• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Mushkin Redline PC4000 vs OCZ PC4000 VX?

A

AndrewZorn

Senior member
Mushkin Redline PC4000 vs OCZ PC4000 VX?

Supposedly CAS + tRCD + 2 should be the minimum setting for tRAS. Else, memory is actually SLOWED DOWN.

Example:
2-2-2-5, 2+2+2=6 6>5, so 2-2-2-6 is faster.

I found this interesting, but here is the greater issue.
Right now I have in the mail OCZ PC4000 VX. Timings are 2-2-2-8, and tRAS of 6 has been reported. I found out about Mushkin Redline a bit too late. Timings are 2-2-2-5, and have been reported with a 1.5 CAS timing! Now here is the thing...

OCZ: 2+2+2=6 ...If a tRAS of 6 truly can be acheived, then that is perfect.
Mushkin: 1.5+2+2=5.5 ...You cannot set tRAS to .5 increments, so basically timings of 1.5-2-2-6 would be better.

This 'evens up' the memory a bit.

Let me make it very clear that since it is still the weekend, I have time to cancel my order for the Mushkin and let the OCZ arrive as planned. If I do not cancel the Mushkin, I'll let both arrive, but I'll be turning the OCZ around for a refund, costing me about $6 in shipping.
The Mushkin costs about $10 more (I bought my OCZ a bit earlier so these are the 'me prices').
So all in all, about $16 to get Mushkin instead of OCZ. The $16 doesn't really bother me, I am just trying to figure out the better memory. I have read reviews mostly said the Mushkin is better; I plan to OC to either 250x11 or maybe even 265x10 or something.

Help appreciated, but please respond as soon as possible considering my situation; I have an order that is going to be shipped out and uncancellable Monday!

EDIT
My to-be specs are:
4400+ Toledo / 7700cu
DFI Lanparty SLI-DR
BFG 7800gtx
Tagan 480w-U22
TT Tsunami
 
Both use the same winbond chips and same brainpower PCB, its just a luck of the draw thing w/ their overclocking / timings potentiol w/ high voltage, the main difference between the 2 is the heatspreader, you can't really go wrong w/ either and I wouldn't bother canceling one order already in to get another of basicly the same memory.
 
how can the mushkin have a lower CAS and tRAS?
should i get the mushkin solely because it allows higher voltage under its warranty?

if they are the same then of course ill save my $16, but of course I really want to know..
 
so basically buying the mushkin is kind of guaranteeing a faster version of the OCZ?
i mean i know that random variation could be enough to differentiate the sticks, but the fact that mushkin is rated higher in just about all the reviews i read makes me tend to think something is up...
 
I built a system with the OCZ's and I was able to get them 2-2-2-6 at ddr500 after a few days burn in. They have 0 errors memtest at 3.3volts without acitve cooling. I am sure they will go further, but I will probably need a fan blowing on them.
 
if the mushkin does perform better, im willing to drop the extra cash for it. the only real thing that bothers me is the anandtech article that really only showed mushkin on top at FULL speeds, and i dont know ill be able to hit such marks on air cooling although i plan to OC as high as possible.

so the mushkin is basically the same thing, but newer. apparently even though recommended voltage for ocz is 3.3, they warrant up to 3.675v. So pretty much both are the same, except mushkin is newer... and thats what gets me thinking...

but yes please i really appreciate the help i have to kind of make a decision in the next couple hours or so
 
a couple things, cas 1.5 is an illusion, a64's memory controllers don't recognize, its just a bios tweak, it is actually slower than cas 2
most high quality ram will be able to do tras 5-11, it just a matter of what they list, some ram may prefer a certain tras but overall its not that important

the 2 have the same IC's, if the redline warranty is for higher volts, it might be better for peace of mind
 
does the redline have higher volt warranty?
i doubt they can really tell/complain about +/- .1v so im not worried about that, both seem 'sufficient'

i havent dealt with mushkin but ocz customer support is incredible, i bought ocz gold 4000el once and i didnt get good overclocks, they upgraded me to rev2 for free... THAT is awesome

but it seems like if redline is newer and it uses the same stuff, chances are i have better overclocking luck, right?

ill only be using air cooling via a 7700cu, so does that rule out 260fsb or above anyway?

ive heard 2-2-2-6 is better than -5 is this true also

EDIT and even a 4400+ toledo cant use CAS 1.5? weird
 
ok... apparently NE works on sundays!
too late to cancel order, so i guess im getting the redline!

thanks NE for forcing me to make the right decision... kind of...
 
1.5 is a bios tweak, its more for stability for certain chips, i use 2-2-2-6, the dfi nf4 board has an ideal of tras 6-8
 
let's look at this situation this way...
I HAVE BOTH... which one do I send back?

im thinking this is mos-def the mushkin.

im also considering just seeing which one performs better, but i dont know if i feel bad opening it then returning one for a refund like that.
 
Either will work. I'd go for whichever is cheaper. Keep in mind that RAM like the OCZ EL Platinum Rev. 2 PC3200 DDR RAM runs better at 2-2-2-7 than at 2-2-2-5 per memtest86 benchmarks (look it up on Anandtech). What I'm trying to point out is that it's not always the lowest timings that are the best. It's best just to memtest on an assortment of timings and use the best.

Pertaining to the RAM in question, I know that both the OCZ and the Mushkin run fantastically on the DFI nF4 mainboards, so I'd go with whichever is cheaper (I'd assume that the Mushkin is cheaper, but I've been wrong before).

Keep us posted (no pun intended).
 
I would take Redline myself, but that's more of a personal thing - and it DID beat VX in anand's roundup, though only by the skin on it's teeth. Either way you've got some great memory 🙂
 
Save some bucks and get value ram. Unless benchmarking is your thing high speed ram provides very little performance on A64's
 
i didnt expect the order for the mushkin to ship out sunday, so i have to return something... that will cost ~$6. I'd get back about $10 if i returned the mushkin and kept the ocz

i spend this much on ram because i spent that much on the comp and i want to overclock it quite a bit.

$10 is not a lot to me, next time i grocery shop i just wont buy chips... you know? i just dont want to regret anything. i want the best RAM.
 
But for the amount of money you spent on that RAM you could get 2GB of RAM. I would takes 2GB of Value RAM over 1GB of that stuff anyday.
 
You dont seem to understand Kooldrew, some people want the best.

My to-be specs are:
4400+ Toledo / 7700cu
DFI Lanparty SLI-DR
BFG 7800gtx
Click to expand...

Winbound UTT is noticably faster than the value stuff at 2-2-2-5.

Read anandtechs VX review.

2GB?

Screw that, i'm not buying 2 Gb for the POS EA Engine to get better frames in BF2.

 
Originally posted by: KoolDrew
BF2 is not the only thing that can benefit from 2GB of RAM.
Click to expand...


Tell me games that are out right now that cant run smoothly with 1GB.

HL2?

Doom3?

Farcry?

 
FORGET VALUE RAM.
I want good ram, that can be overclocked high.
Spending $100 a stick is ok with me, again, look at the system.

So which should I return? Read the anandtech review, but it disagrees with every other review on the internet (which says the mushkin beats it all around)

my gut says return the ocz as planned, im just kind of making sure about it though.
 
i think the mushkin will serve me better since it is basically a newer version of the VX. as i said, newegg shipped my order on sunday, which makes no sense, but it means i am in fact stuck returning one of them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top