Conroe Buying Guide: Feeding the Monster
by Gary Key & Wesley Fink on July 19, 2006 6:20 AM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
Value DDR2
Not everyone is prepared to pay $450 for the very best DDR2. Without comparing performance of lower-priced DDR2 it is also not possible to recommend whether high-performance DDR2 represents a good value for you. Looking at what was available in the market, we compiled a list of modules that appeared to be a representative cross-section of the 2GB kit value segment. With prices ranging from around $120 to $180 for a 2GB kit, these DDR2 modules are less than half the price of our high-performance selections.
The real question, of course, is where you can take these low-cost DDR DIMMs. We ran all the DIMMs at the highest DDR2 speeds and the fastest memory timings we could achieve on a standard Core 2 Duo test platform. The results were truly surprising.
A-Data Vitesta DDR2-5300
A-Data is one of the largest memory application suppliers in the world and their Vitesta DDR2-533 kit performed extremely well in our testing from both a timing and voltage aspect. The quality of the heat spreaders and memory PCB is excellent..
Corsair Value Select DDR2-667
Corsair was able to provide us their ValueSelect 2GB kit. Although Corsair is mainly known for their XMS series of high performance memories they also provide a very good price to performance offering in their ValueSelect series. While the modules do not include any heat spreaders, we did not notice any thermal issues during our testing that required the use of higher voltages to reach our reported numbers.
Kingston Value Ram DDR2-667
Kingston also provided their Value memory series that performed well during testing with timings that basically matched that of the higher rated DDR2-667 modules, although voltages had to be increased above the group average. We did not notice any thermal issues with the memory due to the lack of heat spreaders or the increased voltages. Also note that this is the only 2GB Value kit that used Infineon chips instead of Elpida chips, which likely accounts for some of the slight differences.
Not everyone is prepared to pay $450 for the very best DDR2. Without comparing performance of lower-priced DDR2 it is also not possible to recommend whether high-performance DDR2 represents a good value for you. Looking at what was available in the market, we compiled a list of modules that appeared to be a representative cross-section of the 2GB kit value segment. With prices ranging from around $120 to $180 for a 2GB kit, these DDR2 modules are less than half the price of our high-performance selections.
| Value DDR2 Specifications | |||||
| Manufacturer | Description (Memory Chips) |
Rated Speed |
Rated Timings |
Rated Voltage |
Cost (2x1GB) |
| AData Vitesta |
ELJKD1A16K (Elpida) |
DDR2-533 | 4-4-4-12 | 1.8V | $147 |
| Corsair Value Select |
VS2GBKIT667D2 (Elpida) |
DDR2-667 | 4-4-4-12 | 1.8V | $148 |
| Kingston Value Ram |
KVR667D2N5K2 (Elipida) |
DDR2-667 | 5-5-5-15 | 1.8V | $159 |
| Mushkin eXtreme |
991512 (Infineon) |
DDR2-667 | 3-3-3-10 | 2.1V | $170 |
| Patriot Extreme Series |
PDC22G5300LLK (Elpida) |
DDR2-667 | 4-4-4-12 | 1.8V | $157 |
| PQI Turbo |
PQI25400-2GDB (Elipida) |
DDR2-667 | 4-4-4-12 | 2.0V | $117 |
| Wintec AMPX |
3AXD2675-1G2S-R (Elpida) |
DDR2-675 | 4-4-4-10 | 1.8V | $144 |
The real question, of course, is where you can take these low-cost DDR DIMMs. We ran all the DIMMs at the highest DDR2 speeds and the fastest memory timings we could achieve on a standard Core 2 Duo test platform. The results were truly surprising.
A-Data Vitesta DDR2-5300
A-Data is one of the largest memory application suppliers in the world and their Vitesta DDR2-533 kit performed extremely well in our testing from both a timing and voltage aspect. The quality of the heat spreaders and memory PCB is excellent..
| AData Vitesta - DDR2-533 - 2x1GB Model # ELJKD1A16K |
||
| CPU Ratio | Memory Speed |
Best Memory Timings (Voltage) |
| (4:3) | 400 DDR2 | 3-2-2-5 1.8V |
| (1:1) | 533 DDR2 | 3-2-2-8 1.9V |
| (4:5) | 667 DDR2 | 3-3-2-8 2.1V |
| (2:3) | 800 DDR2 | 4-3-3-8 2.1V |
Corsair Value Select DDR2-667
Corsair was able to provide us their ValueSelect 2GB kit. Although Corsair is mainly known for their XMS series of high performance memories they also provide a very good price to performance offering in their ValueSelect series. While the modules do not include any heat spreaders, we did not notice any thermal issues during our testing that required the use of higher voltages to reach our reported numbers.
| Corsair Value Select - DDR2-533 - 2x1GB Model # VS2GBKIT667D2 |
||
| CPU Ratio | Memory Speed |
Best Memory Timings (Voltage) |
| (4:3) | 400 DDR2 | 3-2-2-5 1.9V |
| (1:1) | 533 DDR2 | 3-2-2-7 2.1V |
| (4:5) | 667 DDR2 | 3-3-3-8 2.1V |
| (2:3) | 800 DDR2 | 4-3-3-8 2.2V |
Kingston Value Ram DDR2-667
Kingston also provided their Value memory series that performed well during testing with timings that basically matched that of the higher rated DDR2-667 modules, although voltages had to be increased above the group average. We did not notice any thermal issues with the memory due to the lack of heat spreaders or the increased voltages. Also note that this is the only 2GB Value kit that used Infineon chips instead of Elpida chips, which likely accounts for some of the slight differences.
| Kingston - DDR2-533 - 2x1GB Model # 3AXD2675-1G2S-R |
||
| CPU Ratio | Memory Speed |
Best Memory Timings (Voltage) |
| (4:3) | 400 DDR2 | 3-2-2-5 1.8V |
| (1:1) | 533 DDR2 | 3-2-2-7 2.2V |
| (4:5) | 667 DDR2 | 3-3-3-8 2.2V |
| (2:3) | 800 DDR2 | 4-3-3-9 2.1V |
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Gary Key - Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - link
Hi,We used 0701. The bios versions used for each board are listed at the bottom of the features chart.
Thanks.
vmsein - Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - link
I missed that! Thank you very much again:)Bochista - Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - link
Can we see some results for 1920 x 1200 for 23 & 24 inch monitors as well as some 2560 x 1600 results for 30 inch monitors? Also, can we see the 7950 GX2 in action where all MBs would be on an equal SLI footing?Gary Key - Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - link
We will place this on our suggestion list for Roundup Two and discuss it with the Video editors this week.ivoloos - Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - link
The article says "Users need to realize that the nForce 590 SLI Intel Edition will still use the C19 SPP that is on this board."I remember me that a while ago I've read somewhere NVIDIA is busy with a new SPP that will replace the C19 and should arrive somewhere around Q1 next year. Someone know whether this is this correct, or will the C19 not be replaced?
Gary Key - Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - link
Yes, NVIDIA is readying a new Intel Chipset that is scheduled for release in the winter. The current C19 is now at a C1 revision, the original P5N32-SLI shipped with revision A3.ivoloos - Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - link
Ah, Thanks!!I plan to buy me a Core 2 Dou/Extreme system about a year from now, let's say somewhere around the release of Intels Bearlake chipset. The decision will be made then, after having a clear view at the features of that chipset and the new NVIDIA chipset.
The article, which is very good by the way, made some doubts rise about whether that what I've read was correct or not.
I'm curious about the period when we can expect the new NVIDIA chipset to appear on the motherboards. Any news about that (Q1/2007 perhaps?), or is too early to say something about this?
imaheadcase - Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - link
I want to build a value SLI motherboard with conroe.Maybe compare 6 value SLI motherboards with conroe and 2 gigs of value ram in the future when boards are released?
Thanks!
RogueSpear - Thursday, July 20, 2006 - link
Am I the only one who thinks that the phrase "Value SLI" is a bit like "Military Intelligence" ?Gary Key - Thursday, July 20, 2006 - link
Great statement!!! :) I guess value in the sense that the 570SLI boards will be about $50~$75 less than the 590SLI boards. However, unless you want to really overclock the FSB, even the 570SLI boards will be a value compared to the P965 boards.