Value RAM Roundup: Computing On a Budget

OCZ PC3200 Value Series: "Value VX"

OCZ VX emerged as our memory performance leader in our recent memory review, OCZ VX Revisited: DDR Updates on DFI nForce4. Rated at DDR500 speed at 2-2-2 timings, we quickly learned that you needed a lot of memory voltage to get the most from this memory. In fact, VX really requires 3.5V to 3.6V for best performance. This requires one of the new DFI nForce4 motherboards, an add-on OCZ DDR Booster, or a motherboard memory voltage mod to provide the voltages VX demands.

The other part of the VX equation was cost. OCZ bins VX and tests at DDR500 2-2-2 speed, and the cost of that selectivity and guaranteed performance is about $270 for a Gigabyte of RAM. As performance RAM goes, this is a bargain price, but we never considered VX a Value RAM until OCZ dropped a surprise on our doorstep.

With the introduction of DDR500 VX, OCZ announced that they would be also producing a "Value VX" rated at DDR400 and lower voltage. Basically, this Value VX would be an unbinned part not tested for high voltages and high overclocks. That "Value VX" is now on the market as OCZ PC3200 Value Series and selling for about $115 for a pair of 512MB DIMMs!

PC3200 Value Series comes in a more basic and lower cost package.

The pair of 512MB double-sided DIMMs are also one of the few OCZ memories sold without a heat sink. In past reviews, we found the heat sink on or off made very little difference in memory performance. The memory chips are blanks supplied to OCZ by Winbond. OCZ didn't label the blanks on "Value VX" product.

Specifications

OCZ rates Value VX at the very conservative 2.5-3-3-7 at DDR400 at default voltage. The memory does meet these specs, but when you crank up the voltage, these "Value VX" DIMMs turn into a different animal.

OCZ PC3200 Value (DDR400) Memory Specifications
Number of DIMMs & Banks	2 DS
DIMM Size Total Memory	512 MB 1GB
Rated Timings	2.5-3-3-7 at DDR400
SPD (Auto) Timings	2.5-3-3-7
Rated Voltage	2.6V

There is no mention on the innocent "OCZ PC3200 Value Series" label of what lurks within.

Test Results

OCZ PC3200 Value (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	2-2-2-6 3.0V 1T	570.2	INT 2940 FLT 2929	INT 6096 FLT 6148	81	120.0
11x218	436 DDR	2-2-2-6 3.1V 1T	579.6	INT 3138 FLT3117	INT 6478 FLT 6412	80	120.9
10x240	480 DDR	2-2-2-6 3.2V 1T	593.4	INT 3242 FLT 3352	INT 6746 FLT 6789	79	122.7
11x245 (2.7GHz)	Highest CPU/Mem Performance 490 DDR	2-2-2-6 3.3V 1T	613.6	INT 3384 FLT 3459	INT 7284 FLT 7204	72	129.1

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.

The binned and tested OCZ PC4000 VX reaches a higher speed of DDR530 at 2-2-2. That just proves the value of binning and testing for performance. But how can we complain about a memory that costs 57% less than 4000 VX and still performs with complete stability at DDR490 at 2-2-2 timings? Frankly, we can't.

You bargain hunters who want to play with VX, 2-2-2 timings, and high memory voltage will want to grab a pair of Value VX. They aren't binned, but we suspect that most will reach DDR480 to DDR500 if you supply the voltage - and some may do even better. That translates into a Clock frequency of 240 to 250, which should be more than enough to supply 1:1 2-2-2 to any AMD A64 at stock multiplier. A 2.4GHz 4000+ would be 2.88 to 3.0GHz at 240 to 250, for example - probably more than what the CPU can do with air cooling. At $115, for a Gigabyte of Value VX, there is now no price barrier to providing 2-2-2 1:1 memory for any AMD CPU - provided you can supply the voltage.

Aida 32 is now available as Everest Home Edition, a free download from www.lavalys.com.

OCZ PC3200 Value (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	2-2-2-6 3.0V 1T	5877	2033	45.8
11x218	436 DDR	2-2-2-6 3.1V 1T	6170	2056	44.6
10x240	480 DDR	2-2-2-6 3.2V 1T	6666	2207	44.2
11x245 (2.7GHz)	Highest CPU/Mem Performance 490 DDR	2-2-2-6 3.3V 1T	8310	3321	35.2

Performance patterns are exactly the same as seen in our recent reviews of VX memory. The unbinned $115 DDR400 memory reached DDR490, while the binned $270 DDR500 version reached DDR530 - with 2-2-2 timings all around. If you want assured performance, go for the DDR500 tested part. If you want low price and lots of potential, OCZ PC3200 Value Series has your name on it.