PMI DDR533: A New Name in High-Performance Memory
by Wesley Fink on March 25, 2004 9:16 AM EST- Posted in
- Memory
Performance Test Configuration
The Memory testbed for evaluating PMI4200 Gold is the same used in our earlier reviews of DDR500 and other High-Speed Memory.Samsung PC3700: DDR466 Memory for the Masses
Kingmax Hardcore Memory: Tiny BGA Reaches For Top Speed
New Memory Highs: Corsair and OCZ Introduce DDR550
OCZ PC3700 Gold Rev. 2: The Universal Soldier
OCZ 4200EL: Tops in Memory Performance
Mushkin PC4000 High Performance: DDR500 PLUS
Corsair TwinX1024-4000 PRO: Improving DDR500 Performance
Mushkin & Adata: 2 for the Fast-Timings Lane
Searching for the Memory Holy Grail - Part 2
All test conditions were as close as possible to those used in our earlier memory reviews.
| INTEL 875P Performance Test Configuration | |
| Processor(s): | Intel Pentium 4 2.4GHz (800MHz FSB) |
| RAM: | 2 x 512MB PMI4200 Gold (DDR533 DS) 4 x 256MB Samsung PC3700 (DDR466 SS) 2 x 512MB Kingmax DDR500 Hardcore Series (DS) 2 x 512MB Kingmax DDR466 Hardcore Series (DS) 2 x 512MB Corsair XMS4400v1.1 TwinX (DS) 2 x 512MB OCZ PC4400 DC Kit (DS) 2 x 512MB OCZ PC3700 Gold Rev. 2 (DS) 2 x 512MB OCZ 4200EL(DS) 2 x 512MB Mushkin PC4000 High Performance (DS) 2 x 512MB Corsair TwinX4000 PRO (DS) 2 x 512MB Mushkin Level II PC3500 (DS) 2 x 256MB Adata DDR450 (SS) 2 x 512MB Adata PC4000 (DS) 2 x 512MB Corsair PC4000 (DS) 2 x 512MB Geil PC4000 (DS) 4 x 256MB Kingston PC4000 (SS) 2 x 256MB Kingston PC4000 (SS) 2 x 512MB OCZ PC4000 (DS) 4 x 256MB OCZ PC3700 GOLD (DS) |
| Hard Drives | 2 Western Digital Raptor Serial ATA 36.7GB 10,000 rpm drives in an Intel ICH5R RAID configuration |
| PCI/AGP Speed | Fixed at 33/66 |
| Bus Master Drivers: | 875P Intel INF Update v5.00.1012, SATA RAID drivers installed, but IAA not installed |
| Video Card(s): | ATI 9800 PRO 128MB, 128MB aperture, 1024x768x32 |
| Video Drivers: | ATI Catalyst 4.1 |
| Power Supply: | Vantec Stealth 470Watt Aluminum |
| Operating System(s): | Windows XP Professional SP1 |
| Motherboards: | Asus P4C800-E (875) with 1015 Release BIOS |
Since PMI rates the memory at DDR533, this memory is clearly aimed at the Intel user. Therefore, we only tested performance on our Intel test bed. We did verify that the PMI DIMMs would run on an Athlon 64 platform and had no problem running 2 DIMMs on the Athlon 64 platform at DDR400. However, we did have to lower CAS to 2.5 from 2.0 for best stability on the A64 platform. While this DDR533 memory will certainly run on A64, it is not a memory that we would choose for an Athlon 64 platform. DDR400 to DDR500 with faster memory timings would be a better choice for an Athlon 64 system.
Test Settings
The following settings were tested with PMI DDR533:1. 800FSB/DDR400 - the highest stock speed supported on 875/865 and K8T800/nF3/SiS755 motherboards.
2. 1000FSB/DDR500 - the maximum speed that many current Intel 865/875 boards can achieve.
3. 1066FSB/DDR533 - the specified rating of the DDR533 memory modules.
4. Highest Stable Overclock - the highest settings we could achieve with this memory and other memory that we have tested.
These are the same general settings used in benchmarking other memory in the above list of memory tests. DDR400, DDR500, and Highest Memory Speed have been used for all benchmarking. DDR533 has only been tested in the past for modules with this speed rating.
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Wesley Fink - Thursday, March 25, 2004 - link
#2 -As I have explained several times, as Editors we can't do a thing about the lack of bar color. We want it as much as you do. Our current Graphing Engine which is used to generate the Java Charts does not have that capability. We have been promised this WILL be an option in an upcoming upgrade to the Graphing Engine.
We use Java charts because they use less bandwidth than any other charting option. If you look at the traffic on AnandTech you can appreciate how precious ANY bandwidth savings is to us - and to your browsing speed.
Write Anand or Jason Clark with your complaints. I do understand the charts would be MUCH more readable if the reviewed item was in a different color. Unfortunately I can't do a thing about it - but Anand and Jason can.
bldkc - Thursday, March 25, 2004 - link
Are you guys too cheap to buy a new box of crayons or what? Would it kill you to have colored the PMI bar red on the graphs? Could I please just get an explanation so I can quit complaining about this every time you post a new article? Why is my dinghy smaller after I go swimming? Why cant I buy pork boullion? Why cant I buy toast in the store? I think you guys are smart enough to answer all of these questions but you are too stingy to share your genius. Elitists!Praeludium - Thursday, March 25, 2004 - link
Now if only XGI had had this kind of showing...Funny how the memory sector has gotten so competitive lately. It seems as though just a year ago my only choices were Corsair, Geil, Kingston, or Samsung; of those four, Corsair was the top. Either I missed all the other competitors, or they just weren't as highly ranked as they are now.