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RMA'd OCZ PC3700EB and Received PC4200EL TCC5

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aldamon

Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2003
Location
Durham, NC
I just RMA'd a gig of OCZ PC3700EB and received a gig of PC4200EL Rev. 1.1 TCC5 in return. I know the 3700EB is out of production, but I feel if they weren't going to give me the same RAM I should have had a choice of replacements. This is actually the second time I've had to RMA 3700EB, so maybe it's a good thing it's out of production? :)

Anyway, here's my dilemma. I have a Clawhammer CG 3200+ (with a max 10x multiplier) on an Epox 8KDA3J. The board and the CPU's memory controller are picky with a gig of RAM installed. That's why I paid the BIG premium for 3700EB last fall and it paid off IMO. The 3700EB has allowed my system to run these settings, no sweat, for the last 9 months:

2400 MHz, 10 x 240 1:1 (DDR480), 2.5-2-2-10-1T

Last night, I tested the PC4200EL and my CPU's memory controller doesn't like the gig of PC4200EL as much as the PC3700EB. I can only run the following combinations now:

2430 MHz, 10 x 243, 4:5 (DDR406), 2-2-2-10-1T

OR

2290 MHz, 10 x 229, 1:1 (DDR458), 2-2-2-10-1T

So my choice is to either compromise RAM speed or CPU speed. The 3700EB gave me the best of both worlds, but with a slightly lower CAS. The new RAM is good. No question. The TCC5 will be more than acceptable when I switch to Socket 939, but I hate having a slower system now.

Should I complain or am I getting worked up over nothing?
 
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The 4200EL TCC5 should be better than your 3700. Why are you trying to run it at 2-2-2, it is not rated to run those timings at any speed. Why not do 270 x 9 = 2430Mhz CPU and 270Mhz RAM @ 2.5-3-3 or 2.5-4-3?
 
Thanks for the suggestions guys but.....

Tebore said:
You need to lax the timings to CAS 2.5 to get a higher FSB. Match the timings of the old EB and you should hit a higher FSB.

My board will not go higher than the high 240s on the HTT under any circumstances (with any timings) with 1GB of RAM installed. My board is finicky. My CPU craps out at 2430 with 1.8V. The 3700EB was quite simply a perfect match for my situation because 10 x 243 is the best I can achieve.

Eldonko said:
The 4200EL TCC5 should be better than your 3700. Why are you trying to run it at 2-2-2, it is not rated to run those timings at any speed. Why not do 270 x 9 = 2430Mhz CPU and 270Mhz RAM @ 2.5-3-3 or 2.5-4-3?

My board will not work with a 270 HTT with a gig of RAM installed. I had A-DATA PC4200 last summer with 3-4-4-8-1T timings and I still couldnt' hit 267 - 270 on the HTT. I had three 1GB sets of BH-5 and it crapped out in the high 220s on my board with 3.2V. Like I said, my system is picky. That's why I bought 3700EB to run high HTT with tight timings. The problem is not the 4200EL. The problem is my board and CPU. The problem is I paid a premium for memory taylored specifically for Socket 754 performance and it's been replaced with a different beast.

I should probably just give up on Socket 754 and go 939. That would probably end my misery.
 
Ahh I see. You don't really have grounds to complain to OCZ though, they gave you similar but better RAM with your RMA. It is just unfortunate that system limitations require you to have something so specific.
 
I have a suggestion.

Consider selling or trading those sticks and replacing them with some Ballistix PC3200 or PC4000. These are also based on the Micron IC, although the newer "G" vs. "C" die.

The Ballistix should have the same general charecteristics as the EB and should work well with your rig, and be capable of running similar timings.

There is a 2x512MB set of PC4000 for sale in our classifieds for $108 and you should have no problems selling your ram for more than that.

Anyways...just a suggestion.
 
The Ballistix work pretty good with S939 as well, should you later upgrade. Granted, maybe not as good as TCCx, but good nevertheless.

To me it seems that if you weren't ready to upgrade before your ram crapped out on you, then this alternative is the least expensive and you might actually make money off it.

Other sources for Ballistix include an eBay retailer with a name something like Quality Ram or so. Sells both the PC3200 and the PC4000 Ballistix for about $55 per 512MB stick, plus shipping. It comes out to right at $130/gig. Ninja bought a set of these so he can at least tell you about his experience with the vendor. His ran pretty good to 250, but not much more, but then again, 250 is all you need. Newegg has them for around $70-$80, give or take, the last time I looked. In all these options the cost to you for a gig is in the $150-$160 range and I would think that your new PC4200 with TCC5 should sell for that, if not more.

You could always look for a set of previously tested (sounds better than "used" doesn't it?) EB modules and be right back where you were. A set of those goes for around $130-$150 the last time I saw them for sale (over at XS). There was a set that sold this morning, but they were PC3200 and I'm not sure which chips are in those modules but I've heard that it is not the Micron.

Well, which ever way you go, hope it works out for you.
 
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I'm actually leaning towards keeping it at 2430 MHz, 10 x 243, 4:5 (DDR406), 2-2-2-10-1T and just staying away from synthetic benchmarks. I doubt I'll even notice the difference from 2400 MHz, 10 x 240 1:1 (DDR480), 2.5-2-2-10-1T if I don't let it get to me. Only the memory speed will be slower. The CPU and CAS will be slightly faster.
 
Yes, Aldamon's quandary is a common one with S754. My DFI 250GB NF3 board will NOT run 2x512 ram higher than 253HTT under any circumstances (1T).

---- Big tip: get the NF8 board, where I just came off running 275x9, 2.5-3-3-6 with TCCD, plus it has an easy VDIMM mod that works (did 260, 2-2-2-6 on it with UTT too :eek: ) ----

As for TCCD, they will not do much higher than 210-215 at 2-2-2-5. You can't blame OCZ, as EB3700 is gone now.

BTW, I have a set of 2x512 EB3700s I've been meaning to get rid of. I'd part with them for the same prices of $140 or so on Extreme. PM me if anyone is interested.
 
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