Mushkin 4GB XP2-8000 – Return of Redline!
 

Mushkin 4GB XP2-8000 – Return of Redline!

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/4...inlogo1qp1.jpg

Yes you heard it right, Redline is back with a new 4GB kit flavour!

Mushkin 2x2GB DDR2-1000 XP2 Redline CL5-5-5-15 @ 2.1V

For the few of you that don’t know, Redline is a product of Mushkin’s exclusive EPIC (Enhanced Performance IC) selection process and is Mushkin’s flagship mem.

That being said, here is your Mushkin 4GB XP2-8000 Redline (part 996593) test report:

Content:
Specifications
Packaging
Test Bed
Testing Methodology
Test Results
Testing Summary
Observations and Impressions
Availability and Pricing

Specifications:
Frequency: DDR1000 (500Mhz)
Latency: CL5-5-5-12
Voltage: 2.1v
Pins: 240
Parity: Unbuffered
Chips: I can’t comment on the chips quite yet.

Packaging:
The XP2-8000 uses the new FrostByte™ (red) Redline heatspreader and comes with Mushkin’s new packaging.

You will probably notice that the spreaders use the old BH-5 style clips, but the new style spreaders. I thinking that this style clip gives better chip to spreader contact than the top clip style in some older DDR2 kits.



Test Bed
This time for testing, I am using a Q6600 setup with ASUS P5K vanilla (P35). I am also doing all tests on Vista 64 bit this time so we can see stability for all 4GB of RAM.

Full system specs are as follows:

• ASUS P5K
• Q6600
• XFX GeForce 8600GT @ stock
• Mushkin XP-650
• Windows Vista, 64bit, untweaked
• CPU Cooling - Custom H20 and stock cooler on the NB
• RAM Cooling – 120mm Panaflo

Testing methodology:
For stability I will run two instances of HCI Memtest and 32M at the same time. Vista uses 1GB, Memtest 2GB and PI a little more, giving over 80% mem usage. HCI Memtest is very good for picking up mem errors and I have found that 200% (about 30 minutes) and a 32M at the same time is sufficient for this report.

For the purposes of this review, I am going to test 4-3-3, 4-4-4, and 5-5-5 using 1.9v, 2.0v, and 2.1v for the mem.

The kit I am testing came from Mushkin directly and was provided my Brian Flood, Head of Mushkin R&D. Brian assured me that the kit I was sent was pulled randomly from the retail kits and was not cherry picked.

Benches used:
Super PI v1.5 (32M)

Tools:
SetFSB
Memset 3.3
HCI Memtest
CPU-Z

Test Results:

4-4-4 – 1.9v – 412Mhz
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/747/194442jc0.th.jpg

4-4-4 – 2.0v – 419Mhz
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/4...4442ww2.th.jpg

4-4-4 – 2.1v – 422Mhz
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/6...4441uc1.th.jpg

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5-5-5 – 1.9v – 550Mhz
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/1...5551vm9.th.jpg

5-5-5 – 2.0v – 557Mhz
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/3...5551pl5.th.jpg

5-5-5 – 2.1v – 558Mhz
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/8...5551ya7.th.jpg

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Summary:

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/7323/summary1lz9.jpg

Observations and Impressions

Well first off let me say that I am pleased with the results of this mem. Although it doesn't scale as well as some of the older 2GB microns out there, it runs at high speeds at low voltages. A reasonable cost makes this a great option for your gaming or 64 bit pcs. A few observations I made when testing are as follows:

• When dropping trcd and trp I would lose almost 100 mhz at 5-5-5 so it was not worth the mhz loss. At 4-4-4 dropping trcd/trp to 4-3-3 put clocks down below 350Mhz thus this mem performs best at 5-5-5 and 4-4-4. You can tighten trp a bit but I didnt see a difference in performance in doing so.
• tREF at its highest value (16383) was best for performance.
• 2.0v seems about ideal vdimm for these sticks although they are spec at 2.1v. Some sticks will respond better to 2.1v that others.
• trfc has a big impact on clocks. Ideal for 5-5-5 trfc was best at 52, but tighter timings allows tighter trfc, ie 4-4-4 can run 44 trfc.
• The EPP profiles are bang on and give a good starting point for tweeking.

Availability and Pricing:

NCIX: $170 CAD
Direct Canada: $158 CAD

Well that is it, post questions if you have em. :)

Great review. I've always been a fan of Mushkin. Their products never cease to amaze me.

always have heard good thing about that redlines line of products from mushkin, even i have havent use any of their product so far i will definatly take a look at it next tim i upgrade

nice work Zac...good to see you finally get some work done :haha:

i am assuming they stop scaling with voltage after 2.1v?

CAS5 @ 1100MHz with only 1.9 volts? Sweet!

Looks like their clock speed headroom is pretty defined, but did you happen to see if the timings could be tightened any?

Any ideas who's actually going have this stuff in stock (very) soon? Pricing? I heard about this stuff coming out, but was going to settle for 2 GB of XP's for now. But if these are fairly affordable and available...

You say that you had a 120mm panaflo on RAM cooling duty but do you have any idea what the temps of the RAM might have been?

mpg - Brian said 2 weeks, but Im not sure who gets it first. Yeah timings can be tightened. trfc can go down to 42-44 with cas 4, perf lev 8, twtr 10, trrd 3, trtp 3.

jody - haha yeah I know. :whistle:
This is low voltage mem, 2.15v didnt do anything more than 2.1v.

macjunky - No idea, was hardly warm to touch. Had fan on high speed tho ..

Hardly warm to the touch? pfft. It is no fun unless you need "spreaders" like these: http://blog.3cbank.com/wp-content/up...acer0116-1.png
hehe.

haha, it is hardly extreme voltage for being Redline, but clocking well at low volts is good too. :)