL 5-5-5-12
PATRIOT PGS24G8500 C7K (2 X 2G),CL 7-7-7-20

Considering cheap price, is that DDR2-800 is an overvolted PC-667?
And is the PC-8500 is an overvolted PC-6400?

Sorry for reviving old thread, but I need to ask this.