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XtremeComputing » Articles » Mushkin 1GB PC2-4200 4,4,4,12 Unbuffered DDR2 Dual Pack (2x512MB) » Page 1

Mushkin 1GB PC2-4200 4,4,4,12 Unbuffered DDR2 Dual Pack (2x512MB)

Posted by: Rchiileea on: 10.11.2004 01:00:00 [ Print | 0 comment(s) ]

1GB PC2-4200 4,4,4,12 Unbuffered DDR2 Dual Pack (2x512MB)

Today I am Lucky enough  to be testing Mushkin’s DDR2 RAM modules, now these Mushkin are there latest DDR2 offering with memory timings at a  impressive 4,4,4,12. As these are Mushkin I expect nothing else other than more punch out of these than I would a standard set as Mushkin set the standard for me in the DDR 3200 ram section with its lv2 v2 set. Will there DDR2 PC4200 1 gig dual channel kit live up to its name? let’s get on with the review and find out

In the box  

As you can see the ram arrives in that strange airbag again, ok its not quite a box or a packaging pack, but hey I like it. The reason why is simple Mushkin want you to get your memory out put it in the Comp and see what you’ve paid for as well as making sure the memory arrives in A1 condition. Mm that’s strange there’s something else in the package.

It was nice to see some included goodies ok its not much a Pen and a badge, but the pen has a nice heavy feel and the case badge well you will have to agree brushed aluminum looks well nice and even that had a protected film over it. Ok let’s get them sticks out and take a closer look.

As you can se these have the usual memory layout with a set of heatspreaders as well as the warranty sticker with part No and rating (PC2-4200). Now the memory timings are a claimed 4,4,4,12, but I want better and I also want more speed. Its Mushkin’s own fault I expect this from there ram but the LV2 V2 3200 set the standard for me the question is will these?  Well I hope so.

What’s the specs 

 Specifications

·  Matched modules

·  DDR-2

·  240 pins

·  Unbuffered

·  non-ECC

·  1.8V

·  64x64 module density

·  32x8 chip density

·  Lifetime warranty

·  rated at 4,4,4,12     

You can see from the specs this ram should perform well DDR2 is the future and we will see if it can prove that 2 us. As this is the first set of DDR2 we have had in I have nothing to compare it to, so to start the ball rolling I will run the ram at stock and give the results and the screenshots of them as well after that I will see if I can drop the timings before seeing how far I could crank them up on the 4,4,4,12 timing as well as any lower timings I may achieve. This is a long process and involves a lot of trial and error but once found the rams optimum speed can be set and that makes you the purchaser very happy. Time to install the ram and run the tests

PCI Express Test System

CPU

Intel P4 2,8 GHZ 755@ 3000mhz 

Main board

Abit AA8 3RD EYE

GFX Card

Sapphire  X600 256MB

Sound map

Soundblaster Audigy 2 NX 

CPU radiator

Custom kit with WaterChill Block and Danger den 3 5 dual floppy bay res  

Main memory

2x 512 Mushkin 4,4,4,12 DDR2@ 566

Non removable disks system 1

1x WD 160gig 1x Maxtor 120 gig

Non removable disks system 2

1x Maxtor 80gig

DVD burner

Pioneer 8x speed

Case 

Akasa Eclipse  

Power pack

Tagan TG420 U02

Operating system

Windows XP Pro service pack 2

On to the performance,

The First thing I done here was ran the tests at stock timings and stock speeds, after a few hours testing I was well impressed (See screen shots below to see why) with the standard timings not only did they spit on the reference results in Sandra they ate them and spat them out, very impressive indeed. Now for the fun part time to drop those timings as low as they can go stable and then loosen it up for some overclocking. Now after testing for a few days (yes I had to make sure) I found some strange results. I got the latency timings stable at 3,3,3,10!! Yep that’s right and the score was even more impressive jumping up around a 1000 on each score from SiSoft and after loosening the timing back to stock I was even more impressed with the fact that I was able to clock them up to 231/614 this did give the score an even better result but I eventually got the best with the ram set a 566mhz at 4,4,4,12 with a result from Sisoft Sandra of

 

Integer SSE2: 5487 

Float SSE2: 5724

 

 

Standard Stock Results

Click on images to enlarge

 

Clocked Results

 

Mushkin DDR2 533 @ 3,3,3,10

Integer SSE2: 5207

Float SSE2: 5232 

Mushkin DDR2 566 @ 4,4,4,12

Integer SSE2: 5456

Float SSE2: 5484

After mucking about with voltages and clocks more (and thanks to the Abit MOBO) i have managed to push the ram even further here are the CPUID pics for the setup now

As you can see this ram is solid and was excellent in performance we even tested it against a corsair set and i still couldnt get the clock up this high without blue screening. Mushkin’s ram has stormed it and with people saying DDR2 holds no real speed improvements yet… you have to laugh.

   

Conclusion 

Mushkin have produced another product to impress I mean take a look around there are a lot of memory suppliers around and all make good ram. As this is the only set of DDR2 I have tested I cant comment on there products, but I do know one thing Mushkin have set I very high standard with this ram and again I am well happy with the results from Mushkin. These truly are a gem and the only Memory I have ever got the timings down lower than stated with no problems at all. Another good example of Muskin’s quality, and proves that DDR2 is trouncing over DDR. Highly recommended!

 

Pros  

Excellent Performance

Overclocks Xtremely well

Sets the standard

Stamps on DDR

Stable at lower latency timings

Well protected packaging

Cons

Price (but Ill say it again you get what you pay for)

  

Thanks to LEE From Muskin for supplying the ram

Reviewed By R.Bowzer

LINKS 





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XtremeComputing » Articles » Mushkin 1GB PC2-4200 4,4,4,12 Unbuffered DDR2 Dual Pack (2x512MB) » Page 1
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