Shopping for BlackOps DDR3 2000 2x2GB, which to get?

[ragingclue]

OK so I wasn't aware of the fact that our boards will only hit 500MHz FSB if we're on the 1:4 or 1:2 strap, so I'm looking to dump my RAM that won't make it high enough (2000) to make that happen. And I don't really want to run at 1000MHz with a 500FSB lol.... The RAM I currently have sometimes wants to be stable up to around 1800MHz, but can't consistently pass MemTest, and it has been confirmed with others that getting them stable over 1700MHz is not expected.

So I looked at the RAM compatibility list (under the blackops RAM compatibility thread), and I don't see any evaluated 2x2GB @ 2000MHz. So I figure it's luck of the draw. Anyway, on Newegg, here is what I've finalized my decision down to:

OCZ Flex EX 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2000 (PC3 16000) OCZ3FXE20004GK
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227403

OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2000 (PC3 16000) OCZ3P20004GK
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227310

Patriot Viper 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2000 (PC3 16000) PVS34G2000LLKN
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820220344

Patriot Viper 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2000 (PC3 16000) Desktop Memory + 2GB Xporter Razzo USB w/3DMark Vantage Model PVS34G2000LLKNB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820220373


Now, I do believe the two options for Patriot are exactly the same, just one is bundled differently than the other, but they claim to run @ 9-9-9-24 2.0V

The OCZ Flex claims to run at 8-8-8-30 2.0V, and the Platinum at 9-9-9-28 1.9V

Which timings would be best, and do any of these seem to have any sort of headroom to go over 2000? Are there options in the 1800MHz range that are in the same price range (don't want to go over $230 U.S. shipped) that are known to easily clock to 2000 and beyond? Which timings here look to provide the best performance, or is that negligible?

And, yes, I do know people with these exact boards do great things with 2x1GB cellshock setups, but I want to have a 2x2GB setup.

[ragingclue]

OK so....

No one has any advice for BlackOps and 2x2 at 2GHz? In the mem thread, there's nothing listed, but I did notice the Patriot Vipers 2x1GB worked. Now, I know that doesn't necessarily mean the 2x2 will work, but it's encouraging, no?

Also, I noticed Fry's has the 2000MHz for $200 and the 1800MHz for $150. They look identical, just that the 1800 has tighter timings. These are probably the same sticks, just at different ratings, no?

[Sailindawg]

The only RAM that may give you what want are the CSX Diablo. It's a bit more expensive, but it's D9 GTR (guaranteed) and you should get some very good mileage out of them.

Regarding OCZ, you will generally get what you pay for. I have OCZ 2x2G Platinum 1600 EB RAM, rated at 7-6-6-18. I cannot get the ram to run that tight at 1600 fsb. The best I have gotten them is 7-7-7-20, 2T & PL7. The bandwidth is very low, around 9xxx for read. To get PL6, I need 1.6V chipset (northbridge). Bandwidth is still low at PL6. Having to run 2T seems to really knock bandwidth.

Running my 4x1G 1333 OCZ on a divider, I get better timings, 6-6-6-18, 1T & PL6. Bandwidth is around 103xx, as advertised.

What I have found with these 2 sets of RAM is that the mem controller seems happier with the 4x1 set. The 4x1 set is single sided RAM. The 2x2G set is double sided. The mem controller has an easier time running the single sided set compared to the double sided set. I use less chipset voltage with the 4x1 than the 2x2 set.

As DDR3 prices slide, I have thought about trying other ram. I have thought about staying with single sided dimms rather than double sided dimms, based upon what I have been seeing performance wise on my board. One thing I would like to see is the performance of the lower latency, low voltage ram that's starting to come out for x58 on an x48 board. Right now, I can't afford to experiment.

[InToGraphics]

OCZ Platinum OCZ3P20004GK kit.
4GB at first, now 8GB.

My experiences :
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...65#post3670865 FSB@440Mhz, CPU@3740Mhz (x8.5), and 4GB RAM@1760Mhz (1:4 CPU333)
Currently : http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/fo...ad.php?t=52285 FSB@444Mhz, CPU@3777Mhz (x8.5), and 8GB RAM@1422Mhz (1:3.2)

This board is weird, when I change "Command per Clock" from 2T to 1T in BIOS, it boots. No problem.
When I check the memory timings in Sandra, Everest, MemSet, etc. they al show 2T. When I go back into the BIOS it's still at 1T.
Something is recalculated. BTW, this is with 8GB.

Cheers,
Robert

[ragingclue]

OCZ Platinum OCZ3P20004GK kit.
4GB at first, now 8GB.

My experiences :
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...65#post3670865 FSB@440Mhz, CPU@3740Mhz (x8.5), and 4GB RAM@1760Mhz (1:4 CPU333)
Currently : http://www.ocztechnologyforum.com/fo...ad.php?t=52285 FSB@444Mhz, CPU@3777Mhz (x8.5), and 8GB RAM@1422Mhz (1:3.2)

This board is weird, when I change "Command per Clock" from 2T to 1T in BIOS, it boots. No problem.
When I check the memory timings in Sandra, Everest, MemSet, etc. they al show 2T. When I go back into the BIOS it's still at 1T.
Something is recalculated. BTW, this is with 8GB.

Cheers,
Robert

What BIOS are you currently running?

I ended up grabbing the OCZ Flex EX kit, but I'm definitely having trouble hitting 2000MHz at the listed timings. I think this may be due to my particular board though. I may have to try to go beyond 500MHz, as I think I'm hitting a hole at around 490+. Oh well. Honestly, I'd be happy getting this RAM to work at rated timings and 1900MHz. Maybe I'll just abandon the 2000MHz goal and be happy with what I've got....

By the way, I've been looking for a particular post, and I just can't find it for the life of me. Someone, in the middle of one of the threads, had gone ahead and used a dual core to feel out all the holes in each divider, and posted their results.... It had looked something like this:

At 1:2 divider, xxx-xxxMHz fsb
At 1:2.655 divider, xxx-xxxMHz fsb
At 1:3 divider, xxx-xxxMHz fsb
Etc, etc, etc....

I can't find that post for the life of me, and I've scoured these forums ten times over looking for it. I should have bookmarked it, but I guess hindsight is always 20/20.

Also, which BIOS have most people had success with on dual core 1:4 333 divider? I know it's a little OT, but it seems to me that it might be G28 that people are havning the most OC success with.... I'm currently using G30.

[InToGraphics]

Currently : G30.
Don't know about dual core. I have only a quad.

Robert

[InToGraphics]

..... By the way, I've been looking for a particular post, and I just can't find it for the life of me. Someone, in the middle of one of the threads, had gone ahead and used a dual core to feel out all the holes in each divider, and posted their results.... It had looked something like this:

At 1:2 divider, xxx-xxxMHz fsb
At 1:2.655 divider, xxx-xxxMHz fsb
At 1:3 divider, xxx-xxxMHz fsb
Etc, etc, etc....

I can't find that post for the life of me, and I've scoured these forums ten times over looking for it. I should have bookmarked it, but I guess hindsight is always 20/20. .....

After reading your post, I also tried finding it. No luck.
But I did find these 2 Italian forum threads. There's mention of similar tables.
Foxconn X48 BlackOps : infos , settings , bios ...
Grosso Problema Blackops..