Mushkin PC 3500 Level II

Mushkin has built an enviable reputation for dependability as a memory supplier. However, they have not been a particularly active player in the recent increases in DDR memory speeds. Mushkin PC3500 Level II 2-2-2 is the fastest memory currently available from Mushkin. We have been told that this is about to change since Mushkin will soon be introducing DDR500 memory based on a unique design.


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Mushkin uses Winbond BH5 chips in PC3500 Level II. BH5 is an almost legendary memory chip that has recently been discontinued, but Mushkin assures us they have sufficient stock to continue manufacture of Level II modules for many months. It was the chip used in many of the very best low-latency modules in recent months, and replacement chips have not been able to achieve the same aggressive timings at DDR400 we have seen in the past.

There were surprises on two fronts with PC3500 Level II. First, with an advertised rating of 2-2-2 at DDR433, we wondered why the SPD was programmed at 2-4-4-8. Mushkin explained that this was done for maximum compatibility. Since we have also seen the same type of SPD programming on competing memory modules, we will accept this explanation. However, this Mushkin is not a memory that can be used with SPD timings for best performance. You must set manual SPD timings to get the most from this memory.

Second, we found the 2-2-2 rating at DDR433 a bit optimistic on the Intel 875 test platform. Mushkin explained that 2-2-2 at 433 was based on a single module in the nForce2 platforms, and we can confirm that 2-2-2 is a valid rating on the nForce 2 platform at DDR433. In fact, 2-2-2 is a fair rating in Dual-Channel mode on the nForce2 Ultra 400. In Dual-Channel mode on 875/865 motherboards, we find that 2-2-3 is the true speed rating. Mushkin has indicated they will be making changes to their web descriptions to describe better the performance of the PC3500 Level II.

Despite these concerns, Mushkin does achieve the fastest memory timings we have seen from current memory at DDR400 to DDR433. In its performance range, Mushkin PC3500 Level II is one of the fastest memories you can put in your machine.

Mushkin PC3500 Level II (DDR433) — 2 x 512MB DS Dimms
Intel 875P Performance
Memory Speed, Voltage, Timings Quake3
fps
UT2003
Flyby fps
UT2003
Botmatch fps
Sandra UNBuffered Sandra Standard
Buffered
Super PI 2M places
(time in sec)
400@2.55V
2-2-2-6
328.3 198.34 70.25 INT 3091
FLT 3145
INT 4942
FLT 4901
126s
433@2.65V
2-2-3-6
335.5 202.63 72.68 INT 3042
FLT 3097
INT 5111
FLT 5118
122s
458@2.85V
2.5-2-3-7
350.6 211.91 77.0 INT 3159
FLT 3154
INT 5405
FLT 5424
115s


Mushkin PC3500 Level II (DDR433) — 2 x 512MB DS Dimms
AMD nForce2 Ultra 400 Performance
Memory Speed, Voltage, Timings Quake3
fps
UT2003
Flyby fps
UT2003
Botmatch fps
Sandra UNBuffered Sandra Standard
Buffered
Super PI 2M places
(time in sec)
333@2.55V
2-2-2-4
297.87 203.99 74.83 INT 1260
FLT 1363
INT 2572
FLT 2437
120s
400@2.55V
2-2-2-4
353.03 238.18 89.55 INT 1475
FLT 1589
INT 3073
FLT 2905
101s
433@2.65V
2-2-2-5
379.5 252.31 96.51 INT 1593
FLT 1714
INT 3315
FLT 3136
94s

Adata DDR450 Performance Tests
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  • Wesley Fink - Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - link

    MUSHKIN PC3500 LEVEL II AT FSB1000, 5:4 (DDR400, 2-2-2-5)

    We ran 1000FSB (500) at 5:4 with Mushkin PC3500 Level II at CAS 2-2-2-5. The testbed and ALL hardware and settings were the same as this review except for FSB/Ratio. Results are:

    Sandra UNBuffered - 2964/2959 or avg. 2962
    Sandra Buffered (Standard) ? 5470/5468 or avg. 5469
    Quake 3 ? 393.7fps
    UT2003 ? Flyby: 241.84
    Botmatch: 87.66
    SuperPI (2M places) ? 105s

    Write these numbers down and compare them to DDR400 on page 8&9 and DDR500 in Part 2 Page 14 (500FSB/DDR500) charts. You will see that 5:4 2-2-2-5 is very close to the performance of the DDR500.
  • Anonymous User - Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - link

    Oops... I have to take my last comment back. :(

    I have read through the whole article, and I dont see 250 FSB 1:1 3-4-4-8 vs 5:4 2-2-2-5 (200fsb vs. 250fsb ram speed) If they arent both tested together at the same CPU speed and FSB, only with the mem speed and timings change, its not perfect... But still a good review anyhow. :D

    Retrospooty
  • Anonymous User - Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - link

    Awesome review Wes,

    You took user feedback from the last review and tested your ram in a way NO OTHER REVIEWER HAS DONE SO FAR !!!! The right way.

    Well done my friend, well done.

    Retrospooty
  • Anonymous User - Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - link

    Black is cool!

    the mushkin PC3500 Level II is the perfect combination with a IC7 Max3.

  • Anonymous User - Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - link

    Given your propensity (and abuse by others) for OCZ, why did'nt you include OCZ platinum 3500 which is their ultra low latency RAM in this test. I have 2x256Mb OCZ platinum PC3200 (PC3500 wasnt and still isn't available in Australia when I built my system) in an ABIT IC7-G with 2.6C CPU. I get 2-2-2-5 to 190Mhz, 2-2-3-5 to 218 MHz and up to 230MHz on looser settings. I am moderately satisfied with this but I was offered CORSAIR XMS 3200 at time of purchase and, given your comments about Rev 1.1, I perhaps regret the path I took!
  • wicktron - Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - link

    I think you need to change the titles of the graphs on this page: http://www.anandtech.com/memory/showdoc.html?i=185...

    to DDR400 rather than DDR500.
  • wicktron - Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - link

    Great review Wes.

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