Kingmax 256mb DDR-400 Memory

Features:

• Performance Range – 200MHz (DDR400, CL2.5)
• Double-data-rate architecture
• Bi-directional data strobe (DQS)
• Differential clock inputs (CK and /CK)
• DLL aligns DQ and DQS transition with CK transition
• Auto & self refresh capability
• Single 2.5 +/-0.2V power supply
• Programmable Read latency 2, 2.5 (clock)
• Programmable Burst length (2, 4, 8)
• Programmable Burst type (Sequential & Interleave)
• Edge aligned data output, center aligned data input
• Serial presence detect with EEPROM
• PCB : Height (1,181 mil)

Now that you know what the features of the Kingmax MPXB62D-68KX3 RAM module is, I will show you how this RAM performs compared to Corsair’s PC3200C2 256mb module.

Test Setup:

• ABIT KD7 Motherboard
• AMD Athlon XP 2100+ (default speeds)
• ABIT GF4 Ti4200 64mb OTES video card
• Maxtor/Quantum Fireball 40Gig 7200RPM HDD
• 360W Thermaltake PurePower PSU
• SLK-800 w/ 80mm 80cfm Sunon fan (air cooled)

All tests were completed on the desktop with no other programs running. We used Windows XP SP1a with the nVidia 43.45 driver and the VIA Hyperion 4.46 4-in-1 driver. We compared the Kingmax 256mb DDR-400 module with the Corsair 256mb PC3200C2 module.

Since the Kingmax’s module could not go to CL 2.0, both the Kingmax RAM and Corsair RAM are set to CL 2.5 for all of the following tests. The timings we have set are 2.5-6-3-3.

We found the max O/C of the Kingmax DDR-400 memory module to be 360 MHz DDR when the default of the RAM is supposed to be 400 MHz DDR. This was very surprising given that it is no where near what the specs advertise it to be. This RAM should be a DDR333 module!

Benchmarks:

Sisoft Sandra 2003: Memory Bandwidth @ 333MHz

Sisoft Sandra 2003: Memory Bandwidth @ 360MHz

Sisoft Sandra 2003: Memory Bandwidth @ MAX

Futuremark: 3dMark2001SE & PCMark2002

In the graphs above, you can see that when the Kingmax and Corsair memory modules are set to DDR-333, the Corsair beats the Kingmax in memory bandwidth. You can also see that when we have the Kingmax and Corsair both set to DDR-360, the Kingmax beats the Corsair! This also surprised us, but who wants to run their DDR-400 Corsair memory at DDR-360? No one! The last memory bandwidth test we ran shows the Kingmax at its max of DDR-360 and the Corsair at its max of DDR-428! Now that is a big difference!

The last graph we have was supposed to show these two sticks of ram at their default speeds of DDR-400, but since the Kingmax couldn’t get higher than DDR-360, we went ahead and compared it as close as it could to the Corsair at its default speed of DDR-400. As you can see there is a big difference in the 3dMark2001SE scores and in PCMark2002 Memory score.

Now that you have had the chance to see how this RAM performs, I will move on to my conclusion.