OCZ Flex XLC: PC2-9200 Pushes the Envelope
by Wesley Fink on December 8, 2006 8:00 PM EST- Posted in
- Memory
OCZ PC2-9200 Flex XLC Specifications
OCZ is a well-known supplier of enthusiast parts. While they are best known for their memory targeted at the enthusiast, OCZ also provides an extensive line of power supplies and CPU coolers, along with more value oriented memory. As recently seen in Taiwan, OCZ also plans to introduce custom water-cooling parts in 2007. With that in mind, the OCZ introduction of water-cooling ready enthusiast memory appears to fit the total picture.
OCZ tells us that then new Flex XLC memory is not designed just for water-cooling. In fact, with air-cooling alone Flex XLC can reach most of its potential. It is designed to be the fastest memory available from OCZ whether run on air or water. One thing that is clear is that Flex XLC does not look like other high-end DDR2 memory.
Quoting from OCZ literature the "Flex" in Flex XLC represents the "...innovative 'flexible' design, which gives enthusiasts the option to run these modules passively or water-cooled via the integrated liquid injection system for maximum heat dissipation."
The fin assembly was designed for very effective air cooling. When water is used even better cooling is possible. The hybrid copper and aluminum water channel and fin design is designed to cool effectively whether air or water is used for cooling. As the diagram indicates, water-cooling is optional.
The Flex XLC DIMMs come ready for water hookup. The 3/8" entrance/exit nipples are an integral part of the cooling block and a standard design for water hoses. The flat top design of the heatsink/fins also makes it a "flat" surface for placing a large cooling fan over a pair or even four of these DIMMs. The Flex XLC dimms are thin enough that they can be fitted in side-by-side memory slots. We tried them on several boards and four dimms should fit just fine if you want to add even more memory. OCZ builds the new memory with specially binned Micron D memory chips mounted on an 8-layer PCB. The special binning, ultra low noise PCB, and hybrid heatsink design all contribute to overclocking capabilities.
Flex XLC is currently only supplied as a 2GB kit (2x1GB) rated at PC2-9200 (DDR2-1150). This is the highest memory speed rating for DDR2 that we have ever tested. While Flex XLC is rated for 2.35V it is covered by the OCZ Extended Voltage Protection (EVP). This extension to the warranty provides a lifetime warranty against failure as long as the memory is operated at 2.52V or below.
While the form factor is new, it is worth repeating that OCZ is using specially binned Micron D memory chips in Flex XLC. That means the leading performance we routinely see with Micron memory chips should also be found in Flex XLC performance - along with the additional overclocking headroom designed into the product with aggressive binning and a hybrid cooling design.
OCZ is a well-known supplier of enthusiast parts. While they are best known for their memory targeted at the enthusiast, OCZ also provides an extensive line of power supplies and CPU coolers, along with more value oriented memory. As recently seen in Taiwan, OCZ also plans to introduce custom water-cooling parts in 2007. With that in mind, the OCZ introduction of water-cooling ready enthusiast memory appears to fit the total picture.
OCZ tells us that then new Flex XLC memory is not designed just for water-cooling. In fact, with air-cooling alone Flex XLC can reach most of its potential. It is designed to be the fastest memory available from OCZ whether run on air or water. One thing that is clear is that Flex XLC does not look like other high-end DDR2 memory.
Quoting from OCZ literature the "Flex" in Flex XLC represents the "...innovative 'flexible' design, which gives enthusiasts the option to run these modules passively or water-cooled via the integrated liquid injection system for maximum heat dissipation."
The fin assembly was designed for very effective air cooling. When water is used even better cooling is possible. The hybrid copper and aluminum water channel and fin design is designed to cool effectively whether air or water is used for cooling. As the diagram indicates, water-cooling is optional.
The Flex XLC DIMMs come ready for water hookup. The 3/8" entrance/exit nipples are an integral part of the cooling block and a standard design for water hoses. The flat top design of the heatsink/fins also makes it a "flat" surface for placing a large cooling fan over a pair or even four of these DIMMs. The Flex XLC dimms are thin enough that they can be fitted in side-by-side memory slots. We tried them on several boards and four dimms should fit just fine if you want to add even more memory. OCZ builds the new memory with specially binned Micron D memory chips mounted on an 8-layer PCB. The special binning, ultra low noise PCB, and hybrid heatsink design all contribute to overclocking capabilities.
| OCZ PC2-9200 Flex XLC Memory Specifications | |
| Number of DIMMs & Banks | 2 DS |
| DIMM Size | 1GB |
| Total Memory | 2 GB |
| Rated Timings | 5-5-5-18 at DDR2-1150 |
| Rated Voltage | 2.35V (2.4V +/- 5%) |
Flex XLC is currently only supplied as a 2GB kit (2x1GB) rated at PC2-9200 (DDR2-1150). This is the highest memory speed rating for DDR2 that we have ever tested. While Flex XLC is rated for 2.35V it is covered by the OCZ Extended Voltage Protection (EVP). This extension to the warranty provides a lifetime warranty against failure as long as the memory is operated at 2.52V or below.
While the form factor is new, it is worth repeating that OCZ is using specially binned Micron D memory chips in Flex XLC. That means the leading performance we routinely see with Micron memory chips should also be found in Flex XLC performance - along with the additional overclocking headroom designed into the product with aggressive binning and a hybrid cooling design.
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snout - Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - link
I would like to see the ocz up against the Team Group Extreme 800 mhz c3 sticks at 3.3.3.8. The memory choices at test make it (ocz) look better than it is.ZOOAIRZ - Saturday, December 30, 2006 - link
Reguarding article:http://www.anandtech.com/memory/showdoc.aspx?i=288...">http://www.anandtech.com/memory/showdoc.aspx?i=288...
Quote:
"On the nForce 680i the OCZ Flex XLC took DDR2 memory performance to a new gold standard. On Air Cooling, Flex XLC reached DDR2-1300 at the rated timings of 5-5-5-18."
OCZ Flex with the following stable ratios:
1) cpu: 3.22 (11x293) FSB: 1172 - linked 1 to 1 - RAM: 1172 Quake4 FPS: 127.3
2) cpu: 3.03 (7x433) FSB: 1733 -unlinked 1.3 to 1- RAM: 1300 Quake4 FPS: 122.1
Say one then ups the multiplier as follows and assume it is stable:
1) cpu: 3.52 (12x293) FSB:1172 - linked 1 to 1 - RAM: 1172 Quake4 FPS: ?
2) cpu: 3.46 (8x433) FSB:1733 -unlinked 1.3 to 1- RAM: 1300 Quake4 FPS: ?
Which combo is better/faster overall?
- 1) Linked (fast) FSB and RAM with slightly higher (+.05GHz) CPU speed
or
- 2) Unlinked (raging) FSB and RAM with slightly lower CPU speed?
This question comes from the following statement found in this article:
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=17384...">http://www.pcpro.co.uk/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=17384...
Quote:
Now you have your OCed system. Here is something to remember a
processor running 200*10 =2000MHz and a processor running
210*9.5=1995MHz yet the second is faster because its running a faster
FSB so it has more memory bandwidth.(note that if you have to use a
slower ram speed i.e. using the FSB:RAM ratio of 5:4 you wipe out this
increase in bandwidth)
I don't see a FSB:RAM ratio 1.3 : 1 wiping out too much bandwidth but I just don't know. I am just interested in the overall good of playing my favorite games And getting the most out of a PC. If gettting that crazy 1300 speed of the memory just sets a record, that doesn't do it for me.
Thanks in advance.
Gannon - Thursday, December 14, 2006 - link
Could we get better simpler graphs when doing these comparisons? I hate looking at having just these charts, the overlapping colored lines and dots are useful for analysis but not for someone who's time is valuable and simply wants to know whats the best at a glance and thats what you guys should be doing! Serving your users the information they want in the way they want it. Anyone interested in performance is going to go for the highest performing ram, but it's also good for those of us curious to be able to tell at a glance what different ram will buy us.i.e. the way firingsquad does graphs or the way you do it ususally when comparing FPS between video cards would be just as useful.
Beachboy - Saturday, December 9, 2006 - link
This OCZ Flex RAM is the equivalent of a chrome exhaust-pipe extension on a Hyundai... a $490 one that is, lol.Wesley Fink - Sunday, December 10, 2006 - link
For the Hyundai analogy to make sense we would have to have a BMW in DDR2 memory. The Flex XLC is as good as it gets, so it is the BMW even though it doesn't go a lot faster. The chrome exhaust extension on the Hyundai would be a matched pair of 2GB value dimms based on Elpida memory chips with flashy heatsinks. You will reach DDR2-800 just fine, but nothing over about 900. It will definitely get the job done.Of course the BMW isn't only about speed, and luxury cars sell well despite the fact that you probably would have a hard time justifying "value per dollar" on anything more than a Japanese V6. Some buyers want the handling and flexibility that comes with the best.
yyrkoon - Sunday, December 10, 2006 - link
I agree with your analogy for the most part. I guess the only real question is: "is it worth buying". Which of course, you've already answered in the article.I would think this memory would be perfect for you guys, in testing potential OC's of systems you're reviewing, other than that, IMO, it would be a waste of money.
</my_two_cents>
Wesley Fink - Sunday, December 10, 2006 - link
The Flex XLC actually DOES go a LOT faster, so the BMW analogy applies, but you don't get similarly big gains in performance with the big speed increases since our DDR2 processors are not particularly sensitive to memory bandwidth.It's sort of like a world where a 500 horse power engine doubles your speed, but 80% of the speed increase just goes to fighting the incresed head wind. It does not mean the Flex XLC is not a good design, because it definitely is as good as it gets in current DDR2 designs.
Avalon - Saturday, December 9, 2006 - link
It seems to me that it was the 680i that allowed the OCZ Flex to reach an outstanding DDR2-1300, so why not test previous memory modules to see how much further they'd also get on the new Nvidia platform? It seems only fair.Wesley Fink - Saturday, December 9, 2006 - link
We also tested on our standard platform - the Asus P5W-DH Deluxe - where the Flex reached DDR2-1172 on air cooling. That was the highest ever on that platform - the previous high was DDR2-1111. That was fair, which is why we tested on the current memory test bed.As we said in the review, we will add overclocking tests with the 680i going forward, but we will still do base testing with the 975x baord.
Avalon - Sunday, December 10, 2006 - link
Right, but my point was that many other modules might have a ton of additional headroom if placed into the 680i platform. I'm not contesting the fact that the Flex reached the highest speeds on the 975x, but that previous modules should be tested on the 680i to see how much of a difference it makes, not just for the Flex.