OCZ DDR3 PC3-12800 2GB 1600MHz Memory Kit Review

Are OCZ 1600MHz Modules Right For You?

OCZ Technology has been one of the front runners in the DDR3 memory market and today I will be taking a look at their 2GB 1600MHz Platinum Series performance memory kit. This kit will be very popular in upcoming months once the Intel X48 Express chipset hit the market as this chipset will support 1600MHz Front Side Bus (FSB) processors and 1600MHz memory clock frequencies from the get go. The kit that OCZ Technology sent out for review is the 2GB DDR3 PC3-12800 (1600MHz) Platinum Series Kit that is part Enhanced Bandwidth Edition. Since that is hard to remember, the part number is OCZ3P1600EB2GK.

Before we get into the details of this new OCZ memory kit, be sure to read our previous DDR3 memory articles to make sure you know what the changes in DDR3 are and how it performs compared to DDR2.

• Getting To Know DDR3 Memory Modules
• Intel P35 Express Chipset: DDR2 Versus DDR3 Memory
• Corsair Has Working 2000MHz DDR3 Memory Modules
• Corsair, Kingston, OCZ & Super Talent 1333MHz DDR3 Roundup
• Kingston 2GB ultra low-latency 1375MHz CL5 DDR3 Memory Review
• 2GB Corsair 1800MHz DOMINATOR CL7 DDR3 Memory Review
• IDF Fall 2007 – DDR3 Memory Modules All Around

If you feel you have a firm background on DDR3 modules and what the performance level was on various kits, then let’s take a look at what OCZ has been up to since we looked at their 1333MHz DDR3 kit a couple months ago.

OCZ let us know that each memory kit in this series is 100% hand-tested for quality assurance and compatibility, which means they should work when you plug them in! If they by chance don’t, they are covered from the time you purchase them thanks to the lifetime warranty that comes on all OCZ DDR3 memory modules. From the outside, the modules look familiar since they clad OCZ’s proprietary platinum-mirrored XTC (Xtreme Thermal Convection) heatspreaders for the enhanced heat dissipation.

The 1600MHz dual channel memory kit comes rated with 7-6-6-24 at 1.9V and it was able to run either a command rate of 1T or 2T with no issues at this clock frequency. This is due to the fact that OCZ’s 1600MHz memory kits use highly screened Micron ICs that have been found to offer great timings and high clock frequencies. This memory kit was specially designed and optimized using the ASUS P5K3 series of motherboards with the Intel P35 Express chipset, so if you own this board you are in luck.