Cell Shock, Corsair, and Kingston Introduce Ultra Speed DDR3
by Wesley Fink on October 11, 2007 10:00 PM EST- Posted in
- Memory
Memory Test Configuration
In the OCZ DDR3-1800 review we launched a new memory test methodology that used a standard 3.0GHz test speed driven by a processor that can deliver multipliers to at least 9X and FSB speeds to 550+. This allows DDR3-800, DDR3-1066, and DDR3-1333 to be tested at 3.0GHz at 9x333 settings. DDR3-1600 and DDR3-2000 can be tested at 3.0GHz at 6x500 (assuming we can reach the requisite FSB).
The requirements for a 9x or higher multiplier combined with the ability to run with stability at a 550+ FSB proved more difficult than it appeared. A very early Intel X6800 had unlocked multipliers but would not even boot above about 450 FSB. A very recent Q6600 met the 9X requirement but topped out in FSB at about 470 stable. Tests by other AnandTech editors confirmed that most quad-core processors have a difficult time operating at 500 FSB, let alone the higher 550 requirements for overclocks above DDR3-2000. We finally located a recent E6600 that could do both the 9X multiplier and the 550 FSB requirements. This became our new processor for the memory test bed. Other components remained the same as the earlier DDR3 test bed.
It should be pointed out that the new test bed does use the same processor speed at all tested CPU speeds, but that different FSB speeds are used at low and high memory timings. Testing at the same processor speed does allow a better comparison of isolated memory performance, but it is not an exact apples-to-apples comparison. The variation in FSB speed at the same processor speed does affect the performance of the memory at the higher FSB speeds. This varies from negligible in some tests to measurable in other benchmarks. For more information on the impact of FSB speed on performance you can refer to Intel P35 Memory Performance: A Closer Look.
A true apples-to-apples comparison of memory performance will only be possible when the additional ratios of 1600 and 2000 are available in BIOS at a base 1333 FSB speed. While not perfect, the comparison of all memory speeds at 3.0GHz processor speed is much closer to our testing ideal than the previous test methodology.
Performance tests of DDR2 memory on the Intel P965 and P35-DDR2 platforms were explored in past memory reviews. If you are interested in how the fastest DDR2 compares to DDR3 in the memory overlap speeds please refer to the DDR2/DDR3 Overlap Speeds test in the OCZ Introduces DDR3-1800 review.
All current memory tests use the Intel P35-DDR3 test bed (ASUS P5K3 Deluxe) with the DDR3 memory under evaluation. The DDR3 full performance pages include results at 3.0GHz for 2000 (if reachable), 1600, 1333, 1066 and 800 memory speeds at a 3.0GHz CPU speed.
The CPU listed above in our table is a 1066 FSB processor, but it performs fine at 1333 FSB at the default multiplier and default voltage. New 1333 bus quad core processors may be substituted on our memory test bed in the future, providing they meet the requirements of 9X or greater multiplier and stable operation at 6X multiplier at 550FSB.
In the OCZ DDR3-1800 review we launched a new memory test methodology that used a standard 3.0GHz test speed driven by a processor that can deliver multipliers to at least 9X and FSB speeds to 550+. This allows DDR3-800, DDR3-1066, and DDR3-1333 to be tested at 3.0GHz at 9x333 settings. DDR3-1600 and DDR3-2000 can be tested at 3.0GHz at 6x500 (assuming we can reach the requisite FSB).
The requirements for a 9x or higher multiplier combined with the ability to run with stability at a 550+ FSB proved more difficult than it appeared. A very early Intel X6800 had unlocked multipliers but would not even boot above about 450 FSB. A very recent Q6600 met the 9X requirement but topped out in FSB at about 470 stable. Tests by other AnandTech editors confirmed that most quad-core processors have a difficult time operating at 500 FSB, let alone the higher 550 requirements for overclocks above DDR3-2000. We finally located a recent E6600 that could do both the 9X multiplier and the 550 FSB requirements. This became our new processor for the memory test bed. Other components remained the same as the earlier DDR3 test bed.
It should be pointed out that the new test bed does use the same processor speed at all tested CPU speeds, but that different FSB speeds are used at low and high memory timings. Testing at the same processor speed does allow a better comparison of isolated memory performance, but it is not an exact apples-to-apples comparison. The variation in FSB speed at the same processor speed does affect the performance of the memory at the higher FSB speeds. This varies from negligible in some tests to measurable in other benchmarks. For more information on the impact of FSB speed on performance you can refer to Intel P35 Memory Performance: A Closer Look.
A true apples-to-apples comparison of memory performance will only be possible when the additional ratios of 1600 and 2000 are available in BIOS at a base 1333 FSB speed. While not perfect, the comparison of all memory speeds at 3.0GHz processor speed is much closer to our testing ideal than the previous test methodology.
| Memory Performance Test Configuration | |
| Processor | Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 (2.40GHz, 9x266, 4MB Unified Cache) 9x333 - 3.0 GHz 6x500 - 3.0 GHz |
| RAM | Cell Shock DDR3-1800 (2GB kit - 2x1GB, DDR3-1800 8-7-6) Corsair TWIN3X2048-1800C7DF G (2GB kit - 2x1GB, DDR3-1800 7-7-7) Kingston KHX14400D3K2/2G (2GB kit - 2x1GB, DDR3-1800 8-8-8) OCZ PC3-14400 Platinum (2GB kit - 2x1GB, DDR3-1800 8-8-8) Super Talent W1600UX2G7 (2GB kit - 2x1GB, DDR3-1600 7-7-7) Team TXD31924M1600HC9 (2GB kit - 2x1GB, DDR3-1600 9-9-9) Kingston KHX11000D3LLK2 (2GB kit - 2x1GB, DDR3-1333 7-7-7) Corsair CM3X1024-1066C7 (2GB Kit - 2x1GB- DDR3-1066 7-7-7) Corsair Dominator CM2X1024-8888C4 (2GB Kit - 2x1GB - DDR2-1250 5-5-5) |
| Hard Drive(s) | Samsung 250GB SATA2 enabled (8MB Buffer) |
| System Platform Drivers | Intel - 8.3.0.1013 |
| Video Card: | Leadtek WinFast 7950GT 256MB |
| Video Drivers: | NVIDIA 93.71 |
| CPU Cooling: | Intel Retail HSF |
| Power Supply: | Corsair HX620W |
| Motherboards: | ASUS P5K3 Deluxe (Intel P35 DDR3) ASUS P5K Deluxe (Intel P35 DDR2) ASUS P5B Deluxe (Intel P965 DDR2) |
| BIOS Revision: | 0604 (6/26/2007) |
| Operating System(s): | Windows XP Professional SP2 |
Performance tests of DDR2 memory on the Intel P965 and P35-DDR2 platforms were explored in past memory reviews. If you are interested in how the fastest DDR2 compares to DDR3 in the memory overlap speeds please refer to the DDR2/DDR3 Overlap Speeds test in the OCZ Introduces DDR3-1800 review.
All current memory tests use the Intel P35-DDR3 test bed (ASUS P5K3 Deluxe) with the DDR3 memory under evaluation. The DDR3 full performance pages include results at 3.0GHz for 2000 (if reachable), 1600, 1333, 1066 and 800 memory speeds at a 3.0GHz CPU speed.
The CPU listed above in our table is a 1066 FSB processor, but it performs fine at 1333 FSB at the default multiplier and default voltage. New 1333 bus quad core processors may be substituted on our memory test bed in the future, providing they meet the requirements of 9X or greater multiplier and stable operation at 6X multiplier at 550FSB.
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Wesley Fink - Friday, October 12, 2007 - link
At the top of the pricing info is the name of the item being priced. In this case the engine is likely picking up Compact Flash prices at camera companies in the same memory size. The larger concern is that the pricing engine does not recognize Cell Shock right now in the pointer. Work is being done to expand the database.The Price Engine often does not pick up new items just introduced, but it is dynamic. If you look back in a few weeks the pricing info will be revised even though the pointer is the same and it will likely find the original described product.
yyrkoon - Friday, October 12, 2007 - link
And what prices are youtalking about exactly ? That is definately not DDR3 memory pricing . . .