Related Articles

Introduction

Today we are looking at OCZ's value DDR performance memory, the PC3500 Gold GX.

As we have not tested a large number of DDR memory modules, we will only be comparing the module to the premium OCZ PC5000 product; however to give you a better idea of how the PC3500 can perform, we are also going to test it at a number of different FSB and timing settings.

The modules look very professional, with a large OCZ logo on the gold plated head spreaders. They definitely don't look like your typical generic DDR modules - you know the ones I mean, with a plain green PC board and just bare chips on them.

The OCZ PC3500 is tested to perform at DDR 433 with 2-2-2-5-2T timing. Before you ask, 1T timing is normally only available on the highest end memory modules, especially at high speeds like DDR400. In case you are dissapointed that the module does not support 1T command rates just remember that the SPD timing in generic modules would likely be set at something more like 4-3-3-8-2T, so 2-2-2-5-2T is certainly nothing to sneeze at.

Test Hardware:

• Athlon 64 3000+ Winchester @ 1.8Ghz-2.25 GHz (250*9)
• WinFast 6600GT
• DFI LanParty NF4 SLI-DR motherboard
• 2*512 MB OCZ PC5000 @ 250 MHz, 2.5-3-3-8-1T
• 2*512 MB OCZ PC3500 @ 200-216Mhz, 2-2-2-5-2T
• Western Digital 1200JD SATA hard drive
• OCZ ModStream 520W power supply

Benchmarks:

• Sandra 2004
• RightMark
• WinRAR
• Doom3

Some might think that it is unfair of us to compare the top of the line OCZ PC5000 to their PC3500 Gold module, however we think you would be interested in seeing how the more affordable PC3500 modules compare to the top of the line (expensive) PC5000 modules.

The PC5000 module results shown here are with a 250MHz FSB - which corresponds to the unnoficial DDR500 standard. It appears unlikely that a JDEC standard will be ratified for DDR500 as JDEC appears to favor the adoption of DDR2 for high speed memory.