Test Results: Corsair XMS4404v1.1

To be considered stable for test purposes, Quake3 benchmark, UT2003 Demo, Super PI, Aquamark 3, and Comanche 4 had to complete without incident. Any of these, and in particular Super PI, will crash a less-than stable memory configuration.

Corsair XMS4404v1.1 (DDR550) - 2x512Mb Double-Bank
CPU Ratio at 2.4GHz Memory Speed Memory Timings
& Voltage
Quake3
fps
Sandra UNBuffered Sandra Standard Buffered Super PI 2M places
(time in sec)
Wolfenstein - Radar - Enemy Territory
fps
12x200 400DDR 2-3-3-6
2.6V 1T
536.5 INT 2653
FLT 2839
INT 6113
FLT 6066
82 113.2
11x218 436DDR 2-3-3-6
2.6V 1T
543.2 INT 2772
FLT 3023
INT 6488
FLT 6419
81 114.0
10x240 480DDR 2-3-3-6
2.8V 1T
553.7 INT 3037
FLT 3243
INT 6723
FLT 6645
80 115.9
9x267 533DDR 2.5-3-3-6
2.8V 1T
562.0 INT 3196
FLT 3477
INT 7084
FLT 7004
77 117.2
9x303
(2.73 Ghz)
Highest Memory Speed 2.5-4-4-6
2.9V 1T
620.7 INT 3403
FLT 3660
INT 7742
FLT 7683
73 131.1
10x280
(2.8 GHz)
Highest CPU/Mem Performance 2.5-4-3-6
2.9V 1T
626.0 INT 3409
FLT 3611
INT 7799
FLT 7707
71 135.8

Corsair was reviewed in Corsair 4400C25: Taking Samsung TCCD to New Heights. It is very interesting to see that the DFI board opens up performance of the Corsair a bit more, allowing use to reach a high of 303 (DDR606) at 1T compared to the 295 (DDR590) top 1T performance in the past review. However, the fastest performance was achieved at 10x280 at faster memory timings of 2.5-4-3-6 and a higher CPU speed of 2.8GHz.

Corsair selected Samsung TCCD chips for absolute best performance at the top and they succeeded in reaching this goal. The compromise was a bit less performance at DDR400 - at least with the modules that we tested. However, we suspect that the timings used by DFI are not the best match to this Corsair memory, since regular TCCD memory rated at DDR400 outperforms the Corsair at the top - results that are the opposite of what we have seen on other nVidia chipset boards. It looks as if Corsair and DFI could squeeze more performance from this combination with some tweaking.

It is interesting in these test results that the faster 9x303 (2.73GHz) cannot match OCZ VX at 2.67GHz. However, at 2.8GHz (10x280), the Corsair TCCD can roughly match performance of VX at 2.67GHz. It is clear that faster 2-2-2 memory timings of the OCZ VX do matter when it comes to performance.

Test Results: OCZ EL PC4000 VX Gold Test Results: Crucial Ballistix PC3200
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  • renzokuken - Wednesday, March 30, 2005 - link

    Wesley, you've made my day. Thankyou for this follow-up review. The only thing I didn't like is the following statement "The Corsair did not do as well at the highest speeds on the DFI as it has done on other platforms, but that can likely be fixed with a BIOS revision". I'd love to know if/when this BIOS revision will be released and how much it will affect the Corsairs results.

    Btw, if anyone can tell me how to change the password required to post a comment I would be eternally grateful
  • arswihart - Wednesday, March 30, 2005 - link

    zebo, i have no idea what you tried to just say
  • JoKeRr - Wednesday, March 30, 2005 - link

    look at corsair and mushkin tccd (3200s) that doesn't use BP pcb, they almost never break 260 either
  • JoKeRr - Wednesday, March 30, 2005 - link

    but I don't ballsitix uses BP pcb, if it does, it will prob. kill tccd.
  • Zebo - Wednesday, March 30, 2005 - link

    Consistancy. It's not there. Just browse various forums.. some like us report kick arse performance some can't even get 220Mhz out of it w low timings.

    When you buy TCCD any moron can get at least 275Mhz out of it which is very appealing until you look past sisuck numbers. Also, in general, TCCD is more flexible because of that. Can run 2-2-2 @ 200 just like Ballistix but can also run up around 300Mhz and everything in between. I've never seen ballistix posting at anything above 275 w/1T.
  • Zebo - Wednesday, March 30, 2005 - link

    "anandtech is the biggest dfi propaganda site on the web"

    They use the best mobo in mem guides this is nothing new where you been? Back in NF3 days it's was MSI NEO2..Back w intel tests it was Asus..actually this is the first time I ever seen them using DFI which stand to raseon since it's the NF4 winnar.
  • ozzimark - Wednesday, March 30, 2005 - link

    #35-
    one thing i never understood. ballistix (more the micron -5b chips than ballistix itself) has an amazing performance/ocing to cost ratio. plus, it oc's at tight timings fairly well without much voltage. how come it was never very popular like BH-5/UTT and TCCD?
  • Zebo - Wednesday, March 30, 2005 - link

    Joker, Ballistix is essentially EB..so it likes up to 3.1 too but runs hot...need to cool it activly and have a mobo which staggers mem like DFI's.. i.e geographically in slots: Mem--Blank--Mem--Blank to allow air flow.

    I personally run 245Mhz 2.5-2-2 1T @ 2.8

    But screwing around w/ volts I get 261 2.5-2-2 w/o error But since I'm a silence freak it's not for me.

    Still this winbond UTT mem is better overall if you plan to send high volts to mem anywayz
  • Zebo - Wednesday, March 30, 2005 - link

    "TCCD isn't the holy grail of RAM anymore."

    It never was. It's loose arse timings always got whooped by Ballistix, and especially "old" BH-5 in the benchmarks running async with tight timings and moderate BW. This new ram is from co that brought you BH-5 and it's prolly better except it can't run 1.5 CAS.
  • arswihart - Wednesday, March 30, 2005 - link

    anandtech decides to focus on dfi and ocz as a magical combination, no matter what qualifications they make in the article they are still selling these specific products to readers. Its reflected in the forums and probably in sales. I don't like how anandtech's articles are beginning to constantly offer suggestions and declarations about the best this and that (often just based on what they have reviewed to date, not all that is available).

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