Test Setup & Methodology

After my previous reviews, using 2x 1Gb modules, and looking for the compatibility issues I had with my barebone system, the thing that caught my eye, was a performance drop of 1-5% when using switching to 2x1Gb compared to 2x512Mb. Odd fact was, that Memtest86 mentioned a higher bandwidth for 2x 1Gb than the 2x 512Mb modules.

The larger modules showed a disadvantage using my old faithful DFI NF4-Ultra-D, and RDX200 CF-DR when using exactly the same timings in the same benchmarks, as long they don`t need more than 1Gb.

After talking to some technicians from DFI at Cebit, they confirmed this, although an explanation on this phenomenon was not given other than it having something to do with optimization issues. They told me they were working on a new bios, which will remove this last hurdle and make their boards fully optimized for both 2x 512Mb and 2x 1Gb modules.

Their latest motherboard, the CFX3200-DR, will be the base for this review as it is fully optimized for both using 2x 512Mb and 2x 1Gb modules. I used bios revision R5D-043C, as it was the only one which could run all modules without issues. Switching out my SATA Maxtor for a PATA model allowed for ~15Mhz increase in FSB.

Berry?s Test Setup
CPU	AMD Athlon 64 3700+ (San Diego core) - Thermalright XP-90C
Mainboard	DFI CFX3200-DR
Video	Sapphire X1900XT running at 650/750
Other	Maxtor Pata Max10 160Gb Nec DVDWriter 3540 Silverstone TJ-06 (with Noiseblocker SE2 120mm fans) OCZ Powerstream 520

For reference I?ve included three 2x512Mb kits, one from OCZ, one from Corsair and the last from Team Group.

OCZ Platinum Rev2 TCCD (Max out at 289 2,5-3-3-6 2.85V)


Corsair 3200LL`s CH5 (Max out at 257 2-3-2-6 3,3V)


Team TXDR1024 2,5-4-4-8 400 BH5 (Max out at 223 2-2-2-5 3,4V)


Timings were set fully manual for each memory kit.

Benchmarks and Applications used

SP2004 by Johnny

Memtest86 (Integrated in Bios)

Everest Ultimate 2.5

Sisoft Sandra

Cinebench2003

Sciencemark2

SuperPi mod1.4

3Dmark03

3Dmark05

3Dmark06

Aquamark3

HalfLife2 Lost Coast

X3 demo

In all the data tables and performance charts I?ve abbreviated the names of the modules to:

Adata UCCC ? Extreme Edition 2x1Gb Kit

Team CE5 ? 2x1Gb Kit

OCZ TCCD ? Platinum Rev2 2x512Mb Kit

Team BH5 - 2x512Mb Kit

Corsair CH5 ? LL 2x512Mb Kit