OCZ PC3500 Platinum: A Return to the Fastest Timings
by Wesley Fink on October 30, 2003 11:33 PM EST- Posted in
- Memory
Final Words
In its performance range of DDR333 to DDR466, OCZ PC3500 Platinum is the best performing memory that we have tested on the Intel 875. The performance is very similar to Mushkin 3500 Level II, with the added benefits that OCZ will do 2-2-2-5 timings at DDR433 at 2.75V, and it also operates with stability to a higher FSB than Mushkin 3500 Level II. When we asked OCZ about these improvements, they indicated that they were using a new PCB, which was designed to achieve higher clock rates with Winbond BH5 chips. Whatever the reason, the performance of the PC3500 Platinum is outstanding in its operating range.OCZ PC3500 Platinum is the second current memory that we have tested to pass our benchmark tests on the Intel 875 in Dual-Channel mode at 2-2-2 timings, which is even more remarkable considering our tested modules were 512Mb Double-Bank. Corsair 3200LL Rev. 1.1 also completed 2-2-2 tests at DDR400, but that Revision has been replaced with Rev. 1.2, whose best performance at DDR400 is 2-2-3. Mushkin 3500 Level II, which also uses Winbond BH5 chips, also completed DDR400 benchmarks at 2-2-2-5 timings. With the ability to also perform at 2-2-2-6 at DDR433, the OCZ is certainly the fastest module at that speed we have tested. In fact, we were able to overclock to an astounding DD450 at 2-2-2-6 timings, although it required 2.85V for stability of the memory.
Looking at the larger picture of DDR400 performance, we now find OCZ PC3500 Platinum and Mushkin PC3500 Level II neck and neck with the fastest timings at DDR400. Either of these will provide the best possible performance at DDR400. Kingston HyperX 4000, OCZ 3700 Gold, Adata DDR450, and Adata PC4000 are also other good performers in the DDR400 range. So are the newest DDR500/533 modules based on Hynix Rev. B chips from Corsair, Mushkin, and OCZ.
If you do not plan to overclock, there is no doubt that OCZ PC3500 Platinum and Mushkin 3500 Level II offer the best performance at DDR400 on the Intel 875/865 platform. Corsair 3200LL Rev. 1.1 — if you can still find it — is certainly in this same league and won Evan Lieb's DDR400 shootout a few months ago.
If you have a 2.8 to 3.2GHz Pentium 4 CPU and plan to overclock, then you are likely to be limited to an overclock somewhere in the 240 to 245 FSB range. For the new Athlon64 CPU and Athlon XP Barton chips, you will also find that your overclocks will be limited to 233 or lower. For all of these processors, the OCZ PC3500 Platinum is an almost ideal match, providing the fastest memory timings currently available to about DDR466. Mushkin 3500 Level II is also recommended, topping out only a few MHz slower than the OCZ.
For a 2.4C or 2.6C Intel Pentium 4 processor, you may achieve overclocks up to the 290 FSB range, and the most recent winners of our DDR500 benchmarking — OCZ 4200EL, Corsair XMS4000 PRO, or Mushkin 4000 High performance should be your choice for 1:1 synchronous performance. OCZ 4200EL certainly reaches further than any memory we have tested, but for most of the range, Corsair and Mushkin are neck and neck in performance. If you intend to run 5:4 timings with your very high FSB settings on a 2.4 or 2.6, then you should again look to the OCZ PC3500 Platinum or Mushkin 3500 Level II, since they can provide the absolute fastest timings at the 5:4 memory settings you can achieve.
In the end, there is not just one answer to, “What is the best memory for my computer?” It depends on your motherboard, your CPU, the applications that you will run, and how you will run your computer. Our next memory roundup will take a look at performance of Registered ECC modules that are required for the new Athlon64 FX processor and the AMD Opteron.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
11 Comments
View All Comments
hepp - Monday, November 10, 2003 - link
Great reviews but what I would really love to see(and I doubt if I am the only one) is a shootout between OCZ 3500 Limited Edition with a 5:4 divider and OCZ 4200 EL at 1:1.Usual tests at FSB 250 and 280.
Br
Hepp
destaccado - Thursday, November 6, 2003 - link
Well I've been using the memory all day and it definately works at its rated speeds. I switched my pc3200 platinum out and went to 2225 from 2235 and my 3dmark01 score went for 20512 to 20843 stock...Not a huge improvement but about triple what I expected.....Awesome memory and so far I'd highly recommend it....bigtoe33 - Tuesday, November 4, 2003 - link
To save any confusion i would like to explain this is a new Limited Edition version of the 3500 Platinum.It is based on a limited run of Winbond BH5 IC's that OCZ have been able to buy.Where the standard 3500Plat should run around 2-2-3-5 at ddr400 these should be able to hit 2-2-2-5.We have issued this memory as customer demand is high for BH5, but is does have a limited run as BH5 IC's are to be discontinued.
Any concerns should be mailed to OCZ tech support or me directly at oczguy2@ocztechnology.com
While Wes does an awesome job trying to help with your OCZ questions he is NOT an OCZ rep and cannot offer the same help OCZ tech support can.
Thanks.
oczguy2
destaccado - Tuesday, November 4, 2003 - link
Heh well to put a third post out I just read some of the dirt on OCZ and I must say I'm suprised. Every time I've called their company they've been very helpful to me including telling me who had their memory in stock and getting me discounts from their vendors. I would recommend giving them a chance as I've had lots of luck with their platinum series of memory.....And their RMA service was exceptional the one time I did use it....destaccado - Tuesday, November 4, 2003 - link
Happened to notice this little disclaimer on the page #1 linked to..."I also do not have evidence that OCZ Technology was using beefed up review samples. I only know what I have been told from various hardware review sites - so everything mentioned is my opinion."
destaccado - Tuesday, November 4, 2003 - link
I build alot of mid-range/high-end computers for people and have used at least 50 sticks of the OCZ el-ddr pc3200 plat and out of them only 1 stick from a dual channel kit has failed...I have never had a problem running it at the 2-2-3-5 timings that they promise nor with any of the other ocz memory I've used. (I use about 90% ocz, the other 10% is corsair who makes excellent memory as well usually do to customers request). While I do believe they did overstate or give golden samples to reviewers at one point. Even #1's own page he links to says "it took OCZ a very long time to get their reputation back. OCZ has since then done a good job of putting out a sold and high performing product - the honest way."So basically OCZ did something a lil' dishonest at one point...not much different then ATI with quake 3 or nvidia with 3dmark2003, I don't see you all lining up to buy Volari cards because of this. Truth is OCZ makes excellent memory and because of that I placed my order for this memory at axiontech who just got in in today. I'll let you guys know how it works at the 2-2-2-5 setting on my Athlon64 but I know there won't be a problem. Thanks for the review Wes.
Wesley Fink - Sunday, November 2, 2003 - link
#4 -1) Pat is always enabled on the 875P-based P4C800-E.
2) The 512Mb modules are double-sided. The higher unbuffered scores are a result of DS performing better than SS on 875/865 and the timings.
3) I cannot answer whether the original 3200 and 3500 used BH5 chips with any authority. You should write OCZ with that question.
Pumpkinierre - Saturday, November 1, 2003 - link
I have 2x256Mb OCZ PC3200 platinum on an IC7-G with 2.6C. The system is (4months old). I can run tight settings (2235) to 218MHz at PAT F1 and up to 230 at looser settings. I can not run Street Racer (which is the fastest PAT, despite ABIT's ratings, in bandwidth terms) at any speed. As I am looking to buy more RAM, I have some questions on your article:1)Did you enable PAT and if so at what level?
2)My memory is single sided(SS). Are the new PC3500 platinum double sided (DS)?
As you wrote in Mem. Holy Grail Pt.1 DS is best for i875. OCZ used to recommend Gold series (DS) for i875/865 and platinum for nforce2 but your article suggests they have changed their minds. I get ~2850 unbuffered Sandra result at CAS 2235 216MHz/PAT F1 but you get >3000 at 200MHz which I dont believe can be totally ascribed to the tighter CAS/RAS setting.
3)Did the original platinum PC3200 and 3500 use BH5 chips?
I notice that OCZ has replaced its 4.5ns rating for the platinum mem. chips to 5ns on their website. Is this because of honesty or a different memory chip?
daos - Saturday, November 1, 2003 - link
i am a firm beliver in anandtech. i would hate to see that he would accept something that he knows isnt the truth to the common buyer. i have seen some crazy benchmarks on the P4C800-E paired with PC4200El. although, on the Abit boards, they tend to do horrible. i, myself, use an Abit IC7 Max3 and would love to buy OCZ's line but im terrified from the horror stories.it would definatly benefit AT to run a DDR500+ shotout including Adata's new PC4000 line on the Abit IC7Max3 platform. there are many readers out there that could really benefit from this since the Adata modules seem to run great on this platform. some are reaching 295+ 1:1
Wesley Fink - Friday, October 31, 2003 - link
here's something for you to read from a UK website that DID go and out and buy Corsair, Mushkin, and OCZ memory:http://www.ocprices.com/?rev_id=188