G-SKILL 2GBZX vs. 2GBHX vs. 2GBHZ

[Xenom0rph]

First of all, this is not a battle review for these RAMs. I won't be able to get my OCZ PC4000EB because they're out of stock, and i need to decide what ram should i get instead. I can afford any of these models, but i have some questions:

Is there a real difference between ZX and HX in terms of OC ?
Do ZX and HX worth it's price if they dont clock much higher ?
Should i buy the HZ ? Not that good timings, but you know they will do 250MHz at least.

I want 250~270 MHz but i don't want to see fours in my timings :nono: I'll put them together with an Ultra-D mobo and an Opteron 146, running about 280-290 HTT for 24/7.

Please tell me what u guys would do in my situation, and thanks in advance :D

[RTarget]

I'm pretty much in the same boat as you. I don't like seeing fours either, but I need to hit DDR500, so I'll probably go for the HZ. Also looking at the Mushkin Extreme (not Redlines) @3-4-3-8 DDR500 for $239 at the egg.

[MadMikeSS]

I've seen people listing doing 2.5-3-2-0 DDR500 with the HX sticks. But I haven't really seen any verification of it. I had a set ordered from newegg but the screwed up and sent me the wrong ones so I'm awaiting my refund. I'm debating myself whether to order the same kit or not.

[cupra]

I've seen people listing doing 2.5-3-2-0 DDR500 with the HX sticks. But I haven't really seen any verification of it. I had a set ordered from newegg but the screwed up and sent me the wrong ones so I'm awaiting my refund. I'm debating myself whether to order the same kit or not.


that its really depending in the cpu, more high mhz - more low mhz and high timing for the rams.

i try the hx, very nice ram, if you use a Phase Change and work with high mhz that can be a problem for the hx, ddr 500 2.5-3-2-5 will be hard to get, 3-3-2-5 will be stable, the vdimm it the cool thing in that ram, its work fine at 2.45v - 2.5v at ddr 500.

[MadMikeSS]

Well, I'm already working on a divider, but got ram at 263. When I get the 2GB kit I might drop to a lower divider which should give me like 241. Think that 2.5 3-2-5 would be fine at that speed?

[Xenom0rph]

I can buy the ZX for 248 euro, HZ for 277 euro and HX for 298 euro. I think HX is a bit overpriced for being a DDR400 RAM, i know they're usually good, but it's possible that u buy them and then they don't pass 220mhz, u never know it. However HZ could do 250 3-3-3-8 with some ease, right?

[uOpt]

Here's a copy'n'paste of something in my notes file.


G.Skill series:
- HX: $265/133 PC3200 - 2-3-2-5 @ 200 MHz (light blue(?)), chips undisclosed
- ZX: $213/115 PC3200 - 2-3-2-5 @ 200 MHz (light turquoise)
chips undisclosed, probably Infineon CE-6
- HS: $223/114 PC3200 - 2.5-3-3-6 @ 200 MHz (medium blue), Samsung UCCC
- HZ: $245/122 PC4000 - 3-4-4-8 @ 250 MHz (black), Samsung UCCC

The HZ and HS are the same thing, just binned differently, the HZ is
rated 250 MHz and the HS 200 MHz. The timings at 200 MHz will not be
as good as the HX and ZX sets.
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=75199
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=78211
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=78099

The ZX is their new PC3200 kit. Good timings. It will probably not
go much over 200 MHz (seems very similar to the OCZ PC3200 Platinum),
but there are quite a few people who have it above 250 MHz. Almost
certain Infineon chips.
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=77205
http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=421291

The HX is the older PC3200 kit. Didn't see forum users posting
results. G.Skill employee says of the kits they are most likely to
reach 250 2.5-3-2-5, but nothing guaranteed. No info on chips except
he said the chips on HX are more exensive than the ones on ZX (which
are Infineon).
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=78109

[Xenom0rph]

Thank you Martin Cracauer, very helpful post. I've got some ideas out of your post. I.e. if you say " No info on chips except he said the chips on HX are more exensive than the ones on ZX (which are Infineon)." then i can think ZX are BE-5 and HX are CE-6.

The thing is that i want 250 3-3-2 or 2.5-3-2 at the lowest cost. OCZ PC4000EB are totally out of stock and Mushkin Redline XP4000 2GB aren't sold in Europe, or they're very expensive.

I think i am going with HZ or HX, 250mhz guaranteed vs. good timings but unknown speed.

I think i am going crazy...

[TwoMunsters]

MadMikeSS- They did the exact same thing to me!! Sent me ddr2 instead. I rma'ed and got the HX.

XenomOrph- I'm testing the HX right now - I'm at 220 at stock timings. I'll let you know how high they go. In the meantime, here's a link to a post from a forum I frequent. This fellow is well respected at this forum ( check out his guides as well- he just did a good one on tweaking ram timings-not the typical 4 we all speak of ,either):
http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/showthread.php?t=194378

Good luck with your decision.

EDIT!!!!!! : I had a brain fade...when I wrote this I had just started testing the ram (right after working to find max mHz and Htt). I didn't realize I still had a 5:6 divider set in the bios(woops!). Now that i corrected that, I can't get a 5mHz bump at stock timings! Gonna have to play with this stuff some more- my mobo is very picky.

[ooeric]

martin.. the phu2 ZX isnt bad ram at all. and it doesnt run just a lil above 200
i run 2x 1gb sticks @ 263 . 3 3 2 5 2.8V

i bought 2 more sets when newegg had that thanksgiving sale (now i got 2 sets running over 260 in 2 comps. 1 set untested yet for a new comp for my sister to do her blueprint making.)
185$ for 2gb. you can beat that. ANYWHERE.

[dogsx2]

Here's a copy'n'paste of something in my notes file.

The ZX is their new PC3200 kit. Good timings. It will probably not
go much over 200 MHz (seems very similar to the OCZ PC3200 Platinum),
but there are quite a few people who have it above 250 MHz. Almost
certain Infineon chips.


:rofl:

Don't know where you got your info but maybe you had better check the ZX thread link in XS that you posted. The very first post shows 270. I have a pair doing 268. How can you say will probably not go much over 200MHz and then say quite a few people who have it above 250 MHz?

[Middleeye]

ZX runs 3-3-3-7 250MHz for me :D

[LsdBoy]

I have the same trouble as you guys. Will work the week before christmas and get some cash så i can buy new ram. Will use it in this system:
*Asus p4p800 deluxe
*P4 2,8c @ 3.08Ghz (can go highr but my modded zalman 7000cu cant cool it under 40c ide...;))
*XFX 6800gt + vf700cu @ ultra 411/1128mhz
*2x256mb 2x512mb TwinmosWinbond 3200
*1x80gb Ide
*2x160Gb Ide & s-ata
*Creative X-Fi extreme music
*Hyundai L90d+

Will maby upgrade to a amd 64 system nextyear...

But witch should i go for?



Model Name : F1-3200PHU2-2GBZX

GSKILL successfully launched high performance Extreme Memory Series memory modules in 1GBMB capacities. Extreme Memory Series consist of dual channel and single channel series.

GSKILL continues to utilizes the latest advanced technology in product development. The high performance Extreme Memory Series is engineered for superior performance in an extreme environment.

# Package : 2048MB kit (2x1GB) dual channel pack
# CAS Latency : 2-3-2-5 (PC3200)
# Test Voltage : 2.6 ~ 2.75 V
# PCB Board : 6 Layers PCB
# Speed : DDR 400 MHz (PC3200)
# Type : 184-pin DDR SDRAM
# Error Checking : Non-ECC
# Registered/Unbuffered : Unbuffered
# Quality Control : Comprehensive rigorously tested in pair at dual channel environment
# Warranty : Lifetime

or

Model Name : F1-4000USU2-2GBHZ

Recommended Motherboard : DFI LP UT NF4 Ultra-D ; DFI LP UT NF4 SLI-D ; DFI LP UT NF4 SLI-DR; DFI LP NF4 SLI-DR; MSI K8N NEO2 Platinum; MSI K8N NEO4 Platimun; MSI K8N NEO4 SLI Platimun; MSI K8N NEO4 Diamond

G.Skill introduces their first DDR500 2GB matched pair and 1GB single module as HZ series that are compatible with AMD platform.

After launching HZ series for value segment last week, G.Skill continuously works hard to announce the HZ series for both great capacity and extreme performance.

If you are looking for big size memory and great performance, G.Skill HZ series is your best choice.

# Package : 2048MB kit (2x1GB) dual channel pack
# IC Spec : Samsung
# CAS Latency : 3-4-4-8 (PC4000)
# Test Voltage : 2.6 ~ 2.8 V
# PCB Board : 6 Layers PCB
# Speed : DDR 500MHz (PC4000)
# Type : 184-pin DDR SDRAM
# Error Checking : Non-ECC
# Registered/Unbuffered : Unbuffered
# Quality Control : Comprehensive rigorously tested in pair at dual channel environment
# Warranty : Lifetime

Will have some overclocking so i get to like 3.4ghz or more. Will install my h2o kitt for cpu, gpu and nb next week. So what ram should i go for?

[dogsx2]

I bought 2 sets of zx and both do 262-263. The best 2 will do 268. I think the zx is the way to go.

[LsdBoy]

I bought 2 sets of zx and both do 262-263. The best 2 will do 268. I think the zx is the way to go.
ok, i think that i will go for the zx then.. They are cheaper that the zh ram.....

[MadMikeSS]

MadMikeSS- They did the exact same thing to me!! Sent me ddr2 instead. I rma'ed and got the HX.

After finally sorting out the RMA mess with Newegg, I ordered a kit of the ZX sticks. With pretty much no tweaking yet, I have them at 241 3-3-3-6 2.7v. I'll work with them a little more.

[Xenom0rph]

I finally decided for the HZ. Infineon isn't a good buy right now, UCCC seems the way, and i'll have 250MHz at least :)

I'll have them tomorrow. Thank you all for your help ;)

[bladebel]

i'm getting a set of zx tomorrow so here's hoping they will
a) work fine on my A8N-sli deluxe
b) do 250 @ whatever timings

fingers crossed !

[003]

I've seen people listing doing 2.5-3-2-0 DDR500 with the HX sticks. But I haven't really seen any verification of it. I had a set ordered from newegg but the screwed up and sent me the wrong ones so I'm awaiting my refund. I'm debating myself whether to order the same kit or not.
http://img474.imageshack.us/img474/9596/stability5je.th.jpg (http://img474.imageshack.us/my.php?image=stability5je.jpg)
I've primed longer but I didn't take a screen. I have the HX btw. I have also not tried running it higher, because it is on a divider and to go higher I would have to slow down the CPU.

[Kaiser_Sose]

At newgg the 2 gb HZ, HX, and ZX are the same price ... which kit for the highest OC at the lowest timings or in other words, which kit OC highest untill you have to relax the timings

[uOpt]

At newgg the 2 gb HZ, HX, and ZX are the same price ... which kit for the highest OC at the lowest timings or in other words, which kit OC highest untill you have to relax the timings

There is no simple answer to that question. If there was they wouldn't sell all these different kits, ya'know ;)

In addition we deal with probabilities here.

The HZ will have a high probability to go very high at relaxed timings. It will be difficult to crack down on the timings. Kits shipped recently are very good, mine is 270/3-4-4-7 prime-stable.

The ZX used to show up with kits that clock high at better timings than HZ, but with recently kits this is not the case anymore. The chip on this also showed symptoms of not being gameable at speed where they are prime-stable. I would say you have a 1/3 chance to do better timings than the HZ at medium-high speeds, but likely you will be stuck around 240 MHz. Maybe with better timings than the HZ can do at 240.

The HX I didn't see anybody buy. G.Skill technician says it has a low chance to go very high, but you can as well be limited to 210 MHz or somesuch.

I chose the HZ and as you can see I got out lucky. I'm currently looking for the max MHz with 3-4-3-7.

Not that any of this fiddling leads to better real-world application performance.

[GSKILL TECH]

thx to Martin~~ that is very~ very good answer

[uOpt]

The HZ I ordered Friday on newegg (and which arrived Monday with 3-day shipping, quite impressive), does:

3-4-4-7: 270 MHz 8 hours prime stable
3-4-3-7: 265 MHz fails prime after 2:20 hours, so it probably is at 260-262, didn't try that yet


I'd say this is very good, in fact I am considering ordering a second kit to even out that I got one weaker and one stronger stick.

I feel that my previous assumption that UCCC is the nicest chip for gigabyte sticks right now was correct. 270 MHz prime-stable is nice, screw the timings.

[Kaiser_Sose]

The ZX used to show up with kits that clock high at better timings than ZX

I think you mean for that second ZX to be HZ

Gosh, there is an HS model too :)

HX - the few reviews at newegg seem to show these to be good OC with good timings

I do not play games, I use 3d programs such as maya ... I still want a good OC. Would your answer change for a non gamer that uses content creation programs

[uOpt]

I think you mean for that second ZX to be HZ
[/qoute]

[quote]
Gosh, there is an HS model too :)


Low-binned HZ, not worth looking at. They forgot to lower the price when they lowered the HZ price. Normally it should be 20% cheaper than HZ.



OC. Would your answer change for a non gamer that uses content creation programs

I think overclockers who do real-world work (including games) want the HZ in any case because it is the only kit of these that guarantees that you can go from 200 to 250 MHz without fiddling with dividers.

Speed freaks or pure benchmarkers might want to take moderate chances with ZX or do a real poker game with HX.

[Kaiser_Sose]

So which sticks to get if you are willing to have slightly less cpu HT but beter timings

I do not play games so I do not care about 3dmark scores and benchmarks, I care about performance because I use 3d programs which requires good I/O bandwidth which I think CAS timings matter

It doesnt have to be G Skill either ;)

[uOpt]

So which sticks to get if you are willing to have slightly less cpu HT but beter timings

Might be a case for HX. At lower MHz it will certainly have better timings than the UCCC in the HZ.



I do not play games so I do not care about 3dmark scores and benchmarks, I care about performance because I use 3d programs which requires good I/O bandwidth which I think CAS timings matter

It doesnt have to be G Skill either ;)

No, I/O bandwidth is limited by the devices to amounts where a little more or less RAM performance doesn't matter at all. Even slow RAM transfers 3 GB/sec. PCI bus max is 133 MHz/sec. Cracking down on RAID with PCI-X or PCIe will give you 180 MB/sec in a raid0. No RAM bottleneck there.

[GSKILL TECH]

great answer Martin again :)
with you i can do my other job since i am so busy cuz xmas comes :) many orders!

[Prospector]

Just got a set of HZ today and cranked up to 264 my cpu maxes out at about 2640 or so,I like this set so far:toast:

[GSKILL TECH]

Just got a set of HZ today and cranked up to 264 my cpu maxes out at about 2640 or so,I like this set so far:toast:
very nice to see it

[ccokeman]

Got the HZ for Xmas and am still playing with them but 270x10 32m pi stable at 3-4-4-7 2.7v. My 3700 maxes out at 2.85 and am priming now at 256x11. 14hrs in and so far so good. So far this is at 2.7v, 2.5v or 2.6v did not help any at all.I will push for 275 to 280x10 after i find a prime stable spot to fall back to. Now to try and fit the powerstream psu in my case.

[Kaiser_Sose]

IS it true that recent HZ kits are not OC well?

If that is the case, does GSkill have any 2 gb kits that are for OC?

[GSKILL TECH]

IS it true that recent HZ kits are not OC well?

If that is the case, does GSkill have any 2 gb kits that are for OC?
not really, i still see many ppl up to 270 280 no problem, if your mother board and CPU is strong, you might push ur ram to run higher

[harpyboy]

not really, i still see many ppl up to 270 280 no problem, if your mother board and CPU is strong, you might push ur ram to run higher

i got the recent patch of HZ from newegg,(got it tuesday) i was stucked at 270Mhz and can't go any higher with any means...... maybe it is only me.....