El Snorro

G.Skill DDR500 3-3-2-8 2GB HV Test Report

Hi guys, a couple of days ago I recieved a set of G.Skill HV memory from Gskill.

The product that is featuring my first review is the new 2gb set of G.Skill, the DDR500 HV memory.

Chips that are used in this memory is the Infineon CE-5 type.

F1-4000BIU2-2GBHV

This series specs are:
DDR500 PC4000 (250MHz) at 2,6-2,8v (one speed rating)
- Timings for DDR500 are CL 3, TRCD 3, TRP 2, TRAS 8
- Infineon CE-5 Chips
- Brainpower B6U808 v1.1 PCB
- Lifetime warranty
- Available in the following packages:
F1-4000BIU1-1GBHV - Single Module of 1GB
F1-4000BIU2-2GBHV - Matched Pair of 2 * 1GB modules (2GB kit)
Product link:
http://www.gskill.com/press%2020060301.html


The modules


The timings and rated speed


The PCB

Test system:
4000+ 0505FPMW
DFI Lanparty NF4 Ultra-d (will test biosses 704-2BTA and 623 Official)
Enermax 460w
ATI Radeon x300se (temporary card)
All the testing is done at a vdimm 2,7v (more volts did not lead to more stability)

Stock testing:

For the stock testing I will use 3dmark05, Superpi mod and 1.4 Everest home edition.
Note: I still have my multiplier at 12x because my processor can reach those speeds easily
Tight timings at stock speed 3d stable:


And superpi 32m stable:



Bandwith and latency:


Overclock Testing

For the overclock testing I will try to get the memory as high as possible at tight timings and at looser timings. I will use the same benchmarks as in stock testing.

First I tried 260mhz at the same timings as above, but I just could not get that 3d stable, not even if I used this timings:



I also flashed 623 official bios to see if that had any effect, unfortunately it had not.
This is just a typical 'feature' for the infineon chips, in PI testing the chips are really good, but in 3d testing they just bug (in 3dmark05 my screen just went black after approx 10 secs).
Lowering the frequenty to 255mhz no problems occured, not even at tight timings:



260mhz was no problem in superpi 32m:



Bandwith and latency:



Even 265mhz 32m was no problem if used relaxed timings:

Superpi 32m:


Bandwith and latency:



At this clocks al my PI benchmarks were stable, but 3d was just not possible, tried voltages form 2,5 to 2,8v, al no go.

CL 2,5 Testing

Since this infineon IC can run cas 2,5 up to high speed I decided testing max speed on CL2,5 at 'tight timings', since the testing at 'relaxed timings' at CL2,5 did not lead to higher clocks.

My testing will still be the same, 3dmark05, Superpi32m and everest.

240mhz CL 2,5:

3dmark05:



Superpi 32m:



Bandwith and latency:



I could even do more on the CL2,5 setting!

245mhz CL2,5:

3dmark05:



Superpi 32m:



Bandwith and latency:



Note: I could do a 270mhz Spi 1m succesfull, but when I tried to move a64tweaker and cpu-z to the right place on my screen for taking a screenshot, I got sort of 'artifacts' and the screen hung.
After approx 5 secs I got a reboot. So also in 2d at very high speeds there is screen corruption leading to errors/reboots.
The problem of getting 3d benchmarks/games stable varies from kit to kit, since kakaroto has a kit of Gskill ZX which is not that much affected by this problem (he can do 3d at 265mhz).

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Conclusion:

The average overlock of these modules is between 260 and 270mhz I think, maybe if you get a good set it can do 270mhz or more, but the problem is getting those speeds 3d stable.
This ram is very nice for people who are searching for high speeds 24/7 at acceptable timings!

El Snorro

They are already available for pre order here:

http://www.bytesatwork.be/shop/produ...cat=474&page=1