Review: OCZ EL Gold GX XTC PC4200 2x512mb

[Absolute_0]

OCZ EL Gold GX XTC
2x512mb DDR2-533
3.0-3-3-12 1.8v
OCZ25331024ELGEGXT-K

Product website
http://www.ocztechnology.com/product...00_gold_gx_xtc

This is a 2x512mb kit of OCZ PC4200. The model dictates that it falls under the category of “value overclocking memory.”




You can see this ram uses OCZ’s new Xtreme Thermal Convection (XTC) heatspreaders. The honeycomb design should allow for improved heat dissipation.

Much more useful to us overclockers however is OCZ’s Extended Voltage Protection (EVP). With EVP you can run 2.2v +/- 5% and maintain the integrity of your lifetime warranty. 2.2v + 5% = 2.31v, by the way.

Testing was done on an untweaked Conroe platform, featuring my Intel Badaxe 975 board with 1304 BIOS, and a retail E6700. Overclocking to test max frequencies was done mostly with SysTool version 701, and the 667 divider.

First I fired the ram up at stock speeds and 1.9v for some quick testing.

Default speeds: 266 @ 3.0-3-3-12 1.9v, Super Pi 1M Test


Default speeds: 266 @ 3.0-3-3-12 1.9v, Super Pi 32M Test


Overclocking at stock settings: 280 @ 3.0-3-3-12 1.9v, Super Pi 32M Test


Overclocking at loosened timings: 360 @ 4.0-4-4-12 1.9v, Super Pi 32M Test


Overclocking at loosest latencies: 380 @ 5.0-5-5-12 1.9v, Super Pi 32M Test


As you can see, all my testing was conducted using 1.9 Vdimm. With my particular setup combination I have problems using more voltage. 2.1v – 2.2v results in the inability to POST, usually accompanied by the motherboard beeping. I’m attributing this anomaly to my motherboard, as any ram should be able to handle this mild overvolting and still POST. The motherboard also did not play well with a few of the other latency configurations I tried (3-2-3-8 for instance would not boot at all, and MEMset caused crashes).

Conclusion
As the model suggests, this ram is best employed as value overclocking memory. It does not use high-end chips so it isn’t suited for “monster overclocks.” Take this with a grain of salt however, as I was unable to use additional voltage, voltage which is within the warranty of the memory, and it seems my board may have been a limiting factor.
However, take into consideration the price – when I looked up this memory I found it was priced in the sub $100 arena, meaning its competition is (for the most part) only value memory. With this in mind, the OCZ EL GX XTC 2x512mb kit is a tremendous value. While most kits in its class have 4-4-4 latencies, this uses 3-3-3 giving it the best performance at stock. It also has the ability to reach DDR2-760, a high enough frequency to ensure that it has enough versatility so as not to hinder an overclock. Overall, a solid set of memory for its price.

-Absolute_0
9/9/2006

[b0bd0le]

do they make this in 2gb kits?