Today is what OCZ calls the ‘unveiling’ of their new 4GB DDR3-2133 MHz memory modules, running at 1.65V. Along with the unveiling, OCZ are extending the modules into 8GB dual channel kits and 12GB triple channel kits, up to 2133 MHz. The Platinum Series will aim to cater gamers and high density users, whereas overclockers and enthusiasts may plump for the faster and more expensive Flex EX and Reaper HPC kits.
OCZ did not release data on sub-timings with their unveiling, leading one to believe that they are attempting to market the memory based on raw MHz alone. In fact, delving into their website, the Flex EX 2133 MHz modules are specified at 10-10-10-30 timings, and the 2000 MHz Platinum modules are at 9-9-9-24 requiring 1.65V. There is no word on price for the high end parts - for comparison, the OCZ Reaper HPC 2x4GB 1333Mhz CAS 9 kit can be found at Newegg for $225 after rebate, and G. Skill’s 6x4GB DDR3-1600 CAS 7 kit is currently priced at $999. OCZ have recently been quite competitive on the pricing front with other products, such as their OCZ RevoDrive which is bringing more affordable PCIe SSDs to the market. Maybe OCZ can start to force the price of 4GB modules down as well.
The debate is always if machines today require more memory, and if the abundance of memory results in poor, bloated programming. It’s true that the only people putting 24GB of memory in a PC will be those that need it, or those that want to boast and have the money - but at least more 4GB modules are hitting the market for consumers. Though on that note, as this was only an ‘unveiling’ and not a release, no release date has been announced, however various kits have popped up on the OCZ website.
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mapesdhs - Monday, July 19, 2010 - link
I'm inclined to agree. Only a minor & narrow example, but when I dropped my i7's
RAM speed from DDR3/2000 to DDR3/1600, all individual subtests for 3DMark06
only dropped by 1%.
Ian.
rscoot - Tuesday, July 13, 2010 - link
Are CPUs right now even bandwidth limited? With memory dividers and async CPU overclocking I don't really see the point paying $400 for a kit of RAM like I did for BH-5 back in 2003.Rajinder Gill - Tuesday, July 13, 2010 - link
Well, anything outside L3 incurs a performance hit on access. Other than a fundamental architecture and layout change two parameters that would help access times are CAS (tCL) and tRCD, which is where DRAM typically makes the slowest advancements. With increased density there can be an improvement in some back to back reads (fewer different DIMM rank to rank delays), although these don't impact 24/7 systems to a discernible degree.Later
Raja
rscoot - Wednesday, July 14, 2010 - link
But these high speed RAM SKUs aren't improving latencies, they're trading latency for bandwidth, which is why I was asking if current CPUs are even bandwidth limited in the first place. What is that kit running, something insane like 9-9-9-24?For an example of what I'm talking about, back when the K8s moved from 939 to AM2 and DDR to DDR2 as a result of that, performance actually decreased due to the increased latency involved with DDR2. 2-2-2-5 1T at 200MHz was better than 4-4-4-8 400MHz since the K8s weren't bandwidth dependent for the most part. At what point do the current CPU uarchs stop saturating the RAM controller? How latency sensitive are the same uarchs?
Spending the $$$ for top tier RAM has almost always been one of the lowest returns on investment when trying to squeeze more performance out, but now a days I see even less of a reason. If you wanted to run a 300MHz FSB for whatever reason, you pretty much had to splurge for some BH-5, CH-6 or some other high end RAM if you wanted to run 1:1 FSB ratios, and if you didn't run a 1:1 it wasn't worth overclocking to that point to begin with. So again, I'll ask the question, outside of a small subset of insane hardcore overclockers, what is the point? It's gotten so easy overclock the CPU independently of the memory and if they aren't bandwidth limited (I don't think they are considering the marginal benefits of tri-channel over dual channel) you're better off paying half the price for some DDR3 1600 with tighter timings.
Rajinder Gill - Thursday, July 15, 2010 - link
I never said they were offering better latencies - merely pointed out that performance can be improved if tCL and tRCD are improved and also said that is where DRAM makes the slowest advancements.Later
Raja
levelup - Wednesday, July 14, 2010 - link
It would be great to have some new ram.NeonFlak - Wednesday, July 14, 2010 - link
pleaseGTVic - Wednesday, July 14, 2010 - link
Some pre-availability announcements are fine. But this is for a somewhat generic computer part that is not yet available, has no specs and no price, it's basically just a picture.bwave - Thursday, July 15, 2010 - link
Am I the only one that seems to get alot of bad OCZ ram? You pay a premium price for it, you'd think each set is tested. But we get alot of DOA returns. I have much better luck buying Supertalent which has a lifetime warranty.