OCZ 3700 GOLD: Building High-Performance Memory
by Wesley Fink on August 7, 2003 8:34 PM EST- Posted in
- Memory
Comparing Memory Bandwidth: UNBuffered Memory Performance
In our article, 'Searching for the Memory Holy Grail — Part 1', we demonstrated that the UNBuffered SiSoft Sandra Memory Test correlated very well with MemTest86 bandwidth results. With all of the Buffering techniques disabled, scores are much lower — sometimes a 50% drop — than the scores you are accustomed to seeing for Sandra Memory tests. However, the unbuffered scores have proven to be a very sensitive measure of memory bandwidth. Regarding memory performance, we will be looking at the maximum stable overclock for the memory and the SiSoft Sandra UNBuffered Memory Test.The idea of the UNBuffered Memory Benchmark is very simple — you merely turn off all memory buffering techniques. Sandra makes this very easy to do. Select 'Memory Benchmark', right-click 'Module Options', and uncheck the nine boxes that are related to buffering.
Please keep in mind that the Crucial DDR333 modules using Samsung memory are single-sided DIMMs. As we illustrated in 'Searching for the Memory Holy Grail — Part 1', the performance of two SS modules is lower than the performance of two DS modules in 875/865 boards, and cannot be directly compared.
All memory tests were run on an Abit IC7, Intel 875 Canterwood motherboard with BIOS revision 1.5, and a 2.4C Pentium 4, 800FSB processor that has reached 290MHz (1160FSB) on this motherboard.
| Crucial DDR333 Samsung SS Performance Intel 875 Chipset, Dual-Channel, Maximum Overclock |
|||
| DDR Memory Speed | Memory Timings | Memory Voltage (vDIMM) |
UNBuffered Sandra 2003 Memory Test (MB/Second) |
| 450 | Maximum SPD 2.5-7-4-4 |
2.7V | 2472 INT 2460 FLT |
| 460 | 3-8-4-4 | 2.8V | 2436 INT 2527 FLT |
Given the ability of this Samsung memory, rated at DDR333 or DDR400, to reach DDR460 at 2.8V, we can fully understand why OCZ chose this as their base memory chip. However, as good as this performance is, it does not match the specified performance of OCZ 3700 GOLD of DDR466, 2.5-7-3-3, at 2.65V. So how does a manufacturer of high-speed memory get from this base performance to the performance of 3700 GOLD?
Lasering for Heat Dissipation
When information about OCZ using Samsung TCB3 chips for 3700 GOLD first appeared, others were asking the same question we were asking: how did OCZ get a memory rated at DDR333/400 to the performance levels of 3700 GOLD — or did they?All memory manufacturers (as well as CPU and chipset manufacturers) "bin" chips. This means that they sort chips by speed capabilities. The top-performing chips are then used in the highest-speed products — the rest going into lower rated products. OCZ explained that, in addition to speed binning, they laser the chips to improve heat dissipation before sorting, using the best chips for OCZ 3700 GOLD. They also released an internal document describing the lasering process and how it improves heat dissipation. The information below is from the released internal document:
"INTERNAL USE ONLY : ENGINEERING DEPT -TW-CA
Thermal modification of standard DDR DRAM TSOP packages , for increased thermal dissipation and speed reclassification.
Note #1 : Reference EL DDR packing specification is linked at /spec/elddr.html
Purpose : Increase speed of ( SEC packaged ) TSOP , through using EL DDR packaging theory. To fill product shortage during die revision change
EL DDR Packaging : by decreasing the thickness of encapsulate (low thermal transfer rate ) we are able to effectively increase heat dissipation in DRAM and thereby increase the effective speed of each IC . Using a third party fabrication and packaging plant this theory has been proven and the (B) die revision OCZ EL DDR die had great success. Average maximum speed increase during stage 2 testing has been verified over 23 MHz.
Proposition: While dies fabricated by 3rd parties for OCZ in 3rd party packaging have proven successful to this point . We feel that to insure our success we should supplement by speed binning large quantities of 3rd party IC's and by physically modifying the package decreased thermal resistance and re-speed grade the ICs using the standard Advantest ATE.
Industry Disclosure: See Ryan Petersen
Process Engineering : See XXXXXXXXX
Process Overview :
Samsung semi will provide die location information , we will be using the DP-7 CO 2 laser to remove the surface material from the package face only average laser cut depth is 7mill . After surface removal the package should be sent to ISE for environmental test and then re-speed graded after speed grade and classification chips will be marked ( standard process) and standard process thereafter."
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Anonymous User - Wednesday, August 20, 2003 - link
#63, you clearly don't read AT's reviews very closely. Take a look at AT's recent KT600 reviews and you'll see that they continually suggeset purchasing nForce2 U400 motherboards instead. They don't go all out and bash the KT600 motherboard because there IS NO REASON TO. KT600 boards are SLIGHTLY slower, SLIGHTLY poorer overclockers, and come with the same features for a lower price. Sure, enthusiasts will always go with nForce2 U400, but that doesn't make KT600 motherboards terrible, and therefore deserving of a bad review.Yikes, get a clue.
Anonymous User - Tuesday, August 19, 2003 - link
Well, Mushkin is here and pleaes post your questions....Let me know what you need and we will try to assist.You can also post your questions at
http://forums.mushkin.com/phpbb2/
Duonger
Anonymous User - Tuesday, August 19, 2003 - link
Well, Mushkin is here and pleaes post your questions....Let me know what you need and we will try to assist.You can also post your questions at
http://forums.mushkin.com/phpbb2/
Duonger
Anonymous User - Monday, August 18, 2003 - link
What it all boils down to isn't how the memory is made, it is the quality of product.OCZ has a quality product. One OCZ rep in particular, Sean Sinah, has stayed up until 3 AM to personally answer my question. Let's see Corsair or Mushkin do that.
I personally believe that Mushkin, Corsair and OCZ all make good product. Beyond product, OCZ has the customer service.
Anonymous User - Sunday, August 17, 2003 - link
to post #63, so your saying AT can't review anything to do with an Intel or AMD CPU since I see AMD and Intel advertised here, which means they can't use it in any reviews at all, gee you sure are a smart one.Anonymous User - Saturday, August 16, 2003 - link
It doesn't take a genius to search the sites of AT and see that the advertisers products that do get reviewed never get bad ratings. Why is this? Or better yet, why review an advertisers product? Don't you think people won't think something is fishy behind that?Anonymous User - Thursday, August 14, 2003 - link
To clarify that last post, all OCZ advertisements on the website are co-brand advertisements, meaning they do not come from OCZ. For example, the ATACOM banner with OCZ on it is ATACOM promoting their OCZ products.Anonymous User - Thursday, August 14, 2003 - link
#49We do not get paid by OCZ nor will we anytime soon. Unlike other hardware sites (whom OCZ can probably vouche for), we just dont do those kinds of things
Anonymous User - Thursday, August 14, 2003 - link
#49We do not get paid by OCZ nor will we anytime soon. Unlike other hardware sites (whom OCZ can probably vouche for), we just dont do those kinds of things
Anonymous User - Tuesday, August 12, 2003 - link
56, WHO CARES?!!!! Does it run good? Buy it, use it, and be happy for crying our loud! I've never seen so many whiners in all my life...is this what AT is reduced to? :(