Memory Linux Reviews & Articles

There have been 50 Linux hardware reviews and benchmark articles on Phoronix for memory. Separately, check out our news section for related product news.

Earlier this year we had reviewed OCZ's Flex XLC memory, which was great if you planned on water cooling your memory with its Xtreme Liquid Convection heatspreaders, but if water near your computer system frights you, OCZ recently introduced a new alternative that uses a heat-pipe conduit for cooling your DDR2 memory. This cooper cooling solution is patent-pending and is designed to transfer the heat away from the memory through the copper heat-pipe and to an aluminum fin array. The memory at hand today is the OCZ DDR2 PC2-8500 Reaper HPC edition, which runs at DDR2-1066 with 5-5-5-15 timings and is backed by an OCZ lifetime warranty.

It was several months ago that we first had tested out the OCZ Flex XLC memory when we had used this DDR2 memory in Overclocking, The Natural Way. In this natural sub-zero overclocking expedition we had used OCZ's Flex XLC as our DDR2 memory of choice with an Abit AW9D motherboard, which was pushed to its death. However, we just wanted to share some more information on OCZ's Flex XLC PC2-9200 memory along with some benchmarks from Fedora 7.

With two Intel Quad-Core Clovertown processors and eight sticks of Kingston FB-DIMM DDR2 we set out to see the level of memory performance in an octal-core environment. We had tested the memory in single, dual, and quad memory channel configurations. Read this article to see how the Intel Xeon 5300 performs in various Fully Buffered Dual Inline Memory Module configurations.

Mushkin has been a long-time player in the memory industry, but the last time we had their products in our hands for testing was when previewing their Redline Heatspreaders. These heatspreaders were designed to create turbulence, to ultimately help dissipate heat. At that time they were known as the Redline Heatspreaders, but they were appropriately renamed to FrostByte. The RAM modules that we have in for testing today are the Mushkin HP2-6400 2 x 1GB kit with enhanced timings and these FrostByte heatspreaders. These memory modules have a SPD frequency of 800MHz with timings of 4-5-4-11 and supported voltages up to 2.1-2.2V. We have paired these DDR2 modules with the i975X-based Abit AW9D, and set out for some performance tests today.

Up on the review block this morning is one of Super Talent's offerings when it comes to running at DDR2-800, and is the T800UX2GC4 part to exact. This dual channel kit features two 1GB DIMMs with SPD timings of 4-4-3-8. However, this memory did not go through our labs without reaching a sticky situation.

Hot off the energy from our Athlon 64 X2 4200+ and Sempron 3400+ Linux benchmarks, today we have looked at AMD's DDR2 performance with their Socket AM2 with a slew of benchmarks.

OCZ Technology once again has hit the market with another innovative creation. Satisfying our benchmarking craves this afternoon is the OCZ DDR2 PC2-8000 Platinum XTC Enhanced Latency. Will these 1GHz DDR2 modules be the next step in desktop computing?

Last year we had the Ultra PC2-5300 memory from Golden Emperor International LTD. This memory ran respectively at DDR2-667MHz and it had maxed out at DDR2-843MHz speeds. Since then GeIL has released a new set of memory modules -- GeIL Value PC2-8000 DDR2 Dual Channel Kit. Today we have the modules that are rated to run at 1.0GHz and are designed to break the performance barrier with Intel 955X Chipsets. We have cradled the GeIL DDR2-1000MHz modules inside of an Abit AW8-MAX v1.0 and are taking these modules for the ride of their life.

Back on the first of this year, we had OCZ Technology's EL PC-4000 2GB Gold GX XTC in our penguin testing labs, and overall it fared quite well along with being accompanied by the new Xtreme Thermal Convection heatspreader. Now a week later, we are back with more GX XTC testing but now we have their recently released DDR2 modules. How do these new PC2-4200 modules perform? Well we had no troubles pushing them past DDR2-736MHz with the default being 533MHz.

OCZ's latest XTC (Xtreme Thermal Convection) heatspreaders have been receiving a fair amount of praise around the Internet, but barely any have actually bothered to dissect and explore the aluminum and mesh cooling device. With us today we have the EL DDR PC-4000 Gold GX XTC 2GB kit from the folks over at OCZ Technology.

Up on the review block today is OCZ Technology's EB DDR PC-4000 2 x 1024MB Platinum Edition. Although we have seen countless reports under Windows XP on how an extra 1024MB of system memory can be beneficial, in particular games and applications, we have done this comparison with the Linux 2.6.14 kernel and have discovered some intriguing results.

Golden Emperor International Ltd, or better known as GeIL, has facilities located in the United States, Taiwan, and China since they began offering their wares in 1997. Although GeIL may not be making as many product launches as the folks over at OCZ or Corsair, they have made their share of memory advancements. Up for review today is GeIL's Ultra PC2-5300 667MHz DDR2 Ultra 2 x 512MB Dual Channel Kit.

Although Corsair's XMS2 TWIN2X1024-8000UL memory modules, which are rated for 1000MHz compatibility on Intel-based motherboards, have taken some of the spotlight away from their famed TWIN2X1024A-5400UL modules, these DDR2-667 modules continue to be popular with enthusiasts due to their cheaper price point and phenomenal overclocking abilities. While sticking to its DDR2-675MHz speeds the memory can run at impressive 3-2-2-8 timings, and when loosening the timings they can breach the 1GHz barrier. Of course, none other than Micron's "Fatbody" D9 ICs powers these modules.

When it comes to system memory, Crucial Technology is a name that comes to mind for many enthusiasts. Unlike a majority of the other system memory manufacturers, Crucial employs its own DRAM chips manufactured by their parent company - Micron Technology. Not only does Crucial utilize Micron chips on its memory modules but it also brings fourth superior technical support and competitive prices. Up for testing in this article is Crucial's Ballistix DDR2-800 PC2-6400 2 x 512MB memory modules.

Transcend designs their system memory modules to be simple and aren't engrossed by heatspreaders or any unconventional features but simply remains on target for the normal PC hobbyist, however, will the Elpida E5108AE-5C-E ICs be able to perform anywhere close to the extravagant overclocking abilities we experienced previously by the Elpida E5108AE-6E-E parts? We'll find out today in this review and just how well these DDR2-533 modules fair for normal computer usage.

Having 2GB of system memory used to be a luxury that few could afford and was considered overkill by many, with servers and workstations only being able to effective utilize 2GB+ of RAM. Today, however, we have a 2GB Dual Channel kit that is not only geared toward normal PC users, but toward overclockers and enthusiasts, the EL DDR PC-4000 2GB Gold Edition Dual Channel.

Although Kingmax is no Corsair, Mushkin, or OCZ in the enthusiast market for that matter here in the United States, they have been quietly making memory solutions since 1989 and made quite a stir here during SDRAM days. Up for review today, we have their Mars DDR2-667 512MB modules, but with a SPD CAS Latency of five can it keep up with such low-latency alternatives as Corsair's XMS2-5400UL? Well to be frank, hell yes it can! We managed to tighten these 5-5-5-15 modules all the way to 3-3-3-8, while being completely stable on air!

Mushkin recently announced their newly designed heatspreader that will premiere with their high performance Redline modules beginning August 16. Today we have our hands on these new Mushkin Redline heatspreaders, and have plenty of additional pictures along with a few words regarding their improved design and appearance.

Overclockers and enthusiasts these days usually pursue one of two goals: to reach DDR600+ memory speeds at slightly relaxed timings, or to maintain tight 2-2-2-5 timings while pushing up to around DDR520+ speeds. If you're looking for the latter, then OCZ's new Gamer eXtreme PC-3500 might be the perfect modules for you.

Built upon years of experience, will OCZ's Titanium series continue in the same success shared by the Gold and Platinum performance memory modules? In this review, we'll be trying out the OCZ EL DDR PC-3200 Dual Channel Titanium system memory. This memory runs at 2-3-2-5 while conforming to PC-3200 DDR speeds and featuring Enhanced Latency Technology and an OCZ PowerSwap warranty. Will this be the new ideal RAM for gamers and enthusiasts alike?