OCZ 3500EB: The Importance of Balanced Memory Timings
by Wesley Fink on April 7, 2004 12:04 AM EST- Posted in
- Memory
OCZ 3500EB
Test samples of OCZ EB memory were a matched pair of 512MB 3500EB modules. This is just one of the offerings, however, since EB is offered in both DDR400 (PC3200) and DDR433 (PC3500) speeds. EB is also available in a wide range of capacities, with both 3200EB and 3500EB available in Dual-Channel kits of 512MB (256MBx2), 1GB (512MBx2) and 2GB (1024MBx2).
The OCZ 3500EB DIMMs have the Platinum heatspreader that OCZ uses to identify their top-performing Platinum series memory.
As is often the case with memory manufacturers, OCZ buys the blanks from a memory chip maker, then sorts according to their internal specs, and marks them with their own logo. OCZ tells us that the EB chips are made for them by several chip makers, and they preferred not to reveal the manufacturers.
OCZ 3500EB Specifications
| OCZ 3500EB Memory Specifications | |
| Number of DIMMs & Banks | 2 DS |
| DIMM Size Total Memory |
512MB 1 GB |
| Rated Timings | 2.5-2-3 at DDR433 |
| Rated Voltage | 2.8V |
We confirmed the SPD timings to be set at 2.5-2-3-8. OCZ tells us that this is to provide the best compatibility with the widest range of motherboards. We found the best performance on Intel 865/875 chipsets to be at 2.5-2-3-5 and on AMD nForce boards to be 2.5-2-3-9.
The 3500EB modules are rated at 2.8V, and are said to handle higher voltages without a problem. Most boards can supply 2.8V vDIMM, but some boards top out at 2.7V or lower, so please check your motherboard specs before purchasing. We found that the OCZ 3500EB performed fine at 2.5V at DDR400 and 2.65V at DDR433, but higher overclocks did require voltages of 2.8V or higher.
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Pumpkinierre - Wednesday, April 7, 2004 - link
Yeah well I have had OCZ platinum 3200 o'clocked to 3500 (2-2-3-7) for 9months now and noticed it slowly degrading. I used to pass Memtest86 at 220MHz with Game Accelerator (GAT) F1 (Abit IC7-G) but now I have to switch off the GAT at 216MHz to successfully run Memtest86. At F1, DDR Voltage is 2.7V otherwise 2.6V. I notice the mem. modules are quite warm (even hot) so maybe I need extra cooling as the DIMMS are out of the normal air circulation at the top of the case. And its been a hot summer.It seems crazy that memory modules that are at least 12 months old (BH5/BH6) are still the best performers in the 400 to 433MHz range and even higher (original OCZ3700 gold) given the very fast ascent from 266 to 400 at low latencies. Lets hope these Hynix DDR550 modules cut the mustard.
I cant run F1 higher than CAS2 at present (and Street Racer not at all) although others in posts say they do. So finally Wesley, will the EB technology modules run F1 or Street Racer at 466-500Mhz.
johnsonx - Wednesday, April 7, 2004 - link
It might have been interesting to set CAS latency on the other modules to 2.5 to see how much this 'EB' helps vs. non-EB ram at identical timings.This article also simply seems to show (again) that OCZ memory, of any sort, is just plain good. Recall the article on the FX-53, wherein the 2.4Ghz chip with OCZ ram performed more than 200Mhz better than the 2.2Ghz FX-51 with Mushkin RAM... this even though the Mushkin had better timings.
Were I shopping for high performance RAM, my shopping would begin and end with OCZ... it'd just be a matter of choosing which OCZ modules.
Cybercat - Wednesday, April 7, 2004 - link
Well....this is new....and impressive.