OCZ 3700 GOLD: Building High-Performance Memory
by Wesley Fink on August 7, 2003 8:34 PM EST- Posted in
- Memory
Post-Laser Performance
The lasering process includes the removal of a small amount of surface from the Samsung chips, and OCZ remarking the chips.
The OCZ remark indicates a performance rating of 4.3ns, which is quite an improvement from the original Samsung rating.
We have already seen the Samsung chips perform well beyond their rated performance and timings, so what effect does the Laser process have on performance and timings? Is the claimed 4.3ns rating after laser treatment justified?
To offer a better comparison to the finished product, we looked at the HIGHEST overclock at SPD timings, the required voltage at OCZ 3700 GOLD rating of 2.5-7-3-3 and DDR466, and the lowest voltage required for SPD 3-8-4-4 rating at DDR466.
| OCZ Lasered Samsung DS Performance Intel 875 Chipset, Dual-Channel, Maximum Overclock |
|||
| DDR Memory Speed | Memory Timings | Memory Voltage (vDIMM) |
UNBuffered Sandra 2003 Memory Test (MB/Second) |
| 466 | 3-8-4-4 | Minimum SPD voltage 2.5V |
2877 INT 2923 FLT |
| 466 | 2.5-7-3-3 | Minimum GOLD-Spec Voltage 2.65V |
3003 INT 3102 FLT |
| 500 | Maximum SPD 3-8-4-4 |
2.8V | 3064 INT 3158 FLT |
As OCZ claims, the laser process seems to have a significant effect on performance in two areas. First, it allows the memory chips to achieve a higher overclock. In our tests, the maximum overclock went from 476 to DDR500 – just with the laser process. Second, and more important, lasering appears to allow the use of lower voltages at the same memory speeds. In our test at DDR466 and 2.5-7-3-3, the laser process reduced the required memory voltage (vDIMM) for stable performance from 2.8V to 2.65V. This is a significant improvement in specifications.
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Anonymous User - Friday, August 8, 2003 - link
MS ,I think the point of the article was to prove that the lasering process works ? I could be wrong but it appears the results confirm it
Anonymous User - Friday, August 8, 2003 - link
Not a word in this review about OCZ having the worst reputation in the industry? Not a word about them never standing behind their products. Not a word about them closing down their parent company every time the claims and fraud investigations start getting big, and then re-opening again somewhere else a couple of months later.Once a criminal enterprise, always a criminal enterprise. OCZ is a fraud, no matter what special review chips they send to sites like this one.
MS - Friday, August 8, 2003 - link
I removed the top layer from some chips and tested the same DIMM before and after and there was no difference whatsoever. Therefore, I am stil sceptic about the entire issue of going topless for better performance.Mday - Friday, August 8, 2003 - link
always good to see a place turn around, but there are always lingering doubts...Evan Lieb - Friday, August 8, 2003 - link
Yeah, they've changed quite a bit Kris. Their product's performance and their customer support today makes them a much more reputable memory contender than they were 1 or 2 years ago.Anonymous User - Friday, August 8, 2003 - link
Why won't you be including Mushkin, this time?You used to be really big on them.
KristopherKubicki - Friday, August 8, 2003 - link
I visted with them a month or two ago, they seem a lot less like the company I visited 18 months ago.AgaBooga - Thursday, August 7, 2003 - link
I think if OCZ continues this kind of introduction of products they may turn the company around from its past. Also, I liked how they co-operated and gave the chips you guys asked for without trouble. Doing that, they show their confidence in their laser process.