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By Oneslowz28 at 2010-08-04 08:45
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By: Charles Gantt ( Oneslowz28 )
Continuing my RAM review series, I take a look at a low cost high performance DDR3 dual channel kit that is strenuously tested at the factory to provide you with a more stable system and lower temperatures. Oh and did I mention it can easily be overclocked to 2000MHz? ...more...
I recently asked GEIL to recommend a DDR 3 kit that would be blazingly fast and still not break the budget. Two weeks later a box containing their Evo One PC3-14400 1800MHz C8 DUAL CHANNEL 2 x 2GB kit was delivered. My first impression was “Man is that some tall RAM!” This was my first kit that had a heat spreader that extended above the PBC. If you have a huge CPU cooler such as the Noctua NH-D14, Cooler Master V6 GT, or Thermaltake’s Frio you will have to use the two DIMM slots farthest from the CPU.
GEIL's EVOONE is a fairly plain looking stick of RAM. Apart from looking taller than other traditional RAM modules, it just looks RAM with like flat black heat spreader. GEIL does spice things up a little bit with a machined aluminum logo that is glued to the center of each side of the heat spreader. The lack of "bling" does not bother me one bit as there has been what seems to be what I can only describe as a "stigma" to bright flashy PCs in the current enthusiast community. Personally I prefer a big, flashy computer who's appearance screams "I am way faster than you". In my opinion the performance and reliability of the EVOONE series more than makes up for it's lack of "bling". Furthermore with more PC cases being manufactured with the full flat black paint job, these RAM modules will blend right in, furthering the clean look. While not on the official supported motherboard list, I can report that the EVOONE series does indeed work fine on my Gigabyte GA-890FXA-UD5 motherboard.
MTCD
Some of you will remember the EVOONE series from 2008, when GEIL debuted it in their gaming DDR2 series. It was a huge hit among games across the world. So much so, they decided to bring it back with DDR3. The EVOONE line utilizes a heat spreader that extends a full DIMM height above the PCB. Running the length of the RAM is a heatpipe which is embedded into the heat spreader with a fin array in the center. This drastically improves heat dissipation. GEIL calls this Evo One MTCD (Maximized Thermal Conduction & Dissipation). Below is what GEIL Describes MTCD as.
“MTCD Technology –
The maximized-flat-surface heat sink is made from aluminum, which is contacting the IC (memory) chips through an enhanced thermal adhesive. The high thermal energy (heat) generated from the IC chips, is efficiently being transferred to the lower temperature heat sink, which has a much greater heat capacity. This rapid transfer of thermal energy quickly brings the IC into thermal equilibrium, thus lowering the temperature of the working IC chips. The thermal energy on the heat sink is then transferred to the copper heat pipe, a hollow tube containing water. As the liquid inside the heat pipe transfers the heat to the cool end, it condenses to the center of the heat pipe under capillary force. There, the heat is transferred to an array of copper fins located in the center of the heat pipe. The array of fins maximizes the surface area contacting the air, is where the high coefficient heat dissipation takes place. While the EVOONE Heat Sink System is static, the airflow created by the fans inside the computer chassis will aid the heat sink by providing increased airflow over and through the heat sink. When two (Dual Channel) or four (Quad Channel) modules are being used, the fin openings of each module together form a tunnel-like mechanism, which maximize heat dissipation. We call this the "wind-tunnel effect" (see image below). Thus leaving the working IC cool through natural convection”
{thermal Image here}
DBT
GEIL’s EVOONE is also unique in another way in that every module is tested and burnt-in using DBT (Die-hard Burn-in Technology). Basically GEIL places 1000 RAM modules in an oven called a “Burn-in Chamber” and stresses them with a 100% load. The ovens temperature is raised to 100C and let run for up to 24 hours. All RAM modules that fail before a certain point in the testing process are tossed in the bad bin. The result is a more reliable and stable RAM module being shipped to the customer. This DBT technology allows better RAM to leave the factory, which results in higher and more stable overclocks.
Features and Specs
- DDR3 1800MHz CAD7 or CAS8 Dual Channel
- Available in 2GB(1GBx2) & 4GB(2GBx2) Dual Channel Package
- Available CAS: 7-7-7-28, 8-8-8-28
- FBGA 64Mx8 and 128Mx8 DDR3 Chips
- 240 pin, Non-ECC, Un-buffered DIMM
- Working Voltage :
- 1800MHz C7 : 1GBx2: 1.8V ; 2GBx2: 1.9V
- 1800MHz C8 : 1GBx2: 1.6/1.8V ; 2GBx2: 1.6/1.9V*
- Heat Spreader：EVO ONE heat-spreader with MTCD Technology
- DBT （Die-hard Burn-in Technology) Enhanced
- Lifetime Warranty
*Please check for the working voltage on the specification label of the actual product. Contact GeIL Tech Support if you need further assistance.
Photos
GEIL packages the RAM in a plastic clam shell, which is then enclosed in this box.
GEIL EVOONE DDR3
GEIL recommends adjusting your DRAM voltage to the voltage listed on each module for the best performance.
Testing and Benchmarks
Testing Methodology - I test all ram modules in the 2 slots closest to the CPU and I run all benchmarks from a clean install of Windows 7 Ultimate x64. Temperatures are taken at several points during testing and then averaged. Temps are taken with a non contact thermometer. Ambient room temp is taken from averaging several temperature readings from within the room. Ambient case temp is taken 2 inches from the back of the drive bays, where I feel the air flow is the most significant.
Testing System:
- AMD Phenom II X4 965BE 140w
- Gigabyte GA-890FXA-UD5
- 4GB GEIL EVOONE @ 1800MHz 8, 8, 8, 28
- EVGA 8800 GTS 512MB
- Custom Water Cooling: Danger Den TDX MC, Black Ice SR1 240, CPX Pro
- Cooler Master Silent Pro Gold 800w
- Plextor PX-B320SA Blu-ray combo drive
- OCZ Agility 2 SSD 50GB
- 1x Segate 500gb, 2x WD Green 500GB
- NZXT Sentry 2
- Cooler Master HAF X with 4 230mm fans and 1 140mm fan.
Other Information- Ambient Room Temp: 21c
- Ambient Case Temp:24c
I tested the ram using Sisoft Sandra 2010. A Latency of 77.4ns (Nano Seconds) was reported followed by a Cache/Memory Bandwidth of 53.533GB/s. If you would like to see the actual Sandra graphs, click the following links. 1, 2, 3, and 4. Please note that GEIL recommends adjusting your systems DRAM voltage to the specified voltage marked on each DIMMs ID sticker. In my case that voltage was 1.6V.
To test temperatures I placed a temperature probe from my NZXT Sentry 2 between the ram modules. I let the machine idle for 30 minutes and recorded a temperature of 32.4c. Next I loaded GTA IV and gamed for approximately 45 minutes. The highest temperature I recorded was 38c.
Conclusion
The GEIL EVOONE PC3-14400 kit performed exceptionally well, and he MTCD heat sink was very efficient at removing heat. I was surprised at the difference in performance I noticed using every day programs such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Fireworks, and Microsoft Office Excel, but where the EVO ONE really shined was during gaming. I noticed games loaded faster, I was able to access menus much faster, and even my frame rates improved a little. The EVOONE DDR3 1800MHz kit would benefit anyone with slower 1066MHz or even 1333MHz kits. I spent just over 3 weeks torturing this ram and it held up flawlessly. Even with my very minute knowledge of RAM overclocking I was able to hit 2000MHz, which is a huge accomplishment for me. With that said, I happy to give this RAM kit a 5/5 rating.
You can purchase this RAM kit from Newegg.com for about $110.00.
This product was provided free of charge by its manufacturer for the purpose of review.
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