Mushkin 4GB XP2-8000 – Return of Redline!

[Eldonko]

Mushkin 4GB XP2-8000 – Return of Redline!



Yes you heard it right, Redline is back with a new 4GB kit flavour!

Mushkin 2x2GB DDR2-1000 XP2 Redline CL5-5-5-15 @ 2.1V

For the few of you that don’t know, Redline is a product of Mushkin’s exclusive EPIC (Enhanced Performance IC) selection process and is Mushkin’s flagship mem.

That being said, here is your Mushkin 4GB XP2-8000 Redline (part 996593) test report:

Content:
Specifications
Packaging
Test Bed
Testing Methodology
Test Results
Testing Summary
Observations and Impressions
Availability and Pricing

Specifications:
Frequency: DDR1000 (500Mhz)
Latency: CL5-5-5-12
Voltage: 2.1v
Pins: 240
Parity: Unbuffered
Chips: I can’t comment on the chips quite yet.

Packaging:
The XP2-8000 uses the new FrostByte™ (red) Redline heatspreader and comes with Mushkin’s new packaging.

You will probably notice that the spreaders use the old BH-5 style clips, but the new style spreaders. I thinking that this style clip gives better chip to spreader contact than the top clip style in some older DDR2 kits.




...… ...


Test Bed
This time for testing, I am using a Q6600 setup with ASUS P5K vanilla (P35). I am also doing all tests on Vista 64 bit this time so we can see stability for all 4GB of RAM.

Full system specs are as follows:

• ASUS P5K
• Q6600
• XFX GeForce 8600GT @ stock
• Mushkin XP-650
• Windows Vista, 64bit, untweaked
• CPU Cooling - Custom H20 and stock cooler on the NB
• RAM Cooling – 120mm Panaflo

Testing methodology:
For stability I will run two instances of HCI Memtest and 32M at the same time. Vista uses 1GB, Memtest 2GB and PI a little more, giving over 80% mem usage. HCI Memtest is very good for picking up mem errors and I have found that 200% (about 30 minutes) and a 32M at the same time is sufficient for this report.

For the purposes of this review, I am going to test 4-3-3, 4-4-4, and 5-5-5 using 1.9v, 2.0v, and 2.1v for the mem.

The kit I am testing came from Mushkin directly and was provided my Brian Flood, Head of Mushkin R&D. Brian assured me that the kit I was sent was pulled randomly from the retail kits and was not cherry picked.

Benches used:
Super PI v1.5 (32M)

Tools:
SetFSB
Memset 3.3
HCI Memtest
CPU-Z

[Eldonko]

Test Results:

4-4-4 – 1.9v – 412Mhz


4-4-4 – 2.0v – 419Mhz


4-4-4 – 2.1v – 422Mhz


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5-5-5 – 1.9v – 550Mhz


5-5-5 – 2.0v – 557Mhz


5-5-5 – 2.1v – 558Mhz


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Summary:



Observations and Impressions

Well first off let me say that I am pleased with the results of this mem. Although it doesn't scale as well as some of the older 2GB microns out there, it runs at high speeds at low voltages. A reasonable cost makes this a great option for your gaming or 64 bit pcs. A few observations I made when testing are as follows:

• When dropping trcd and trp I would lose almost 100 mhz at 5-5-5 so it was not worth the mhz loss. At 4-4-4 dropping trcd/trp to 4-3-3 put clocks down below 350Mhz thus this mem performs best at 5-5-5 and 4-4-4. You can tighten trp a bit but I didnt see a difference in performance in doing so.
• tREF at its highest value (16383) was best for performance.
• 2.0v seems about ideal vdimm for these sticks although they are spec at 2.1v. Some sticks will respond better to 2.1v that others.
• trfc has a big impact on clocks. Ideal for 5-5-5 trfc was best at 52, but tighter timings allows tighter trfc, ie 4-4-4 can run 44 trfc.
• The EPP profiles are bang on and give a good starting point for tweeking.

Availability and Pricing:

Newegg: $160 USD
Mushkin.com: $156 USD
NCIX: $170 CAD
Direct Canada: $158 CAD


Well that is it, post questions if you have em.

[Achill3uS]

Full system specs are as follows:

* ASUS P5K
* Q6600
* XFX GeForce 8600GT @ stock
* Mushkin XP-650
* Windows Vista, 64bit, untweaked
* CPU Cooling - Custom H20 and stock cooler on the NB
* RAM Cooling – 120mm Panaflo

what happened with your P5KC mate? trash?

btw, nice review, congrats to the mushkins, 550 5-5-5 1.9v sounds great

[Eldonko]

P5KC is fixed and is running a folding machine, got a transistor from an old board and soldered it in. This P5K clocks a little better for FSB so I use that on my test bench.

Yeah I was surprised how well this stuff did at low volts, quite different than the micron 4gb kit I have here, took 2.25v for ddr1100.

[jagt]

Did you test them with more voltage?

Edit: I guess this answers my question from here:http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=174826

Looks like these are preforming around at par with the similar G.Skill set, then?

[Eldonko]

Yeah 2.15v didn't do anything over 2.1v.

[EnJoY]

Very nice, well laid out review.

If I could guess, I'd say they use the same PowerChip IC's as found in the high-end OCZ and G.Skill 4GB kits. My only personal criticism with Mushkin's variation would be the price, why so much more than other comparable kits?

[bnice2me]

If the MSRP really is $175 for this kit, that is amazing! I remember when the 2 gig came out around $400

[NickS]

Man I remember the original Redlines. Ahh, the 939 era .

Really awesome RAM though, 5-5-5 – 2.1v – 558Mhz is sick for 4GB

[Cronos]

This is basically the same as G.Skill but 60% more expensive, who needs it?

[CERO]

Yea, but here in Europe they cost about the same.

[Eldonko]

Price could actually be cheaper when it is avail retail as well, $175 is just an est starting point. We will see soon enough.

[Family man 72]

Can you test 5-5-4-x and/or 5-4-4-x settings?

[Eldonko]

IIRC 5-4-4 lost me almost 100Mhz and was more like 450 so its not really worth it. 5-5-4 just dropped a few mhz but made 0 difference in PI. 4-4-3 was ok around ddr810 but again not really a perf boost. 5-5-5 and 4-4-4 are the best on this kit.

[Cronos]

By the way, when testing on Intel P35/X38, the performance level is very important factor and should always be taken into account.

With performance level 10 or more, it may be possible to tighten some timings, for example tRP may be set to 4 or even 3 for 5-5-4,3-15 et cetera.
However, it is almost always beneficial performance-wise to have lower performance level over lower timings.

[TEDY]

124€ here

[sonicsallen]

It seems they don't like high voltage

[zsamz_]

This is basically the same as G.Skill but 60% more expensive, who needs it?

exactly
why pay more for same chips

[Brother Esau]

They are more Expensive because #1 Mushkin hand picks and extensively tests the chips to put the Redline name on it and that takes time and is a slower Process and why you think people should work for free is beyond me just cuz you are being cheap and don't want to pay people for their time and labor

I have owned both G-Skill and Mushkin DDR & DDR2 and Mushkin is better Ram it just does better and yields better results. Although G-Skill makes some damn good memory but if I were choose between the two I would get the Mushkin.

[Xtreme Addict]

In Europe the purchase of Redlines (in warehouse) is about 20 euro CHEAPER than G.skill...

[Fenom]

In Europe the purchase of Redlines (in warehouse) is about 20 euro CHEAPER than G.skill...

Hmm.. The Gskills aren't availible in the Netherlands but in Germany they cost 95 euro.. Ive only seen the Mushkins once, which cost about 120 euro

[TEDY]

yep Fenom GSKILL is cheaper appx 20-25€.

[EnJoY]

They are more Expensive because #1 Mushkin hand picks and extensively tests the chips to put the Redline name on it and that takes time and is a slower Process and why you think people should work for free is beyond me just cuz you are being cheap and don't want to pay people for their time and labor

I have owned both G-Skill and Mushkin DDR & DDR2 and Mushkin is better Ram it just does better and yields better results. Although G-Skill makes some damn good memory but if I were choose between the two I would get the Mushkin.

I hate to say Brother, but that's complete bunk, and the results in this thread help to prove that.

[zsamz_]

I hate to say Brother, but that's complete bunk, and the results in this thread help to prove that.

exactly
i got no faith in mushkins after 2 dead kits of xp2-8500 they dont justify being more expensive my kingston value ram outlived my munshkins lol
its not the brand anymore its what they put inside that counts
n my ballistix pawns every stick i got n i paid 65$ for em compared to 300$ for the mushkins

[EnJoY]

its not the brand anymore its what they put inside that counts

Quoted for truth. Which is one of the main reasons these days, manufacturers do their very best to keep secret the IC's that are used in each of their lines, because once everyone knows what's in every stick, they'll generally go with whoever sells it for less.