OCZ ReaperX HPC DDR3 10666 2 x 1 GB Review

ccokeman - January 1, 2008
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Testing:

The way to verify that one set of memory modules is better than another is to run a series of benchmarks to put down some basic comparison data. When all things are equal and the only variable is the module being tested, the results are a great way to compare performance, good or bad. In order to eliminate the variables, the only settings that will be manipulated will be the memory timings and voltages when overclocking. The comparison modules will be run at the manufacturer specified timings and voltages at 1333MHz. In order to reach 1333MHz, the processor used in the test setup will have a slight overclock from 266MHZ to 333MHz. All of the comparison modules were run with this scenario.

Testing Setup:

CPU:Intel Q6600 Core 2 Quad 333 x 8
Motherboard: Asus Blitz Extreme
Memory: OCZ Reaper X 2 x 1GB DDR3 1333 6-5-5-20
Video Card(s): Evga 8800GTS 640MB
Power Supply: Mushkin 650watt Modular Power supply
Hard Drive: Western Digital 250GB 16MB cache SATA
Opticals:Sony DVD-Rom
O/S: Windows Vista Ultimate
Comparison Module #1:Mushkin HP3 10666 DDR3 2 x 1 GB 6-7-6-18
Comparison Module #2:P5K3 Premium on-board DDR3 2 x 1GB 7-6-6-18
Comparison Module #2:Qimonda Aeneon DDR3 1333 2 x 1GB 8-8-8-15

CPU-Z: This application shows us the settings that we have chosen in the BIOS. Items shown in this application include CPU speed and bus settings, motherboard manufacturer, BIOS revisions, memory timings and SPD chip information.

Task Manager: We use this utility to show physical memory, kernel memory, page file usage and processor usage (%).

Overclocking:

Overclocked settings:

Processor: Intel Q6600 470 x 7 1.494 volts
Memory: OCZ ReaperX HPC DDR3 1333 at DDR3 1880 8-7-7-20 1.96 volts

Overclocking the Reaper X was not as challenging as I had been expecting. With all of the sets in this review, I would run into hard walls that no amount of tinkering with voltages or sub-timings would let me past. The same was true here with the Reaper X HPC DDR3 1333. But the speed and latency that it happened at was much higher than I had experienced with the other test modules. Ultimately, I was able to get into Windows at 8-7-6-20 at 950MHz or DDR 1900. Not too shabby for a set of 1333MHz (667MHz) system memory. Unfortunately, that speed was unstable with the voltage used in this review and resulted in BSODs. Loosening the timings to 8-7-7-20 results in a successful boot into Windows at 470 x 7 with the memory at 940MHz. This represents an increase from the stock speeds of 274MHz. That's huge when it comes to overclocking potential. I have yet to have a set of memory have that much overhead without extreme voltages. The maximum voltage pushed through the Reaper X was 1.96 volts. Sure, this is above the warranty level by .06 volts, but that is a far cry from the 2.1 and 2.2 volts that some kits require to get just a 150MHz increase, not to mention the tight timings.

At 470 x 7 my processor was at the ragged edge of its frontside bus envelope. The memory, on the other hand, was looking for more voltage and was sure to have a bit more head room. After a little tweaking to the board voltages, 470 x 7 was the final max frontside bus that was usable for our benchmark suite.