OCZ REAPER HPC PC2 8500 2GB KIT(English Version)

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REVIEW : OCZ REAPER HPC PC2 8500 2GB KIT

REVIEWER : Linos80

OCZ REAPER HPC PC2 8500 2GB KIT PROVIDED BY: OCZ

Sugg. Price for OCZ REAPER HPC PC2 8500 2GB (5-5-5-15) : 200€

INTRODUCTION

In our last review, some days ago, we have presented a relative between 3 kits of memories. From then, the prices of the memories went down vertically and the fanatic fans of high performance have the opportunity to increase the performance of their overclocked computers with memories capable to overcome the high speeds.

Even if the construction companies are quite many, there are some with big tradition in the field of memories, with names which nobody can ignore. OCZ already consolidated it’s name,a name that in most of the customer’s minds means performance and quality.

From the big range of OCZ’s memories ,today we will present one of the latest products which is worth to be mentioned and talked about for it’s performance and for its prototype characteristics of cooling.

We talk about the OCZ REAPER HPC PC2 8500 with code name OCZ2RPR10662GK, which belong to the HPC ULTRA HIGH PERFORMANCE DDR2 MEMORY OF OCZ category.

Our target is to present you both the unique cooling system of them (at least for memories) and its performance by having the last review of Cellshock and Teamgroup as a criterion.

Let’s see now the packet that we received from OCZ.

PACKAGE AND CONTENTS

PACKAGE AND CONTENTS

The OCZ kit contains 2 memory modules of 1GB which are in a transparent plastic box. We appreciate especially the fact that we didn’t need to use a scissor or another sharp tool to open the box, because the 2 plastic leafs of the packing clasp and unclasp very easy.

This fact has another positive use because in a case of RMA the packing can be used again without any damage. If we think that, because of the prototype cooling system, they have almost double height comparing with the “normal” memory modules, we advise you to keep their package for any case of their transportation as they don’t mach with any normal memory case of other producer.

The memories are made from green PCB, which can hardly be seen because they are completely covered with the black heatspreader, that reminded us enough the Cellshock’s blankets, at least what concerns the texture. In the center dominates the silver coloured relief logo of OCZ. Because details make the difference we have to say that the logo from the package that we received was protected by a plastic membrane.

At the back side, the one of the 2 screws that hold the blanket on the memory is covered with the label which has the code and the characteristics of the modules, so in any case removal of the heatspreader means the end of the guarantee.

Under the blanket are the hidden memory chips which are the well known Micron D9GMH.

Checking up carefully the memory modules we saw that on the upper side of the heatspreader there is a groove in which runs the copper heatpipe which curves up and goes through a special made aluminium construction (optimized fin array) which has the skill to send away fast the heating. With this procedure, the heat produced by the chips and transmitted to the blankets goes through the heatpipe, away from the memory modules, in the separated fin array from where spreads away.

Because, as people say, a picture is better than 1000 words, the people of OCZ, in the back side of the construction, take care to show us, using a diagram, how exactly works this smart combination of copper and aluminium, as the result to be the best cooling.

Let’s see now in the next page the technical details.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

TECHNICAL DETAILS

According to OCZ the specified memory kit with code name OCZ2RPR10662GK has the following technical specifications:

• 1066MHz DDR2

• CL 5-5-5-15

• 2GB (2x1GB) Dual Channel Optimized Kit

• Unbuffered

• 8-Layer PCB

• Reaper HPC Heatsink

• 2.3 Volts

• 240 Pin DIMM

• EVP®

• Lifetime Warranty

First of all, we must make clear that we are talking about the default specs and add that the memory modules have EPP (Enchanced Performance Profiles) for the owners of the last generation motherboards with NVIDIA SLI chipsets, which can recognize automatically the memories and make the best adjustment by themselves for the best performance.

Even if it’s obvious, we should underline the fact that although the kit is optimized for dual channel, this doesn’t mean that it’s not able to work perfectly in single channel mode.

What concerns the EVP (Extended Voltage Protection), according to OCZ, it is a characteristic that allows the memory modules to accept till 2.35V without any consequence to their life time guarantee. We are sure that computer enthusiasts, in their try to increase the performance, will greatly overcome.

It’s a fact that OCZ provides many different kits of memory modules running at 1066 Mhz and it would be really interesting for us to make a review some time in the future comparing them with each other in order to see if there are commons and differences.

We continue next with our testing system.

TESTING SYSTEM DETAILS

TESTING SYSTEM DETAILS

In order to have the same criterion with the MEMORY ROUNDUP that we presented you last month, the details of the PC that we used for our tests are shown above:

MOBO : ASUS COMMANDO (INTEL 965 CHIPSET)

CPU : E6600 WATERCOOLED

VGA : 6600GT

PSU : BLUESTORM II 500W

HDD : 2x200GB SEAGATE SATA RAID0

OS : MS WINDOWS XP PRO SP2

Even if in the latest review for the needs of our tests we used a powerful but very noisy DELTA fan to cool the memories so we could be sure that in any case the possible high temperature will not stop them to work properly, this time we chose a different philosophy. Although the memories need 2.3V to work in the default adjustment the big challenge was to see if the new cooling system of the Reaper HPC was able to hold them in the same level of temperature so they could work without problems.

So, for our test we used the following classic benchmarks and tools :

SUPER PI 1M

WPRIME

SISOFT SANDRA

CPUZ

MEMTEST

MEMSET

Let’s see the detailed results of our benchmarks.

BENCHMARK RESULTS – DEFAULT

BENCHMARK RESULTS – DEFAULT

Our expectations from Reaper HPC2 8500 were high and we considered that there is no reason to run them in 1066 Mhz. Furthermore, our target was to see the options that can offer in our system with the suggested voltage of the manufacturer (2.3V) not more or less.

In any case, in the motherboard of our system the Command Rate is 2T. It would be also interesting to test them in a motherboard with 680 chipset and see their performance with Command Rate 1T.

We present you the most interresting results of our tests :

Ε6600 @3500 (7Χ500)

OCZ2RPR10662GK @1000 (5-5-5-15)

Ε6600 @3645 (9Χ405)

OCZ2RPR10662GK @1216 (5-5-5-15)

Ε6600 @3780 (9Χ420)

OCZ2RPR10662GK @1260 (5-5-5-15)

RESULT TESTS – TIGHT TIMINGS

RESULT TESTS – TIGHT TIMINGS

The speed of the memories by default is already enough high but unfortunately the timings are loose in these Mhz.

That’s exactly the reason that our test for higher performance had two different levels :

1.The skill of the memory modules to run in the speed higher than 1066 Mhz which is their default.

2.The skill of the memory modules to work right with lower – more tight timings from 5-5-5-15 which are the defaults.

we already covered the first part of the higher working speed - as we showed before the memories to be able to go almost up to 1300 Mhz (from 1066).

Well, let’s see now the performance of the memories with tight timings (4-4-4-8) which we conquered with default voltage (2.3V).

E6600 @3500 (7X500)

OCZ2RPR10662GK @1000 (4-4-4-8)

E6600 @3605 (7X515)

OCZ2RPR10662GK @1030 (4-4-4-8)

We consider that there is room for improvement of the memories to be able to find the perfect combination of speed and timings in order to give higher performance.

About the temperatures that the memory modules reached with 2.3V, these were between 36C idle and till 44C load. The temperatures were very good if we think that we are talking about their default heatpipes!!!

CONCLUSION

The OCZ made another time the “miracle” by providing us a memory kit which can be distinguished from the first sight with its “wild” profile, as a result of the prototype and efficient cooling system.

The specific outside view in combination with their high performance gives an advantage, as a choice to those who want to get the best out of their PC, and they focus in the high FSB or in more tight timings than the defaults.

Especially for our country, where the summer is in front of the gates and the temperature starts to go up dangerously, hard days are coming for those who want their computer overclocked and stable and the same time as much possible noiseless. The OCZ applies first the technology of the heatpipes in the memory modules, manage a memory kit that works without problems, without extra cooling, having an acceptable temperature even though it needs higher voltage to work (that means extra temperature). A user who wants to use a low speed fan – noiseless to exhaust the temperature from the aluminium fins away from the memory modules then the modules even with the 2.3V are warm but not hot, even if we are talking for hot summer noon.

It’s about a HOT choice with the trustworthy name of OCZ especially now because the price level gives anybody the opportunity to own a kit of this memory modules without spending a fortune for this.

Next week we’ll introduce you an other kit, but with a different and new class the XLC. A kit in which, for one more time, OCZ sets the limits too high by making for the first time memories with factory made watercooling.

We are coming soon with more details!!!