OCZ Reaper PN – OCZ2RPR8002GK Review

[Wankerfx]

Index:

1. Introduction
2. First Impressions
3. Setup
4. Testing
5. Conclusion


1. Introduction:


OCZ first entered the memory market in the year 2000. They have been the primary source of memory for overclockers for more than 7 years and continue to amaze consumers with their innovative products. OCZ has introduced the new “Reaper” series with its ground-breaking HPC (Heat Pipe Conduit) technology.

Today I’ll be testing the entry level modules of the “Reaper” series; the PN – OCZ2RPR8002GK.

Model Name: PN – OCZ2RPR8002GK
Speed: DDR2-800, 4-4-4-15, 2.1V
PCB: Unknown
Size: 2 x 1GB
Warranty: Lifetime (Up to 2.2V)

This kit is available for Canadians at a mediocre price of 219.99 CAD after the mail-in rebate: http://www.ncix.com/products/index.p...Z%20Technology


This kit is available for Americans at a low price of 129.99 USD after the mail-in rebate: Newegg.com - OCZ Reaper HPC Edition 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail


2. First Impressions:


The ram was concealed in a tough, plastic container. It had a cardboard insert behind the ram, advertising its HPC technology, and warranty information. The ram heatsinks must be the most aggressive looking things I have ever seen! Each side of the module has a thick piece of alloy which is connected to an oval copper tube, leading up to another small heatsink.

The modules weigh quite a bit, so be careful not to drop them onto your toes! Another thing to be aware of is installation; be sure to install the modules slowly, or risk cutting yourself on the top part of the heatsink.

In total, I give the PN – OCZ2RPR8002GK’s 10/10 for visuals. The packaging was ordinary; but the actual ram heatsinks added flavor to the whole kit. I have to mention that I have never seen something so beastly in all my years of computing. Now that we have all the physical features down, let’s get into the juicy stuff!

3. Setup:

Motherboard: Asus P5B-Deluxe WiFi
CPU: Intel E6300 (L626A)
CPU Cooling: Tuniq Tower 120
GPU: Asus EN7900GTX
PSU: OCZ GXS 700 watt
HD: Western Digital Caviar (250gb)
OS: Windows XP

4. Testing:

I will be using dual SuperPI 32M to test the stability of these modules when overclocking. It’s a good way to establish whether the overclocked speed is stable or not. Using dual SuperPi 32M is by no means an easy route to testing a 24/7 stable computer. I will be doing an 8 hour orthos test, running within OCZ’s warranty (2.2V). All speeds recorded are over DDR2-800 and the modules were tested with memtest86 prior to the overclocking to make sure they weren’t defective.


The Reapers work with no struggle at their advertised speeds:




CL3:

I attempted to test the speed of DDR2-800, 3-3-3-8 with volts 2.25-2.45 and received no sign of stability. (Didn’t even boot into windows)


CL4:

DDR2-825, 4-4-4-12 was accomplished with 2.25V:




DDR2-861, 4-4-4-12 was accomplished with 2.35V




Sadly, adding more voltage decreased the stability of these modules. (Past 2.35V)

CL5:

DDR2-921, 5-5-5-15 was achieved with 2.25V:







DDR2-969, 5-5-5-15 was accomplished with 2.35V:







Adding more voltage to these modules decreased stability.

I give this kit 6/10 for performance, see the conclusion for more details.


5. Conclusion:


These modules are definitely the most exotic looking things I've ever seen. I was impressed with the way OCZ implemented great looks on mid-range ram. I was really disappointed with the overclocking results; the max amount of volts I could push into this set was 2.35V with loose timings, and still was not able to achieve DDR2-1000. On the bright side, most ram running at 2.35V becomes hot to touch, but the Reaper HPC technology proved to be useful and stayed cool.

I recommend this kit to those who are somewhat in the overclocking scene and for those who love aggressive looking computer components.

Pros:
-Look fantastic!
-Lifetime warranty
-Reputable company

Cons:
-Doesn't meet an enthusiast's level of performance
-Doesn't respond well to voltage

I give the Reapers a total of 8/10!


I'd like to thank Lisa@OCZ for helping me get things sorted and for supporting me!


(Orthos test will be included in the next post)

*Sorry about the quality of the pictures. I will take better pictures when I find my camera*


-Wankerfx

[Wankerfx]

Reserved.

[Supergrover]

Nice Review

I would like to see those heatpipes on some nice voltage lovin DDR

Lots of bling but not alot of bang.IMO
Still nice stuff.

[SKYMTL]

Are you overclocking using a software program or directly through the BIOS?

[Wankerfx]

Originally Posted by SKYMTL

Are you overclocking using a software program or directly through the BIOS?

@SKYMTL: My overclocking is done through BIOS. I don't really like using software.

@Supergrover: Thanks!

[Cardboard box with DSL]

Nice review!
You seem to have a knack for ram reviews!
I love the look of this ram

[Wankerfx]

Originally Posted by Cardboard box with DSL

Nice review!
You seem to have a knack for ram reviews!
I love the look of this ram

Yup!

I love doing ram reviews, but will soon try to do a case review.

The ram does look amazing though!

[sswilson]

Nice review!

I think we're all getting spoiled with the glut of high end memory on the market right now.....

A year ago, mem which managed to do 170 above rated specs would have turned a few heads.... :)

[Wankerfx]

Originally Posted by sswilson

Nice review!

I think we're all getting spoiled with the glut of high end memory on the market right now.....

A year ago, mem which managed to do 170 above rated specs would have turned a few heads.... :)

Thanks! Memory is really advanced in both visual and performance these days.
Keep the comments/questions/suggestions coming!

[Babrbarossa]

Just wanted to congratulate you on another great review- I haven't been around much this week so I missed it. There's alot of variation between kits it seems.