Kingston HyperX KHX3200A vs. KHX3200 vs. Corsair XMS

[Oren]

I wanted to get a 256MB HyperX KHX3200, since it has BH-5 chips with 2-2-2-2-6 timings, but it's not available anywhere in my country (Hungary). Therefore, I can only order the KHX3200A, which has a 2-3-2-6 timing.

I was wondering how much I'll be able to overclock with it on my P4 2.8C on my ABIT IS7-E board? Does anybody know if I'll be able to set the Game Accelerator to F1 with this memory at 200MHz FSB?

Also, is everybody sure that's KHX3200 is really much better than KHX3200A? Check these specs:

KHX3200 (BH-5; 2-2-2-6):
Clock Cycle Time (tCK): 4.6ns (min.) / 10ns (max.)
Refresh Row Cycle Time (tRFC): 70ns (min.)
more info: http://www.valueram.com/datasheets/KHX3200_256.pdf

KHX3200A (CH-5; 2-3-2-6):
Clock Cycle Time (tCK): 5ns (min.) / 10ns (max.)
Refresh Row Cycle Time (tRFC): 65ns (min.)
more info:
http://www.valueram.com/datasheets/KHX3200a_256.pdf

As you can see, the KHX3200 has better tCK timing, but the KHX3200A has a better tRFC timing.

I also has the possibility to order a Corsair TwinX. However, it's a bit more expensive, and I know that they don't ship with BH-5 chips anymore. So with a Corsair I'll also get a 2-3-2-6 timing at best. Still, should I take the HyperX or the Corsair?

Reagards,

Oren

[mrspec3]

If you want the KHX pc3000 non A you can order it from Akiba. I'm pretty sure they will ship to you :D

256MB
http://www.akiba.fi/productinfo.php?id=301&page=pckomponentit

512MB
http://www.akiba.fi/productinfo.php?id=498&page=pckomponentit

Steve

[NovaShine]

Both of those substitutes to KHX3200 uses Winbond CH-5 chips. They cannot get the second timing down to 2, therefore, you get the classic signature CH-5 timings of 2-3-2-5 on PC3200.

CH-5 is immensly inferior to BH-5 and i dont reccomend you spending your money on that crap. Try and order BH-5 from the states or something.

[Oren]

Thanks for the advice.

Problem is that I'm exchanging an existing Samsung memory. So I must buy at that specific shop.

Anybody with KHX3200A can testify to its performance?

Will then TwinMos PC3200 be a better choice? It costs less than half than the KHX3200A.

Oren

[Oren]

Originally posted by mrspec3
If you want the KHX pc3000 non A you can order it from Akiba. I'm pretty sure they will ship to you :D

256MB
http://www.akiba.fi/productinfo.php?id=301&page=pckomponentit

512MB
http://www.akiba.fi/productinfo.php?id=498&page=pckomponentit

Steve

Thanks Steve. I've contacted Akiba. However, how can I be sure it's really BH-5? The Kingston HyperX KHX3500 model never had an 'A' version, unlike the KHX3200 which had an KHX3200A version. This means a pack of KHX3500 can have either BH-5 or CH-5 inside, and there's no really way of knowing which one you get...

Also this memory is advetrise as DDR440 while PC3500 is actually DDR433... I guess it's because of the overclocking possibilities?

In addition, it says they used 3.0V voltage to get to it, but my motherboard (Asus IS7-E) supports just up to 2.8V without mod. Does it mean I won't be able to run, for example, 2-2-2-5 at DDR400 even if it's a BH-5 chip?

Many thanks