[MemoryReaction] G.Skill F2-8000CL5D-4GBPQ - Low in cost, high in speed!

Introduction:

The F2-8000CL5D-4GBPQ kit is a new product from G.Skill featuring a new Powerchip IC. The sticks boast an impressive speed and timing set for a 4GB kit while carrying an even more impressive price tag. The kit aims to bring value and performance together in a trend we're seeing more and more of these days as DRAM prices continue to fall. The only question I have for you as I lead you into this review is this...is DDR3 really worth it?



The Memory:

http://enjoy.nickfire.com/reviews/gs...mbs/box1_t.gif http://enjoy.nickfire.com/reviews/gs...mbs/box2_t.gif
http://enjoy.nickfire.com/reviews/gs...mbs/box3_t.gif http://enjoy.nickfire.com/reviews/gs.../sticks1_t.gif
http://enjoy.nickfire.com/reviews/gs.../sticks2_t.gif http://enjoy.nickfire.com/reviews/gs.../sticks3_t.gif
http://enjoy.nickfire.com/reviews/gs.../sticks4_t.gif

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Specifications:

Capacity: 4GB (2GB x 2)
Speed: 1000MHz DDR2 (PC2-8000)
Latency: CL 5-5-5-15 (EPP Ready)
Voltage: 2.0~2.1 Volts
PCB: 6 Layers PCB
Warranty: Lifetime
Price: $49.99 @ Newegg

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Test Setup:

Intel Core 2 Duo E6300
Abit IP35 Pro - stock
G.Skill F2-8000CL5D-4GBPQ
BFG GeForce 7950GT 512MB
OCZ PowerStream 600w

CoolTechnica AQX MP-05 SP LE, Swiftech MCW60, Black Ice Pro III, Swiftech MCP655, 7/16" ID
Dominator triple fan cooler over memory.

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The Results:

Each piece is separated by timings and voltages. I started with 4-4-3-12 and ended with 5-5-3-15 to achieve maximum MHz.

The voltages listed are what was selected in BIOS.

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Timings: 4-4-3-12

2.0v - 433MHz (866MHz DDR)

SuperPi 32M | Everest Read Bandwidth | Everest Write Bandwidth | Everest Latency

2.1v - 436MHz (872MHz DDR)

SuperPi 32M | Everest Read Bandwidth | Everest Write Bandwidth | Everest Latency


Timings: 5-4-3-12

2.0v - 482MHz (964MHz DDR)

SuperPi 32M | Everest Read Bandwidth | Everest Write Bandwidth | Everest Latency

2.1v - ~2MHz gain...tRAS too tight to go any higher.


Timings: 5-5-3-15

2.0v - 550MHz (1100MHz DDR)

SuperPi 32M | Everest Read Bandwidth | Everest Write Bandwidth | Everest Latency

2.1v - 560MHz (1120MHz DDR)

SuperPi 32M | Everest Read Bandwidth | Everest Write Bandwidth | Everest Latency

2.2v - 565MHz (1130MHz DDR)

SuperPi 32M | Everest Read Bandwidth | Everest Write Bandwidth | Everest Latency

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Conclusion:

Overall an excellent set of memory both for the user on a budget, as well as the enthusiast. These sticks proved to be excellent overclockers, even though they may not be breaking any records any time soon. They also ran extremely cool, and could definitely be run without a fan even at 2.2v without getting hot to the touch.

The sticks are very picky regarding certain timings, and not so picky at all when it comes to others. They love loose tWTR, tRAS and tRFC especially, while tRP, tRTP, and even tRRD can get fairly tight while maintaining stability and overclocking headroom.

To sum it up, a fun kit of memory to play with, very stable with cool operating temperature, and fast; able to be ran at over 1100MHz DDR with 5-5-3 timings! Combine that with the fact that you're getting 4GB of memory for a $189 (now $49.99!) dollar price tag, and you can't help but get a smile on your face. :D


Thanks to G.Skill for the review sample. Thanks to you for reading. :up:

Yeah, I saw this for sale recently. Very interesting. Good choice for a review.

You can get 8 gig of this stuff for less than a current kit of DDR3 1600 or up.

Good result for a 2x2 kit :up: is there any improvement in frequency with "relaxed" trp, EnJoY ?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Slay0r

Good result for a 2x2 kit :up: is there any improvement in frequency with "relaxed" trp, EnJoY ?

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None really from what I noticed. I actually relaxed timings all the way to 5-5-5-20-55-10-11-11-11 and saw only a 10MHz increase in overall stability. I maybe should that put that in my results.. :p:

good review man,you show mainstream users what they can except when u review ram.2.2volts,diff speeds,diff timings.right to the point,purfect lil review man.my buddy might grab these now u posted this review up,thanks.

sidenote:
i just got a ($80!)dfi 680i lt and ma cellshocks love it.800 4\3\4\10 1t 2.26v or 1200 at 2.3 5\5\5\13..the 1t 800 is way faster tho.

Got my set today. 550mhz 5-5-5-15 2.1v (didn't try less) on an EVGA 680i A1 easy. Subs need to be loose though. Nice ram.

How would this ram pair up with abit ip35 pro?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by eToh

How would this ram pair up with abit ip35 pro?

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Guess you missed it, but that's the exact board I reviewed these on. ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by afireinside

Got my set today. 550mhz 5-5-5-15 2.1v (didn't try less) on an EVGA 680i A1 easy. Subs need to be loose though. Nice ram.

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Very nice, they are pretty fun for a 4GB kit. :)

Got my kit also, the RAM looks impressive (to look at)...even at 2.1V they run very cool....much cooler then my Corsair DDR2-8500 2GB kit which ran 2.2V and hot super hot.

Right now i am just doing basic functionality testing using recomended timings and voltage, 5-5-5-15 set manually in bios, all sub-timings to auto, voltage at 2.1V in bios.

FSB ratio adjust to get 1000MHz, i ran the embedded Vista memory diagnostic tool, choose the advanced setting which takes several hour to complete and got a 100% pass.

More testing to go, i am hoping to get 1066MHz stable with this memory, Vista shows 3,582MB of memory :)

Does anyone know how those G.Skills compares to 4x1GB Ballistix Tracer?

The later has a higher specification, but the G.Skills only requires 2 DIMM.

Assume that 8GB is not a consideration, only potential performance at 4GB.

My supplier in OZ still dont have these, gonna ask when they will get some :\. Looks like a great kit for the money.

500 5-5-5-15 = 1T possible?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TooNice

Does anyone know how those G.Skills compares to 4x1GB Ballistix Tracer?

The later has a higher specification, but the G.Skills only requires 2 DIMM.

Assume that 8GB is not a consideration, only potential performance at 4GB.

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Tracers will be twice as expensive, but will likely clock a bit higher and/or offer tighter timings, but with higher voltages.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hashi

My supplier in OZ still dont have these, gonna ask when they will get some :\. Looks like a great kit for the money.

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I'll ask my G.Skill rep for you. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OCFX

500 5-5-5-15 = 1T possible?

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Good question, I'll try 1T when I have a free minute sometime within the next few days. :up:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by EnJoY

Tracers will be twice as expensive, but will likely clock a bit higher and/or offer tighter timings, but with higher voltages.



I'll ask my G.Skill rep for you. :)



Good question, I'll try 1T when I have a free minute sometime within the next few days. :up:

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Awesome thanks :D

Guys...my kit is now stable at 1063MHz with 2.1V set in bios and manual timings of 5-5-5-15, all sub timings set to Auto in bios. I did a 10 hour Prime95 stress test using the latest 25.5 build, passed.

I'm hoping these sticks will get 1100MHz with 2.1V....has anyone tried to do this with just 2.0V?

But gues what?....the price has dropped $20 in the few days since i got it! :mad:

:down:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231145

Nice results, you certainly can't complain with numbers like that, even if you didn't save the $20 after the price drop. ;)

sheesh, this 2x2 is better than the 2x1 gskill i got

this is to good to pass up

4x2GB clockwise, how high possible?

I want these but im still skeptical about migrating to vista 64-bit because of it

its been a while, vista 64 drivers should be smooth as butter by now right?

I'm using Vista 32bit, i get 3.58GB of memory, actually it's 3,582GB.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by EnJoY

Tracers will be twice as expensive, but will likely clock a bit higher and/or offer tighter timings, but with higher voltages.

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Well, it's only a $20-25 more expensive in the UK (more of a case of the G.Skills being more expensive, than the Crucial being cheaper). I think my biggest concern is any issues associated with filling 4 DIMMs.

Very nice to see these results...as I've got the exact same memory on order to pair up with a G0 Q6600 in my new Shuttle SP35P2 that's sitting empty on my desk!

Even with the shuttle and this chip I've seen 333x9 and above done quite easily...and to know that the memory should be able to handle it is comforting.

Thanks for the review...it'll be interesting to see what I can do with minimal timing options in the Shuttle.

Good review, I have been wanting to go 4GB for my Vista 64 for months, but my mem controller could not handle 4x1 at my overclock settings even with great cooling. This now solves that problem and its now $155 at Newegg :)

So I just got a pair, thanks again. I will start my testing next week on the QuadGT. Will see if I can do 5-5-4-12, which is what I am running now with the OCZ's but at 2.2V. If I can do the same at 2.1V I will be a happy camper.

anyone get this set to pass OCCT ram test for 1 hour with vista x64?

I didn't have that luck with that Gskill kit... :( It doesn't Cas 5-5-4 2T even at 533Mhz 2.3V (or less V). So my max timings are 5-5-5 2T (also doesn't support 1T on my Maximus Formula SE). Using those timings also doesn't pass over 545Mhz, from 2V to 2.3V.

Edit: Funny thing... I was going to unplug the memory from the motherboard and I got the heatsink on my hands while the stick itself was still plugged in the mobo XD Looks like those "paper clips" doesn't make enough pression.


PD: ICs have this written: XBH373-AA3G any ideas of which chips could be that ?