Memory - FB-DImms Less Expensive Than DDR3

At the moment, a 1 GB FB-DIMM module costs around €45 Compare Prices on 1 GB FB-DIMM Memory , making it twice as expensive as a DDR2 device. Compared to DDR3, on the other hand, it is 60% cheaper. Kingston makes most of the FB-DIMMs on offer in retail channels. In general, there isn't really a wide selection of FB-DIMMs.

Memory timings are also worse compared to conventional DDR2 memory. 533 MHz FB-DIMMs run at CL 4.0-4-4 , while 667 MHz modules are even slowed to 5.0-5-5. The review samples, which cannot be bought in stores, are clocked at 800 MHz and have 5.0-5-5-15 timings

FB-DImms: The 667 MHz Test Modules

Intel provided two 800 MHz FB-DIMM modules from Kingston for this test. These modules are engineering samples, and there are currently no modules available in stores at this speed. The samples used a timing of 5.0-5-5-15, which we were unable to improve even with voltage tweaks.

We had four 667 MHz Qimonda modules at our disposal for the quad-channel tests. We were able to set them to run at CL 4.0-4-4-12 without any problems.

Since the quad-channel configuration is much faster when it comes to write performance, we did not use the dual-channel mode for the tests.

FB-DImms - High Power Consumption And Up To 60°C

FB-DIMMs consume 2.36 times as much power as DDR2 memory.

In its manual, Intel recommends equipping the memory with an active fan. No fan is included with the system, however, and we're not sure how Intel imagines it should be mounted anyway.

Intel has a point, though. When one of our lab engineers attempted to swap some of the memory modules, he got a nasty burn for his trouble. When we measured the temperature of the FB-DIMM module, the thermometer indicated it was almost 60°C!

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