PMI DDR533: A New Name in High-Performance Memory
by Wesley Fink on March 25, 2004 9:16 AM EST- Posted in
- Memory
PMI4200 Gold
PMI provides the Turbo Memory in both Dual-Channel kits and as single-modules. They also provide each speed in Gold and Platinum ratings, much as OCZ uses for their memory modules.
The memory that we are testing is PMI4200-1024DG, or a Dual-Channel Gold kit rated at 3-4-4-8 timings. There is no doubt that PMI has done their homework, providing a very attractive and catchy heatspreader design in either gold or platinum with a raised PMI logo. That attention to detail also shows in the PMI website where product lines and compatibility charts are particularly easy to navigate. PMI is also getting their product into some well-known resellers like Atacom and New Egg to make it easier to find.
All of these things make it easier for buyers to find PMI memory, but in the end, any memory that targets the computer enthusiast is all about performance. With that in mind, let's take a closer look at PMI DDR533.
PMI4200 Gold Specifications
| PMI4200 Gold Memory Specifications | |
| Number of DIMMs & Banks | 2 DS |
| DIMM Size Total Memory |
512 Mb 1 GB |
| Rated Timings | 3-4-4-8 at DDR533 |
| Rated Voltage | 2.7V |
PMI provides compatibility testing with many motherboards and provides that information at their website. They also use CTML memory certification testing, at least in their server memory series.
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KillaKilla - Saturday, March 27, 2004 - link
[q]Why is my dinghy smaller after I go swimming? Why cant I buy pork boullion? Why cant I buy toast in the store?[/q]I too would like to know! Damnit, wes, Stop witholding information from the public!
bldkc - Friday, March 26, 2004 - link
color, color, color. Did I mention that I'm a sociopathic liar?bldkc - Friday, March 26, 2004 - link
You may have told us before about the inability of the software to change the color, but I missed it. Thank you for doing so again. I am aware of the stratospheric bandwidth usage at Anand, and that is because you guys rock. Thanks for the excellent articles, and keep up the good work Wesley. I won't mention the colors again.Visual - Friday, March 26, 2004 - link
The graphs really could use some colour coding though.Wesley Fink - Thursday, March 25, 2004 - link
TrogdorJW -The flash charts are much smaller than JPEG would be but I don't have any numbers to share. Email Jason Clark, who does our IT reviews, and I'm sure he can give you some idea of the bandwidth savings.
TrogdorJW - Thursday, March 25, 2004 - link
Damn, Wesley... this is the first I've heard of this, and after looking back at the charts, I am only now discovering that you use Flash files for the graphs. Cool! I'm guessing that there's a Java application that is used to generate the graphs from some spreadsheet? Or are all the graphs generated in real time? Meaning, if there were an error in a graph, like a misplaced decimal or something, could you simply update the spreadsheet, or do you have to run the Java Graph utility as well? Either way, that's pretty friggin' cool. But then, I'm a programmer geek and like seeing such uses of technology.If you don't mind answering, how large are the generated graph files? I would guess that in JPEG format they would be on the order of 30-50K each. What sort of savings do you get out of this?
Anyway, back to the memory being tested here. After the results not too long ago showing that low latency DDR400 timings with a 5:4 ratio on a P4 resulted in similar performance to 1:1 ration and higher timings, I really don't see much need for these "faster" DIMMs right now. My Mushkin can run 2-3-2-6 at PC3200, which is pretty close to the top. Seems like I can just run the system bus faster while keeping the memory bus at 400 MHz (200 MHz, actually) and still get similar performance. Or is that only the case with P4 systems?
RuStYwAvE - Thursday, March 25, 2004 - link
Probably PMI and OCZ go through the same manfacture like Dell or Alienware Laptops aren't really design by them. They just buy laptops from Clevo or Compro and retag their names on them. Creative Labs and PNY video card are retaged MSI cards. The only thing I see PMI copying is the packaging, if the price is lower then OCZ I would buy PMI.RuStYwAvE - Thursday, March 25, 2004 - link
kamper - Thursday, March 25, 2004 - link
They're never going to make it. Not with a name like Pmi and a logo with nice rounded letters and a halo(?) around the 'i'. With all the big companies as close as they are at the top why would you buy this when you could have cool looking names like "HyperX" or "OCZ" on your memory?Ok, I'm just kidding. It's weird how there's suddenly so much memory that is so close right around the top. I bet pricing plays the biggest factor in their success.
Pumpkinierre - Thursday, March 25, 2004 - link
Go on wesley, now that you're off the beaten track, get hold of some of that 2-3-3-6 Xtreme DDR PC3700+ (http://www.xtremeddr.com/products/x_pc3700+.shtml) and tell me if it is any good.