Testing Methodology
Like the other memory reviews we have done in the past, we will only concentrate on testing the overclockability of the modules since there are no reliable memory benchmarks.
Unlike the testing we have done in the past, we are testing all three timings supported by the modules - 2-2-2-5, 2.5-3-3-7 and 3-4-4-8.
For those who are not familiar with memory timings, the first number refers to the CAS Latency, the second number to the RAS-to-CAS Delay (tRCD), the third to the Row Precharge Delay (tRP), and the final number refers to the Row Active Delay (tRAS). For more information on these timings, please consult our BIOS Optimization Guide.
We also tested the memory modules at the voltage of 2.65V (measured voltage of 2.68V) as well as an increased voltage of 2.85V (measured voltage of 2.88V). To check stability at overclocked speeds, we tested the memory modules with Memtest86+ v1.50.
Test Bed
Processor |
AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Socket 939 |
Motherboard |
MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum |
Memory |
PDP System Patriot 1GB PDC1G3200+XBLK modules |
Graphics
Card |
Creative TNT2 32MB |
Hard Disk |
400GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 |
Power Supply
Unit |
450W ACRyan RyanPower2 PSU |
Test Results
CAS 2.0 Results
There are no official timings for these modules, but PDP Systems has stated that they will do 200MHz at 2-2-2-5. So, we'll see how far they can go!
Parameters |
Values |
Unit |
Row Active Delay (tRAS) |
5 |
Clock Cycles |
RAS-to-CAS Delay (tRCD) |
2 |
Clock Cycles |
Row Precharge Delay (tRP) |
2 |
Clock Cycles |
Stock Voltage |
2.65 |
V |
Boosted Voltage |
2.85 |
V |
Memory
Clock |
2.65V |
2.85V |
200MHz / 400MHz DDR |
Stable |
Stable |
203MHz / 406MHz DDR |
Stable |
Stable |
205MHz / 410MHz DDR |
Stable |
Stable |
208MHz / 416MHz DDR |
Stable |
Stable |
210MHz / 420MHz DDR |
Stable |
Stable |
213MHz / 426MHz DDR |
Stable |
Stable |
215MHz / 430MHz DDR |
Stable |
Stable |
218MHz / 436MHz DDR |
Stable |
Stable |
220MHz / 440MHz DDR |
Not Stable |
Not Stable |
Almost all TCCD modules will be able to hit 200MHz at tight timings easily. But as they scale higher and higher, it is virtually impossible to make them run with any resemblance of stability, despite feeding them more juice. Is Patriot memory any different?
Well, unfortunately it's a 'no', but it certainly overclocks slightly better than the best TCCDs we have tested! 218MHz is 9% faster than the stock speed. This is actually the best TCCD modules we have tested! But remember, while it's better than the others we have tested, it's only better by a small margin...
As we expected, increasing VDIMM did not make any difference. The modules remained stubbornly stuck at 218MHz.
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