KHX PC3000 vs. Mushkin PC3500 level 2

[batboy]

I've been lovin' my 2X256 sticks of Kingston HyperX PC3000 with BH-5 chips. They do DDR453 with 2,3,2,5 timings at 2.7v in either of my Abit IC7 P-4 rigs.

So, since RAM with BH-5 is becoming rarer than hen's teeth, I bought 2X512 sticks (dual channel kit) of Muchkin PC3500 Black Level 2.

Guess what? It does exactly the same as my KHX PC3000 and no better. I'm rather disappointed since this stuff is much more expensive and rated higher. Maybe I need more vdimm?

[Grandpa Dan]

I don't know that much more vdimm will help. The numbers you're hitting are about as high as I've seen(some exceptions of course). Although rated higher it's the same chips on the pcb. In this particular case I feel kingston undersold their product and probably could have charged more. The KHX pc3000 with the bh-5 should be considered one of those rare finds that ocers hope they stumble across.

[Biznatch]

My mushkin 3200 can do 250FSB on 2-2-2-5 timings.

[Grandpa Dan]

Originally posted by Biznatch
My mushkin 3200 can do 250FSB on 2-2-2-5 timings.

Single stick on an amd mobo? not surprising. a single will go higher than any pair of the same.

[Shade00]

I can guarantee you he's using 3v+ on the RAM, probably no less than 3.2.

batboy, 512mb sticks should be able to hit mid 230s, but you are most likely going to need more voltage. Quite frankly, I'm surprised you're able to hit that speed at 2.7v. You'll need at least 2.9v to go much higher.

[wannaoc]

I agree, more volts are needed for the Mushkin. I run mine at 3.0v and at one point had them up to 225 in an AMD system.

I would say give both the Mushkin and the HyperX more volts. The HyperX might do 2,2,2 with it and the Mushkin will. You will at least get higher speeds at your current timings imo.

[Propilot]

BB,
My HX PC3200 does 228fsb at 2-3-3-6 2.85v and 235 at 3.1v.
It does 2-2-2-5 at 220 and 2.85v.

[batboy]

I've tried 2.8v, but it does no better than 2.7v. I'm getting a new mobo soon, something that will let me have more vdimm. Perhaps the AI7.

Shade, AMD systems will always squeak more out of RAM than the dual channel Intel i865/i875 chipsets. That's comparing apples with oranges.

Hey Propilot, is that the PC3200 you're selling me? Hope so.

[Propilot]

Yep, thats them.
Was wondering if you would catch on. :)

My new ram should be here today and your check Friday?
Well anyway, I'll get it out to you next week.

[Shade00]

Originally posted by batboy
I've tried 2.8v, but it does no better than 2.7v. I'm getting a new mobo soon, something that will let me have more vdimm. Perhaps the AI7.

Shade, AMD systems will always squeak more out of RAM than the dual channel Intel i865/i875 chipsets. That's comparing apples with oranges.

I would still say you're going to need a good bit more vdimm to get those sticks to run DC at higher FSBs. Like I said before, 227 is probably tops before you need to start adding the volts. I would suspect you could eek a few mhz more out with 2.9v, but to see anything greater than that you'll need over 3v.

I know that single channel is less demanding on RAM than DC, but BH-5 is BH-5. It'll do tight timings to a certain point and then you have to start feeding it voltage to get it to go more.

There's also no way Biznatch is hitting 250 1:1 at 2-2-2 timings using less than 3.2v.

[Grandpa Dan]

I'm using 3.2v(3.18 actual). to hit my specs in my sig. above that doesn't get me any more.

[oc_newbee]

IMO I think that bh-5 is bh-5, no matter how they were spec(pc3000, pc3200, pc3500). I think they are all the same, they definitely need some voltage to be able to scale higher. For best bang for buck is to get the kingston hyperX pc3000.

[craig588]

Originally posted by oc_newbee
IMO I think that bh-5 is bh-5, no matter how they were spec(pc3000, pc3200, pc3500). I think they are all the same, they definitely need some voltage to be able to scale higher. For best bang for buck is to get the kingston hyperX pc3000.

Yes, thats exactly right. I have used alot of different brands of BH5 ram (I build high end computers for people) and no matter what the brand they all are within a MHz or 2 of each other. All of the KHX3000 I had did 227MHz on average with the fastest stick hitting 237MHz, while all of the Mushkin Level 2 PC3500 did 228MHz on average and its fastest stick was 240MHz. This is for all of the ram sticks for each company I used. I created a chart a while ago, but I lost it, these are the only numbers I remember.

I did this testing using ~3.2V on the ram and I used a 80MM fan to cool down the ram. I ran every speed test on the same Vmodded NF7-S rev2 with the ram running async to be sure that it would be the limiting factor and not the mobo.

BH5 is BH5, it doesnt matter who puts it together as long as they are using a quality PCB for the chips.

[Biznatch]

Actually no, my Mushkin 3200 is 2x256 running dual channel at 250 at 3.3vdimm. I might even be able to go higher, I haven't tried yet. And this is on and AMD system, not a P4.

[Juice2]

Look here (http://www.pinoypc.net/tehboard/viewthread.php?thread=21811) someone got his HX at 4volts and look at his results.

[wannaoc]

Wow, thats just asking to burn up some memory! I would never go over 3.5V max, and thats just for benching.

[Grandpa Dan]

This is about the 3rd or 4th time I've posted this (http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?threadid=27532) link to xtremesystems but...NEWSFLASH...There is KHX PC3000 out there that has confirmed ch-5 chips on it. Kingston is and has been out of bh-5 for a while. If you do get some then you got lucky thesedays.

[Juice2]

The link I posted got 335MHz or DDR670