OCZ VX vs Mushkin Redline (DDR500)

[AndrewZorn]

Here is my system, that will exist in a day or so:

Athlon64 4400+ Toledo + Zalman 7700cu
DFI Lanparty SLI-DR
BFG 7800gtx OC
Tagan TG480-U22
Thermaltake Tsunami
Hitachi T7K250

...notice no memory. At first I ordered the OCZ PC4000 VX. People told me the Mushkin Redline is better, so i ordered it planning on returning the VX unopened. Now people are telling me the VX is better again!

In most cases the Redline seems to overclock higher, and both have very good timings. But here are a few things about timings...

While many can get the Redline to a CAS of 1.5, Athlon CPUs cannot utilize a CAS of 1.5, it is not supported by the memory controller.
The Redline can get a tRAS of 5, and the OCZ struggles for this. The way the memory works though, a tRAS less than the sum of CAS+tRCD+2, since 2+2+2=6, a tRAS timing of less than 6 is usually in fact WORSE than a tRAS of 5.

I plan to overclock as high as possible, with tons of bandwidth.

Which memory should I keep? I have to return one.

[Ubermann]

From what i have read but i might be wrong, the redline takes less volt and seems to clock higher.
So maybe if they are shipped with bad chips they might survive longer cuz of the lower volt.
Yes RMA will solve it but then your without ram for a while and its not so fun.
But not as many have redline as people have vx so it might not be fair to compare them both.

[AndrewZorn]

The Redline takes higher voltage... both however are warranted to the same voltage.

The biggest thing is that I hear both are nearly the same chips/controllers, but the Mushkin is about 6months newer... which almost answers my questions, but I am a long-time fan of OCZ. I do not, however, stick to a company 'just because', I am not a fanboy or anything, if something better is out, I want that instead.

[[XC] moddolicous]

Redline PC4000 is usually known for getting into the mid 270's 2-2-2-5. Maybe with a good pair, even higher. Redline appears to be the best.

[AndrewZorn]

I need more opinions like that. Again, for those who skimmed, I have both, and it will cost me exactly the same to return one. The price difference, while $10, is negligible considering the total cost of my system.

[alexio]

Redline clocks higher but I have seen more of this RAM die without a reason than VX.

You might have to take a look at the new Geil BH-5 series. This stuff has a warenty up to 3.8v and I think it clocks as good or better than redline.

[AndrewZorn]

Geil!?!?

Mushkin has a lifetime warranty, so if it dies without reason, I won't care TOO much...

[AndrewZorn]

Also I was wondering about the active cooling on this memory... if anyone has seen the 7700cu on this board, you will see that the fan/heatsink actually COVERS the memory and blows down on it, this should be perfect,right?

[mikead_99]

Luck of the draw. Pure luck of the draw. I have seen a few 270 MHz+ Redline screenies, but mine won't do Prime stable past 260 MHz. My VX does 265 MHz Prime stable and benches past 270 so I'm much happier with them.

[EvlUndrWareNome]

Redline clocks higher but I have seen more of this RAM die without a reason than VX.

You might have to take a look at the new Geil BH-5 series. This stuff has a warenty up to 3.8v and I think it clocks as good or better than redline.


Ditto for Geil BH-5.

[AndrewZorn]

I know it has a lot to do with luck of the draw, but considering the 'averages' of each memory, would the Mushkin be the one that would most likely be higher?

Again, even if it were easy for me, I'd kind of feel bad about testing a bunch of different memory sets and returning them as 'new' just so I could get a better overclock and someone else ending up with a used product.

I hate getting 'good as new' stuff.

[ianocean]

Hmmm!!Geil is equipped with BH5 and Redlines with CH5.Both are extremely fast,have lifetime manufacturer warranty.270Mhz SuperPi 32m for my 2x256Mb Geil modules

[AndrewZorn]

is BH5 better than CH5 or something

ah forget it im not feeling like delaying build another week to check out a third manufacturer unless it is absolutely spectacular...

any advice on the ocz/mush?

[Ubermann]

Make one of those fancy polls =)
Somehow i have to vote on them even if i have no clue about the subject.

[AndrewZorn]

nah i dont feel like that, like you said mostly people would just vote for whichever, this forces things like reason, explanation, or at the very least more than 2seconds to show how committed you are

[rakoon]

me too want to know which better between vx4000 and mushkin 4000.

[AndrewZorn]

are you going to buy new memory? it looks like you already have a pretty nice overclock

[rakoon]

yes, i need an upgrade to 1GB RAM, coz soon i will use SLI.
i still consider between: VX3200, VX4000, REDLINE4000, G.Skill4400LE

any suggestion, which of them is the Best?

[Korpse]

redline4000 :D

[AndrewZorn]

he seems to like it, a lot...

[Korpse]

lol - i dont know why i do :confused: maybe cos i got it for £61 instead of £180 :p:

[AndrewZorn]

i guess thats cheap, i paid 195USD for the mushkin and 182USD for the ocz

[Korpse]

:) i paid $105 for my redline and $120 for the VX - cant wait for them to get here....not to test but to sell :D

[rakoon]

how about the performance, high fsb, timings?
which of them is the best?

and which is better in high fsb and tight timings between bh5/utt, ch5/utt, tccd?

[Korpse]

High FSB go for TCCD (Such as the Gskill LE) they have Speeds of like 275mhz 2.5-3-3-7+

For Tight timings go for the Redline (2-2-2-5 up to 270mhz if ur lucky)

id go with the Redline tho as im a sucker for 2-2-2-5 timings :D

[AndrewZorn]

so exactly where do you get it that cheap? or is it bulk

[Korpse]

was in the classifieds section m8 (doubt u can see it yet) second hand - redline was tested to 265mhz 2-2-2-5with 3.4v and the 3200 VX was tested to garanteed speeds

[rakoon]

High FSB go for TCCD (Such as the Gskill LE) they have Speeds of like 275mhz 2.5-3-3-7+

For Tight timings go for the Redline (2-2-2-5 up to 270mhz if ur lucky)

id go with the Redline tho as im a sucker for 2-2-2-5 timings :D

OK, which 1 better in performance (3d games, office works, etc) between example 3xx MHz with 2.5-3-3-x timings and 260-275 MHz with 2-2-2-x timings??

[Korpse]

roughly even m8, although i would again say the redline i just like 2-2-2-5 ram for games and stuff.

[AndrewZorn]

yeah id go with timings
you can always loosen them if you want to go higher, right?
even if not i think 260+ will be enough for me

[Korpse]

well UTT doesnt like to be loosended and TCCD doesnt like to be tightened :p:

but UTT can be loosened a bit to say 2.5cas or 2-3-2-6 etc etc

[rakoon]

too bad dont know where to get Mushkin Redline :(

[Korpse]

where do you live?

[AndrewZorn]

doesnt matter too much to me, i like teh idea of 2-2-2-5 or less, even though AMD cant use less

and some even say -6 is better than -5

[rakoon]

me live in indonesia, jakarta and australia, sydney. currently on holiday in jakarta.

[Goone]

Also, might need to think about RMA and support.

[rakoon]

viva OCZ then :D

[Duonger]

Also, might need to think about RMA and support.

wat do you mean by this? we are committed to customer service and RMA. we have revised our warranty policy recently also.

Duonger

[Duonger]

me live in indonesia, jakarta and australia, sydney. currently on holiday in jakarta.

Universal Enterprise just got 20kits this week. they should be available.

Duonger

[fareastgq]

better get redline, why settle for less when u can get more? boggle. do NOT get geil unless u want crap for tech support/rma blah blah etc...mushkin and ocz are excellent.

[Goone]

What I mean is mushkin will take longer for to RMA then ocz and also you can go to ocz support forum and get your question answer instantly.

[LivingL@rGe81]

I'm gonna get a set of mushkin redlines & G.Skill GH, to see what I can get out of them!!!

I'm hoping for 275Mhz benchable :slapass: