OCZ VX Revisited: DDR Updates on DFI nForce4
by Wesley Fink on March 30, 2005 12:05 AM EST- Posted in
- Memory
Test Results: OCZ EL PC4000 VX Gold
| OCZ EL PC4000 VX Gold (DDR500) - 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 (Stock V) |
2-3-2-6 2.6V 1T (Stock V) |
567.4 | INT 2852 FLT 3000 |
INT 6128 FLT 6082 |
81 | 119.2 |
| 12x200 | 400DDR | 2-2-2-6 3.0V 1T |
572.8 | INT 2918 FLT 3070 |
INT 6154 FLT 6100 |
80 | 120.2 |
| 11x218 | 436DDR | 2-2-2-6 3.1V 1T |
580.2 | INT 3075 FLT 3250 |
INT 6538 FLT 6465 |
80 | 121.4 |
| 10x240 | 480DDR | 2-2-2-6 3.2V 1T |
600.1 | INT 3230 FLT 3402 |
INT 6804 FLT 6726 |
78 | 123.5 |
| 9x267 | 533DDR | 2-2-2-6 3.5V 1T |
601.5 | INT 3479 FLT 3670 |
INT 7140 FLT 7054 |
77 | 124.8 |
| 10x250 | Rated Speed 500DDR | 2-2-2-6 3.2V 1T |
612.2 | INT 3364 FLT 3557 |
INT 7093 FLT 7009 |
75 | 128.4 |
| 10x267 (2.67 GHz) |
Highest CPU/Mem Performance | 2-2-2-6 3.5V 1T |
645.0 | INT 3465 FLT 3630 |
INT 7552 FLT 7460 |
71 | 135.7 |
The top row of Performance results at 2.6V is included as a performance baseline. While VX cannot achieve 2-2-2 timings at stock voltage at DDR400, it can be coaxed easily into 2-2-2 performance at DDR400 with more voltage. With these modules, we reached an extremely stable DDR400 2-2-2-6 at 3.0V. We then maintained 2-2-2-6 timings all the way to DDR538, which required 3.6V for complete stability. The voltage requirements from 3.0 to 3.6 volts were very linear to Memory Speed.
The important results here are rows 2 to 6, where CPU speed is kept at 2.4GHZ and only the Memory Speed is varied. The performance differences you see in that range are a result of Memory Speed and timings only. In the case of VX, where memory timings also remain constant, the true impact of just memory speed can be clearly seen. It is not a huge difference in real-world benchmarks, but the increase is real nonetheless.
However, speed from 400 to 533 is not the only thing that is important with OCZ VX. Please take a look at VX performance in our later performance comparisons. Look at each of these speeds comparing VX to the best AMD TCCD and other memory that we have tested and you will see something very interesting. VX is faster at every speed than competing memory that we have tested. This means all 2-2-2 is not created equal, as VX is faster at every speed than the competition at 2-2-2.
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adg1034 - Tuesday, April 19, 2005 - link
Wesley- could you do a follow-up with the "Value VX"? I'd love to see how that does.Gogar - Friday, April 15, 2005 - link
I'm wondering how a 3000+ would perform in the used setup with the OCZ Plat rev2. Assuming it can reach the MHZ, would it really be the same as a 4000+?JoKeRr - Sunday, April 3, 2005 - link
#50, pretty sure A8N SLI gives Vdimm upto 3V.ISS - Saturday, April 2, 2005 - link
No doubt OCZ VX memory is cool. However, there is 1 major point to consider which I don't think anandtech did mention.Whats the long term effects of pushing running 3.5V on A64. I have read from forums that some users ended up with dead CPUs after pushing high memory voltages. I am not sure but I guess they have a dead memory controller. Can A64's on-die memory controller handle 3.5V Vdimm for prolong periods? Such as 3-6 months or even longer?
AMD did mention before that running high Vdimm may damage the CPU and void the warranty though. Also, you would have notice that literally all board manufacturers other than DFI limits the Vdimm to just 2.85V.
cryptonomicon - Thursday, March 31, 2005 - link
man, i wish they included a sweet pair of BH-5 in all of their mem tests (one of the 280+ mhz pairs 2225 ~3.3-3.4v) just so i would have a point of reference to all this NEW ram.NotoriousGIB - Thursday, March 31, 2005 - link
Ohh...last comment was for poster 26.NotoriousGIB - Thursday, March 31, 2005 - link
Thx for the comment, but I was already aware of that. Wesley, plz post your DRAM & Genie BIOS settings used in this comparison. If there are any other OCZ VX users that have busted 250MHz, please post your settings.Zebo - Thursday, March 31, 2005 - link
"zebo, i have no idea what you tried to just say "Don't worry about it just get the cheapest ram like Buffalo B-line /corsiar value and you'll be just fine. All this stuff is overated, overpriced and for competitive benchmarkers only.
ozzimark - Thursday, March 31, 2005 - link
#39-i've been through 4 sticks of ballistix. all of them can make it to 245mhz at 2.5-2-2-5, which is the limit of my memory controller. i think inconsistancy is a thing of the past now.
i would try to prove you wrong on your second point, but i'd need a new cpu for that :(
Teetu - Thursday, March 31, 2005 - link
is there anyway I get anand's complete settings for the ballistix ram?i know with the older bios DFI recommended bank interleave off, but has that changed with the 3/10 bios?