Value RAM Roundup: Computing On a Budget

Kingston KVR400X64C25/512

Kingston is the world's largest independent Memory manufacturer with annual sales over $2.4 Billion. Kingston is a very well-known memory brand, and it can be found at almost any large computer dealer. Kingston has a very complete line of memory products from the cheapest Value RAM to their enthusiast HyperX products. Kingston is also a brand that you will often see on sale at the big computer chains.

Kingston KVR400X64C25/512 was supplied as two individual DIMMs, rather than a 1GB kit. The RAM is rated at CAS 2.5 at DDR400.

Heatspreaders are not as often seen in Value products, since manufacturers are usually doing whatever is necessary to bring in the lowest price. This means eliminating extras like heatspreaders. Memory chips on the CAS 2.5 are blanks that are labeled with the Kingston logo.

Specifications

The KVR400X64C25/512 is rated at CAS 2.5. Kingston supplied two Value RAM samples for testing - this CAS 2.5 and a lower cost Value RAM rated at CAS 3.

Kingston KVR400X64C25/512 (DDR400) Memory Specifications
Number of DIMMs & Banks	2 DS
DIMM Size Total Memory	512 MB 1GB
Rated Timings	2.5-3-3 at DDR400
SPD (Auto) Timings	2.5-3-3-8
Rated Voltage	2.6V

Test Results

Kingston KVR400X64C25/512 (DDR400) - 2 x 512Mb 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	400 DDR	2.5-3-2-6 2.6V 1T	533.0	INT 2470 FLT 2642	INT 6016 FLT 5987	83	112.0
12x204 (2.45GHz)	Highest CPU/Mem Performance	2.5-3-3-6 2.7V 1T	533.2	INT 2636 FLT 2797	INT 6143 FLT 6112	81	112.4

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.

We haven't made a mistake here. As you can see, there is really no overclocking headroom at all with this Kingston 2.5 memory. While it actually outperforms specs with 2.5-3-2-6- timings at DDR400 at stock 2.6V, we could not complete our memory benchmarks above a 204 CPU setting. Super Pi and Unbuffered Memory tests worked fine to almost DDR480, but at any setting above 204 (DDR408), games would freeze or run in spurts and freezes. This points to a likely conflict with the AMD on-chip memory controller or the DFI nF4 motherboard, and in fact, the Kingston 2.5 may reach much high memory speeds on an Intel platform.

We have found Aida 32 to be very useful in examining read/write performance and memory latency. Aida 32 is now available as Everest Home Edition, a free download from www.lavalys.com.

Kingston KVR400X64C25/512 (DDR400) 2x512Mb Double-Bank Everest 1.51
CPU Ratio at 2.4GHz	Memory Speed	Memory Timings & Voltage	Everest READ MB/s	Everest WRITE MB/s	Everest Latency ns
12x200	400 DDR	2.5-3-2-6 2.6V 1T	5800	1918	47.3
12x204 (2.45GHz)	Highest CPU/Mem Performance	2.5-3-3-6 2.6V 1T	5855	1991	46.9

The Memory Speed range was so limited with the Kingston CAS 2.5 that there is really little on which to comment. However, despite the problems above 204 on the Athlon 64, at stock DDR400, the Kingston KVR400X64C25/512 performed without any problems.