The launch of super-fast memory is great for the vendors selling it, as perceived technical advancement improves brand status, even for the folks buying less expensive lower-end kits. It’s no wonder then that everyone in the industry shouts-out DDR3-2000 (and faster) modules. Meanwhile, we receive dozens of review requests from the vendors and our readers alike. Innovation is great, and we welcome the opportunity to test the fastest hardware around.
But the challenge becomes picking between the review samples that are truly representative of what you can buy versus components that never really see retail or e-tail availability. Sometimes the kits turn out to be vaporware, largely unavailable, and some others are hand-picked samples specifically chosen for review sites and a handful of high-profile overclockers. Those well-known overclockers might appreciate receiving better parts than everyone else could hope to buy, but again, that doesn't help "the rest of us." Thus, we've made darn sure that every module in today’s comparison is available retail, and published prices even allow us to do a limited value assessment.
Less devious is the fact that module manufacturers battle each other over a limited supply of top memory chips, leaving many short on quantity. The easiest way to for a manufacturer to deal with a short supply of components is to raise its price on associated modules and module kits, so it can keep enough in stock to fill a reduced number of orders. But “overpricing” isn’t always the result of a single manufacturer’s parts shortage, as some re-bin the parts they do get and charge more for the “best of the best”. The result is a wide price range for modules of the same rated frequency.
| DDR3-2000 Rated Timings And Voltage | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Latencies | Voltage | Price |
| Corsair Dominator GT TR3X6G2000C8GTF | 8-8-8-24 | 1.65V | |
| G.Skill Perfect Storm F3-16000CL7T-6GBPS | 7-8-7-20 | 1.65V | |
| OCZ Blade OCZ3B2000LV6GK | 7-8-7-20 | 1.65V | |
| Patriot Viper PVT36G2000LLK | 8-8-8-24 | 1.65V | |
| Super Talent Chrome WB200UX6G9 | 9-9-9-28 | 1.65V | $215.00 |
| Kingston HyperX KHX16000D3ULT1K3/6GX | 8-8-8-24 | 1.65V | |
Before we see how far these modules can really be pushed, let’s take a closer look at the features that make each of these products unique.
Much has been made since the inception of Nehalem about the offical "safe" vDimm limit of 1.65v. There have been no lack of intrepid overclockers who've pushed this spec to 1.7, even 1.75 volts. I want to see the actual limitation demonstrated in spectacular fashion with pictures. Also, I highly suspect memory voltage on the X58 platform is capable of increasing the CPU heat output; it would be satisfying to see confirmation of this. Give this idea some thought.
Much has been made since the inception of Nehalem about the offical "safe" vDimm limit of 1.65v. There have been no lack of intrepid overclockers who've pushed this spec to 1.7, even 1.75 volts. I want to see the actual limitation demonstrated in spectacular fashion with pictures. Also, I highly suspect memory voltage on the X58 platform is capable of increasing the CPU heat output; it would be satisfying to see confirmation of this. Give this idea some thought.
Yes, in in many cases high end ram give slight increases, those ranges of 10-15% are common for bandwidth. Yet the i7 system is so advanced and so far a head of software, the software rarely knows the difference or the results i should say.
WSZ says: Skip 2000 ram, go for 1600 ram, a 920 at 1500-1700 fsb is untouchable for the pricer to performance provided. THG has show muskin 7-7-7 or slightly higher latecy ram to really blow everyone away.
We live in the best times, for the advancement of computer parts, we an not shirink for ever!!! We are at 32nm? Then what 3 atoms thickness?
Yes, AMD really has a good system now with the south bridge 750 oc, but nobody cares - i mean my customers. 7-8-7-20 at 1.65v at 1550 to 1650 is the sweet spot if you can squeeze it out - you may just go with 8-8-8-24 with 6GB of $100 ram. Sweet spot on the 20 multipier is 3.8ghz air cooled. We getting 4.4ghz with water - i toss a photo in for fun - this is mid level system with minmual rads but runs 70-75c at 4.3ghz all day with quad sli: http://s329.photobucket.com/albums/l373/warpedsystems/?action=view¤t=WSZ-WCcm-T31.jpg
system was find, after 3 weeks starting have issues - crashes
bottom line is do not to it - 1.33-1.35v is fine for most QPI
in fact this has not change for 3 years
around 1600-1700 is the sweet spot, in highend and exact system, make just one lateny setting lower - we are build 3 systems. one, is a $4000 air cooled system, one is a $5000 water cooled and one is a $6000+ water - these are not gaming sytems.
Getting the fsb is right is the most important thing in building a system, while i can it fsb in a i7 - it still the memory bus evern if its not fsb or front side bus
2-2-2-5 ram for ddr400 ddr
3-3-4-8 ram in ddr800 ddr2
7-7-7-20 with ddr3
Unfortunately that's impossible. They don't die instantly, they die over a matter of weeks. Intel published a bunch of data on how long the memory controller last at various voltage levels, we're talking several weeks at 1.70v and at least a few days at 1.75v.
So, when the memory controller finally did die, nobody woul know whether the voltage or time was the most significant factor.
if you want to pot for the extra bandwidth get muskin
corasir gave us 10%+ more bandwidth at the same settings a supertalent - then again it was double the price
Unfortunately, it's impossible to get a fair program performance comparison between various speeds because DDR3-2000 isn't an available memory ratio.
Now, it would be nice to see in a new article how far you can push various cheap or value DD3 sticks.
Give us an edit function!
I would like to see that too.
How far can you push the cheapest 1066MHz DDR3 out there along with it's equally cheap buddies?
What about 1GB modules vs 2GB and the such?
Great article.
Tom's Hardware LOVES low-cost memory shootouts. Some research will be required however to find the best price/performance segment for that type of test, since sometimes the slowest modules aren't much cheaper than the next model up.
CAS_Latency 9-9-9-24
Capacity 6GB(2GBx3)
Speed DDR3-2133 (PC3 17066)
(which is currently pending vaporware with g skill)
Or
DDR3-2000
PC3-16000 6GB Kit 7-8-7-20 240pin DIMM
(Corsair just released some).
Any help figuring out that one would be appreciated.
What would not be appreciated are 17 posts telling me that even asking the question is senseless when there are plenty of way better bang for the buck memory kits out there that would give 98% of the performance. Yes, I know. Thanks in advance.
The very concept of DDR3-2133 is worthless to begin with, since it requires so much Uncore voltage that you'll probably fry the processor in weeks. Core i7 simply isn't that stable.
In fact, if you even care about your CPU you should choose a slower speed, say DDR3-1866, and tighter timings for performance. You'll find that at these speeds it's all about relative timings:
DDR3-1866 CAS 7 = DDR3-1600 CAS 6 = DDR3-2000 CAS 7.5 = DDR3-2133 CAS 8.
So, you not only suffer from lower performance with 2133 CAS 9, but you blow your CPU faster. It's a spectator sport that has more to do with big frequency claims than performance.
Of course I'm only talking about the applications that matter to DESKTOP users. Workstations and servers are another story.