OCZ PC2-8800 (1100MHz) Gold Edition Memory Review

Under The Heat Spreader

Our test kit was the OCZ Technology EL DDR2 2GB PC2-8800 Gold Edition Kit (2x1GB) with the part number of OCZ2G11002GK, which comes rated with 5-6-6-15 memory timings. TheOCZ PC2-8800 Gold Edition series has been optimized for AM2 and Conroe-based platforms, so they are designed to run with the fastest processors on the market today. These modules do not support Enhanced Memory Profiles (EPP), so those AMD users with EPP supporting motherboards are out of luck when it comes to these modules. The modules require 2.4V to operate at the advertised settings, which means that consumers need to make sure their motherboards go that high. An example of this would be the Intel D975XBX motherboard as it only offers memory voltages up to 2.2V (The Intel D975XBX2 will be able to reach 2.8V). OCZ has Extended Voltage Protection (EVP) as part of their feature list as they allow performance enthusiasts to use a VDIMM of 2.4V 5% without invalidating their lifetime warranty.

Key Features:

• Memory amount: 2 x 1024MB
• 240-pin Unbuffered DIMM
• IC Brand: Micron D9 (64Mx8 Configuration)
• 800MHz (PC2-6400) Unbuffered non-ECC DDR2 Modules
• CAS latency: 5 clock cycles
• RAS precharge: 6 cycles
• RAS active to precharge: 15 cycles
• Silver heat spreader for thermal diffusion
• Latency: 5-6-6-15 2T
• Power supply�2.40 +/- 0.12V
• Lifetime Warranty

Once the heat spreaders were removed we could read that the Printed Circuit Board (PCB) ID was BP MLL E186014 B62URCE, which is made by Brain Power Co. and is a well known company among enthusiasts around the world. These are the same PCB’s that A-DATA, Mushkin and Super Talent are using on their Vitesta DDR2-800, eXtreme XP25300 and T800UX2GC4 modules that we reviewed in previous articles. OCZ has used Micron D9 IC’s on their PC2-8800 line and we can’t blame them as these IC’s are an overclockers dream if screened correctly. After looking at the Micron FBGA D9GMH IC’s we made out the part number MT47H64M8B6-3:D. We then looked them up on Micron’s site we were able to find out that these FBGA IC’s are rated for operation with a clock frequency of 333Mhz (dual data rate of 667MHz). Since OCZ Technology has their modules rated at 1100MHz it’s obvious these modules are using IC’s than have been sorted and screened to reach the performance standards needed to reach these high frequencies.