Originally posted by: Replay
Test everything you buy, if you can (NF2 mobo & unlocked chip is great for that). Ram is a bit like the CPU market, where a 1700XP 1.46 GHz might do 2.2 GHz. They can only sell so much of the expensive high grade ram. Plus speeds and yields should continue to rise with process improvements. So your PC2100 stick might do over 200 MHz, as many of mine do. And a newer chips, with -7 -75 markings, may beat out an older -6 chip. Testing is the only way to tell.
Well that may well be for CPUs, but from what I've read, on AT's memory reviews, and people's comments, it seems as though the DRAM being made today is actually of lesser quality than it used to be.
The best-performing DRAM, at least in terms of desktop DDR memory and timings, was arguably Winbond's BH5/BH6 chip series. Sadly, they don't even make them any more, because they've exited the market. So have several other previously first-tier DRAM mfgs.
See, the one thing in this equation of quality/price/new tech, that you didn't point out is, the Koreans (mainly), have increased their production/supply, and lowered their prices, in an attempt to corner the global commidity DRAM market. This is much like any other tech mfg sector. There are certain players in the market, that produce _quality_ goods, and refuse to do otherwise, lest their brand reputation suffer. The flip side of that is, they require a certain market price/profit margin in order to continue production of that product for that market. If the market price is eventually forced too low, say, by lower-quality mfgs flooding the market with inferior product, then they may be forced to exit the market because of lack of sustainable profitability.
This is what happened with the CDRW market. Yamaha left the market, because they produced a quality product, and refused to compete on price alone against the producers from China and Taiwan. Most of the first-tier major mfgs in the CDRW market are completely gone now. Plextor is the exception. Instead of continuing to produce quality products, they decided to compete on price alone as well, and most of their product line is made in China now.
The same thing has also happened in the DRAM market. Winbond has left, and I think NEC and Toshiba have also left, although I think Toshiba has a technology-licensing agreement with one of the other mfgs.
Meanwhile, Goldstar/LGS, Samsung, Hynix, and some company called "powerchip", along with Micron, produce the majority of DRAM product on the market now.
So as technology advances, and prices go down, well, unfortunately, so does the quality. (For example, look at monitors. 19" CRT monitors built today, are far cheaper than they used to be 5-8 years ago. They are also largely completely CRAP, at least IMHO, having used first-tier monitors from ages ago, and having very sensitive eyesight.)
(Sorry for the long rant, but it had to be said.)
Originally posted by: ReplayMy 148 Mhz Spectek -6a stick has what looks like a smear of white-out across one of the small labels. Probably covering the PC2700 designation. This is my 1st Spectek branded stick, and my worst stick. Spectek -6 chips on some PNY PC2100 do 193 194 MHz. A Spectek stick may be made from Spectek ram which Micron cannot sell to any major players in the biz.
VirtualLarry, that recent Kingston 216 Mhz pc2100 stick is "-7" USA noname ram. OM B&M.
Sure it's from USA? The DIMMs with no-branded chips said "Made in China" on the sticker.
Interesting testing stats, thanks.
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