Mainstream-Ready? DDR3-1600 Shootout

Features
By
published

Overclocking and Latency Results

We tested each 4 GB (2 x 2 GB) dual-channel memory kit to find its highest stable speed in Memtest86+ v1.70, using a maximum 1.90 volts and CAS 9-9-9-24. One module set, Aeneon’s XTune AHX860UD20-16H-K-4G, didn’t respond to such high voltage levels and was instead tested at 1.54 volts. The results were somewhat surprising.

Buffalo FireStix uses a similar heat spreader design to Corsair, but without the internal rows of fins to cool the PCB. Buffalo’s “simpler” parts still took a clear overclocking lead, probably due to slightly higher-quality chips.

Aeneon XTune came in second place, even with the lower required test voltage. These appear to be true PC3-12800 components rather than the most overclockable of lesser-rated parts.

Kingston’s HyperX modules do without so much as a single fin on its heat spreaders, yet these edged out Corsair’s similarly-priced XMS3.

Corsair defends its parts by stating that these are optimized for Nvidia chipsets, and also claims an average overclocking capability of 1800 MHz at CAS 8 using an Asus Striker II Extreme. We didn’t use the Striker II Extreme for today’s comparison, but Corsair’s claims are worth investigating when searching for the best memory for Nvidia’s 790i Ultra SLI chipset.

We were hoping that at least some of the modules would overclock to DDR3-2000, and chose the appropriate 500 MHz FSB clock. While none of today’s competitors overclocked that far, we were able to get some interesting results at DDR3-1666 and DDR3-1333.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
DDR3-1600 at 1.90V (Max)DDR3-1667DDR3-1333
Kingston HyperX KHX12800D3G-2G7-7-6-156-5-5-10
Buffalo FireStix FSI1600D3G-2G7-7-6-156-6-5-12
OCZ Reaper HPC OCZ3RPR16004GK7-7-7-156-6-5-12
Corsair TW3X4G-1600C9DHXNV7-7-7-156-6-6-12
Mushkin Enhanced HP3-12800 9966297-7-7-206-6-5-12
Aeneon XTune AXH860UD20-16H9-9-6-187-7-5-12
PDP Patriot PVS34G1600LLKCrash6-5-5-10
Wintec AMPX 3AXH1600C8WS4GKCrash6-6-7-13

Two dual-channel kits achieved low 7-7-6-15 timings at DDR3-1667, and two achieved 6-5-5-10 timings at DDR3-1333, but only Kingston’s HyperX could do both. A second-place finish at both speeds sets OCZ Reaper HPC apart in value, since careful shoppers can find these around 25% cheaper than the Kingston parts.

TOPICS
Thomas Soderstrom
Thomas Soderstrom
Thomas Soderstrom is a Senior Staff Editor at Tom's Hardware US. He tests and reviews cases, cooling, memory and motherboards.
23 Comments Comment from the forums
  • emp
    Unless you guys know something that I don't (which is perfectly possible), as far as I understand the X58 will have a DDR3-1066 standard, which in my eyes makes DDR3-1333 the more coveted overclocking without breaking the bank. Unless DDR3-1600 makes a REAL improvement in overclocking capabilities (and I don't think it does, isn't that one of the features the IMC is supposed to bring?), I'd like to see more DDR3-1333 round ups, which in my opinion will be the more sought after memory with the masses.
    Reply
  • Crashman
    Rumors are all over the place on the new CPU, with support for up to DDR3-2000 rumored as an option for tuners (read, overclockers). This memory overclocking mode is also rumored to be available at stock CPU speeds.
    Reply
  • cangelini
    empUnless you guys know something that I don't (which is perfectly possible), as far as I understand the X58 will have a DDR3-1066 standard, which in my eyes makes DDR3-1333 the more coveted overclocking without breaking the bank. Unless DDR3-1600 makes a REAL improvement in overclocking capabilities (and I don't think it does, isn't that one of the features the IMC is supposed to bring?), I'd like to see more DDR3-1333 round ups, which in my opinion will be the more sought after memory with the masses.
    Heya emp! It'll officially be doing DDR3-1066 out of the gate. However, you're probably going to see motherboard vendors enabling 1333, 1600, and 2000 as well, which is why we were hoping some of these modules would hit that number with overclocking.
    Reply
  • cangelini
    lacritsI recent the online survey I am promted when trying to continue in the article! There was no way for me to "x"-out the message, I had to answer in the "applet http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Applet " itself. I don't trust such content and would like the option to not answer in the applet at all!If I see this crap repeatadly here at Toms when viewing articles or reading other content I'll stop visiting this site altogether.. I've been a frequent visitor for years.. But this is not acceptable from a security stand point!
    I'll look into the issue you're talking about lacrits--thanks for the heads-up.
    Reply
  • geok1ng
    Sub optimal results for DDR3 2x2GB kits. To compensated for the increased tRD and timings over DDR2 counterparts DDR3 kits should achieve DDR3 1333 CAS5, DDR3 1600 CAS6 and DDR 1800 CAS7, numbers that not a single kit in the article was capable, showing that 2x2GB DDR3 kits are much more slower than 2x1GB parts. DDR3 ony makes sense on the 2:1 divider, so we are talking about DDR3 1600-1800 speeds for optimal performance but at this range only a few Motherboards accept tRDs of 6, and most cant even handle tRDs of 7. Until further results i still advocate the use if DDR2 2x2GB kits capable of CAS5 tRD5 operation mostly on the 1150-1250Mhz range, all of them south of the $200 mark...
    Reply
  • itadakimasu
    However, you're probably going to see motherboard vendors enabling 1333, 1600, and 2000 as well, which is why we were hoping some of these modules would hit that number with overclocking.

    this is said like its not happened.... my most recent build on a gigabyte p45 board is running 2gb of ocz platinum ddr3-1333 @ 750mhz like a champ...

    this was built well over a month ago and there were several boards then supporting 1600 fsb and ddr3-2000.

    my ram defaulted out at its stated 7-7-7 timings @ 667mhz stated speeds.
    Reply
  • emp
    Yep, I figured as much on my own, cangelini. However DDR3 1333 in my opinion is getting there to the "acceptable" price range, but DDR3-1600 still has a long way to go. I'd like to see soon after Core i7 and the X58 chipset is released an article about the effect of DDR3-1066, DDR3-1333, and DDR3-1600 on overclocking, I believe that's when we'll be able to make an informed decision on which are "mainstream ready & accepted"
    Reply
  • cangelini
    itadakimasuthis is said like its not happened.... my most recent build on a gigabyte p45 board is running 2gb of ocz platinum ddr3-1333 @ 750mhz like a champ...this was built well over a month ago and there were several boards then supporting 1600 fsb and ddr3-2000. my ram defaulted out at its stated 7-7-7 timings @ 667mhz stated speeds.
    It hasn't--X58 isn't out yet. The response was to emp's question on Nehalem =)
    Reply
  • eodeo
    X58 isn't out yet.
    whats the point of this review than?

    ddr3 hardly offers a solid 1% over ddr2 while the price would suggest otherwise. Same goes for the i7. How fast will it have to be to compare to 3.6ghz core2 quad? at what price?

    face it, ddr3 is useless to us, and only reason any sane person would even be considering it is due to intel making it mandatory for the i7.

    sure it will be nice one day in the future. So, 'till the future comes, in a year or two, stick with ddr2 pc800, you dont need any faster anyways.
    Reply
  • Crashman
    eodeowhats the point of this review than? ddr3 hardly offers a solid 1% over ddr2 while the price would suggest otherwise. Same goes for the i7. How fast will it have to be to compare to 3.6ghz core2 quad? at what price?face it, ddr3 is useless to us, and only reason any sane person would even be considering it is due to intel making it mandatory for the i7.sure it will be nice one day in the future. So, 'till the future comes, in a year or two, stick with ddr2 pc800, you dont need any faster anyways.
    LOL, I know you meant PC2-6400. Because PC800 is DDR...RDRAM.
    Reply