On a faaast lane --> Corsair TWIN2X2048-6400C3 OCing Report on Socket AM2!

[bachus_anonym]

Heyloo guys!

Yep, you right... We're gonna have another OCing Report and this time I'm focusing on Corsair's latest-greatest 2GB DDR2 set of low latency TWIN2X2048-6400C3.
This is the first ever PC2-6400 memory kit to be rated at CAS3 and also the one to feature EPP (Enhanced Performance Profiles), new memory standard that Corsair and NVIDIA came up with. The kit is rated at DDR2-800 9-3-4-3.0 @ 2.2v and built with highly screened for low-latency performace, Micron's new D9xxx ICs. After Micron's legendary D9 "Fatbody" was discontinued, memory manufacturers went searching for the next best thing. They sampled few other of Micron's ICs, like D9GKX, D9GHM, D9DCN... Some in-house testing, screening and sorting later... bang!... Le Roi est mort. Vive le Roi!

Anyway, for those of you that don't know yet what EPP is about, here a short explanation:

Jointly developed by Corsair and NVIDIA® as a new open memory standard, Enhanced Performance Profiles elevate memory performance by taking full advantage of the additional memory parameters (such as Command rate, memory voltage) that are now added to the unused portion of the JEDEC standard Serial Presence Detect (SPD). Memory modules from Corsair support two types of performance profiles that are based upon a high frequency or low latency design. Enhanced Performance Profiles brings simplified overclocking success for entry enthusiasts, and access to more advanced memory specificationsand a higher recovery point to hard-core overclockers.

Unfortunately, M2N-SLI Deluxe BIOS doesn't support this feature yet and I'm honestly not sure if it ever will. From what I gathered, only nForce590 SLI chipset supports it, so no EPP for me... I would most likely not use it anyway, but I'm sure there are quite a few beginners that are just starting their adventure with overclocking. With help of EPP and compatible motherboards, they would have a good start and a convenient way to get their overclocking adventure going.


Let's take a look at modules, shall we?









This OCing Report will focus at two aspects of memory overclocking: MAX all-stable and MAX 1M/Sandra only DDR2 clocks. The platform I've been testing this set on, delivers up to 2.5vdimm and this is how far I went to get the best out of this RAM. I will be soon volt-modding this board to allow 2.7+ vdimm and then try to hit even higher speeds

Configuration of my platform is as follows:


Testbed Configuration
AMD AM2 3200+ "Orleans"
ASUS M2N-SLI Deluxe (nForce570 SLI)
Corsair TWIN2X2048-6400C3 2x1024MB
Single EVGA 7800GTX KO @ 490+40/1390, ForceWare 84.21, Modified driver settings (High Performance)


Let's get going with the first part of my stress-testing:


Part1: High-stress testing

MAX fully stable DDR2 clocks @ 8-3-3-CAS3.0 ---> DDR2-882 @ 2.5v

SPi32M -------------------------------------------------- SP2004 LargeFFT 1024MB used


3DMark2001 & 3DMark03 -------------------------------- 3DMark06


6400C3 reached very impressive, fully stable DDR2-880. Past that, I was not able to pass SPi32M, nor required 2hrs of SP2004. Nevertheless, very good result at 8-3-3-3.0!


MAX fully stable DDR2 clocks @ 8-3-4-CAS3.0 ---> DDR2-940 @ 2.5v

SPi32M -------------------------------------------------- SP2004 LargeFFT 1024MB used


3DMark2001 & 3DMark03 -------------------------------- 3DMark06


After relaxing to TRCD=4 I managed to climb a bit higher, up to DDR2-940 and still at CAS3. This is 17.5% overclock from stock DDR2-800, which is quite sweet, isn't it?


MAX fully stable DDR2 clocks @ 8-4-4-CAS4.0 ---> DDR2-1100 @ 2.5v

SPi32M -------------------------------------------------- SP2004 LargeFFT 1024MB used


3DMark2001 & 3DMark03 -------------------------------- 3DMark06


Yep, DDR2-1100 has been broken with this kit and 2.5vdimm. Good for the eyes and very good for performance as well


Part2: Low-stress testing

MAX benchmark stable DDR2 clocks @ 8-3-3-CAS3.0 ---> DDR2-920 @ 2.5v

SPi1M --------------------------------------------------- Sandra 2007 Memory Bandwidth


Yeah, DDR2-920 8-3-3-3.0 for you 1M'ers

MAX benchmark stable DDR2 clocks @ 8-3-4-CAS3.0 ---> DDR2-956 @ 2.5v

SPi1M --------------------------------------------------- Sandra 2007 Memory Bandwidth


How about DDR2-956, with slightly relaxed TRCD=4 and still CAS3.0 ?

MAX benchmark stable DDR2 clocks @ 8-4-4-CAS4.0 ---> DDR2-1112 @ 2.5v

SPi1M --------------------------------------------------- Sandra 2007 Memory Bandwidth


And some more in 8-4-4-CAS4.0 compartment...


Conclusion

So what can I say? TWIN2X2048-6400C3 has some serious OCing potential and will sure please a lot of hardcore OCers out there. I could not think of any disadvantage of this set, except for the price... Extensive screening and sorting of already expensive Micron D9 dies that this set is made of, contributes to it's premium price. It sure isn't cheap but If one wants some of the greatest then one often needs to pay for it. It's a kickass performer, not only at low latency but high frequency overclocks as well! You name it, 6400C3 delivers!


July 1st UPDATE!

MAX SPi32M stable DDR2 clocks @ 8-3-3-CAS3.0 ---> DDR2-900 @ 2.5v

SPi32M



MAX SPi32M stable DDR2 clocks @ 8-3-4-CAS3.0 ---> DDR2-950 @ 2.5v

SPi32M -------------------------------------------------- 3DMark2001 & 3DMark03



Any questions or requests are welcomed,

So on

[G H Z]

bacus,

Excellent write up with detailed testing, good job

[bogdannovaceanu]

XMS 6400C3s: DDR2-1150 3-3-3-1!
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=103629

[bachus_anonym]

Thanks G H Z

XMS 6400C3s: DDR2-1150 3-3-3-1!
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=103629

I said that before in your thread and few others and I will say it again... No offense, Bogdan, but it's IMPOSSIBLE. Try it on a 1066fsb strap or a different mainboard. Not BadAxe, please.

[Jaco]

kickass memory.
any idea what kind of D9 flavor is used here?
I hope we will figure out all D9 variants and their oc results

[Exedy]

2.5v on bios?

ASUS M2N-E Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 Ultra can hit that too? I hear that voltage is up to 1.95v only =(


good results

[hipogtr]

Great writeup. Looks like some quality D9. Thanks.

[^don.k's^]

Nice sticks & tests bachus, i'd like to test ones like that But they are "$%"·!· expensive lol

Regards!

[nn_step]

damn I would love to see some latency numbers on those sticks

[bachus_anonym]

Thanks guys!
So, I've been messing around a little more today to see If I can get anything more 32M stable and still stay at CAS3.0... I managed to squeeze out what's left at this voltage

I have updated my 1st post under July 1st UPDATE! with new results:

MAX SPi32M stable DDR2 clocks @ 8-3-3-CAS3.0 ---> DDR2-900 @ 2.5v

MAX SPi32M stable DDR2 clocks @ 8-3-4-CAS3.0 ---> DDR2-950 @ 2.5v

Next up, vdimm mod on Monday and we'll see what 2.7-2.8v can do to those sticks

2.5v on bios? ASUS M2N-E Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 Ultra can hit that too? I hear that voltage is up to 1.95v only =(

Yes, up to 2.5v in BIOS for M2N-SLI and M2N32-SLI. You can vdimm mod your M2N-E. Another member here, ^don.k's^ already did it and is flying high around 3.0v...

[[XC] 4X4N]

Bachus, your results are kick ass as usual. Are you going to stay with am2 or will you go for conroe? Just curious as I am on the fence, and will probably wait for rev g, but conroe is hard to resist.

[Exedy]

Bachus, did you try max HTT for ASUS M2N-SLI Deluxe?

thx

[bachus_anonym]

Bachus, your results are kick ass as usual. Are you going to stay with am2 or will you go for conroe? Just curious as I am on the fence, and will probably wait for rev g, but conroe is hard to resist.

I'm actually going both It's going to be fun, for benching and some DDR2 testing as well...

Bachus, did you try max HTT for ASUS M2N-SLI Deluxe?thx

Yes, Sir! Nailed 380-400HTT - http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=102595

[Exedy]

Yes, Sir! Nailed 380-400HTT - http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=102595

omg!

I guess K9N SLI is nothing for me now

[dsl]

Nice work bachus, I always enjoy your excellent mem ocing reports

[Deathspawner]

This is the first ever PC2-6400 memory kit to be rated at CAS3 and also the one to feature EPP (Enhanced Performance Profiles), new memory standard that Corsair and NVIDIA came up with.

Just because Corsair was the only one NVIDIA mentions, they were definitely not the -only- ones to help in building the profiles.

That aside... great results as always

[ZX7891]

finally ddr2 is starting to outpace the best bh5

[3oh6]

excellent write up BA, as usual from what i have seen in the short time i have been lurking around here. these 6400 C3s seem to be the toast of the town right now. i can hardly wait to see what OCZs new rainbow warriors can do compared to these bad boys.

i have a 2gb set of the OCZ 7200 EPPs and they seem to perform as good as these at DDR1100 4-4-3-x and higher but can't touch DDR900 C3...that is just ridiculas.

[bachus_anonym]

I'm glad you guys are enjoying this test and results with 6400C3. Thanks!

Just because Corsair was the only one NVIDIA mentions, they were definitely not the -only- ones to help in building the profiles.

You're right... I just quoted what I found online But I suspect, since OCZ has EPP-compatible memory coming they also co-operated with NVIDIA on development of this new standard.

[dinos22]

can you not set CMD=1T for AM2?

[bachus_anonym]

can you not set CMD=1T for AM2?

Well, not really. I got only up to DDR2-830 1T and OPP, k|ngp|n and afireinside got a bit at more at 1T out of their setups, I think. Then ^don.k's^ got his "fatbody" to DDR2-850 1T @ 2.7v. But that's about it as far as command Rate 1T goes. In order to hit anywhere higher, you need 2T. But that's not really much of a performance hit on AM2, from what it seems. So, I'd not worry about that

[^don.k's^]

Well, not really. I got only up to DDR2-830 1T and OPP, k|ngp|n and afireinside got a bit at more at 1T out of their setups, I think. Then ^don.k's^ got his "fatbody" to DDR2-850 1T @ 2.7v. But that's about it as far as command Rate 1T goes. In order to hit anywhere higher, you need 2T. But that's not really much of a performance hit on AM2, from what it seems. So, I'd not worry about that

For ddr2-850 1T i didnt use the fatty's, i used the ballistix. I used fatty's for ddr2 1152 4-3-3-5 2T

[informal]

bachus_anonym ,really nice effort man.It must have been time consuming to try out all the combinations,and find and measure the benefits.Thanks

[dz_jad]

I enjoy reading these I'm gonna see how my ram on the way overclocks, I've got 2 sticks of ddr2 1066 on the way (I think, I've read so much I've forgotten what I've ordered). Its CAS-5 at stock. It'll be my first time, so I've gotta do some studying!
Thanks

[akijikan]

BA FTW! Awesome thorough job!

I have the C4 version...but I haven't been able to push it because the Biostar Tforce 550 seems to lack stability about 290 HTT and the VDimm only goes to 2.2 if you use the jumper! lol