If this RAM looks familiar, there is no doubt that you have seen OCZ modules. XtremeDDR uses the same kind of heat spreaders as OCZ, and they look great. They didn't scratch like the other heat spreaders I have used, which attests to their durability. Other than the heatspreaders there isn't anything very unique about the aesthetics of this memory. I was kind of upset that the memory wasn't packaged in nice plastic container or tin, to protect it during shipping, but that is a very minor issue.
The sticker on the XtremeDDR memory tells us a lot about the module. The PC2700DDR typing explains that the memory is guaranteed to run at 166 MHz DDR, which is effectively 333 MHz. When the memory Frontside Bus is running at 333 MHz, the peak bandwidth is 2700 MB/s, hence the PC2700 designation. The PC2100 and PC2700 designations are a fine example of marketing at its very best. If DDR memory followed the same naming patterns as every other memory standard, it would be PC266 and PC333. Why not stick with standard naming? PC2700 sounds faster, doesn't it?
The next portion of the sticker indicates the actual amount of memory on the module. Ours was a single-sided 256 MB module. Single-sided memory tends to lend itself to overclocking more than its double-sided counterparts. Why? More chips processing information tends to equal more heat being produced. When memory produces heat it tends to get caught between the chips themselves and the module. The more heat is produced, the more overheating occurs. Thankfully the heatspreaders on the memory help reduce heat by a couple of degrees Celsius.
The SAM/B3 lettering indicates who manufactured the chips that are on the module. In this case, the SAM means Samsung. The B3 is the actual type of chips being used. The B3 chips on this module are rated at 6 nanoseconds, which means that the RAM takes 6 nanoseconds to complete a command. Samsung memory has been very popular amongst PC enthusiasts for quite some time now, as their memory has proven to be quite stable and perform very well. Corsair Micro, OCZ and XtremeDDR all use Samsung memory in their newest DDR modules. Unfortunately, the XtremeDDR modules will not work properly in many MSI and Asus KT333 boards. In talks with officials at XtremeDDR and MSI it was explained to me that this is a known issue and that it stems down to an error in the manufacturing process of the mainboards. Keep this in mind if you plan on buying an MSI or Asus board. Of note, MSI and Asus use the same fabrication plants for their products. There is good news, though. Xtreme guarantees their memory to run in the Epox, Abit, and Iwill KT333 mainboards. The official list may be found at the .
XtremeDDR doesn't adhere to the PC2700 standard. XtremeDDR actually exceeds the JEDEC standard for PC2700 memory. The module is based on a six-layer PCB, while the JEDEC only calls for a four-layer PCB. The JEDEC doesn't require heatspreaders either, yet XtremeDDR has that base covered anyway. Simply put, let OEM's worry about the JEDEC standard. As an enthusiast you should only worry about what counts and that's stability and performance.
Tests
Test System
Abit KX7333
ATi Radeon 8500 128 MEG
XtremeDDR PC2700 256 MB x 1
OCZ PC2700 256 MB x 1
Corsair XMS2700 256 MB x 1
AMD Athlon 1400 unlocked
Windows XP Professional
Test Software
SiSoft Sandra
QuickTech 2000
OnTrack Utilites Deep RAM test
3D mark 2001 SE
Test 1 SiSoft Sandra 2002
In order to test the RAM I used the Abit KX7-333, which is known for its overclocking prowess. First we will be taking a look at some SiSoft Sandra 2002 Standard benchmark results. Each test was done immediately following a reboot with no other software running in the background. Unnecessary Windows XP services were also disabled for testing. We tested with only one module for stability and overclocking purposes. During tests the processor was kept at or under 1400 MHz via the multiplier so that processor stress would not be a factor in our tests.
333 MHz Cas 2 1T command
As you can see, the Corsair and XtremeDDR modules are running neck and neck. For some reason the OCZ fails to stay within a 10 MB/S range with either module.
374 MHZ Cas 2 1T command
The Corsair and XtremeDDR continue to squeeze out the performance and manage to earn their PC2700 ratings. The OCZ managed to get up to 182 MHz before general instability and crashes began to occur. Quite impressive scores came from the Xtreme memory, and the stuff overclocked quite nicely.
Test 2 Quicktech Pro 2000
While it is not a benchmark, Quicktech pro is a sure-fire way to stress your memory out. The tests completed without a hitch on every pass. It wasn't until I pushed the memory past 187 MHz when less aggressive memory settings had to be applied. At 198 MHz, the test failed to complete.
Test 3 3D Mark 2001 SE
Today's video cards are very powerful. So powerful, in fact, that they are no longer the bottleneck when it comes to gaming. What is the bottleneck? With the Athlon XP only running on a 266 MHz Frontside Bus, many say the processor is the bottleneck. I agree, although the RAM is also a major bottleneck. What happens when we make the bottleneck a little wider?
While installing PC2700 XtremeDDR memory didn't exactly light up the scores, the improvements are quite noticeable. I think a 400-point improvement is quite nice for a simple memory upgrade.
Final Words
So where does XtremeDDR stand against the likes of Corsair and OCZ? XtremeDDR, while being new to the market, obviously knows what it takes to please PC enthusiasts. I was very pleased with the performance of the memory, as it only trailed the Corsair by a very small margin while beating out the OCZ memory by a pretty decent margin. The stability of the RAM was on the same level of the Corsair memory, crashing only when pushed over 396 MHz DDR, while the OCZ memory choked when pushed to 366 MHz DDR. Getting an extra 30 MHz out of this RAM was quite easy, and it was able to complete a 12 hour Sandra memory loop test at 376 MHz DDR running the most aggressive memory timings. After 376 MHz DDR I had to change the timings to CAS 2.5 and at 382 MHZ DDR I was forced to run the RAM at 2T command. The fact that the XtremeDDR memory was able to run at the most aggressive memory settings up to 376 MHz DDR proves how good it really is. I can only think of two problems with this memory. The fact that it will not run in Asus or MSI KT333 mainboards is a huge letdown. Another problem is that XtremeDDR is a brand new company, so some people may be afraid of buying from them. If you are looking for a stick of high performance memory and don't want to deal with crashes, pick up a stick of XtremeDDR at Silver Bullet PC.
PROS
High Performing
Stable
Insane overclocking prowess
CONS
Not cheap, but the best stuff rarely is
Not widely available as of yet
Bottom Line
On the short list of memory I would trust in my rig there was previously one name, Corsair. Add Xtreme to the list. Their RAM was fast and did everything advertised and more. If you got any comments, be sure to hit us up in our forums.
