Proizvodnja DDR2 memorije je danas na takvoj razini da je na tržištu bez problema naći brojne DDR2 module koji rade na osjetno višim postavkama od onih definiranih od strane JEDEC-a. Jedna od takvih memorija je je G.SKILL F2-8500CL5D-2GBHK. Iza kriptičnog imena skriva se paket od dvije pločice DDR2 memorije s kapacitetom od po jednog gigabajta. Memorija je predviđena za rad na taktu od 1066 MHz pri naponu od 2.3 do 2.4 volta uz latencije standardne za običnu 800-megahercnu memoriju – CAS 5-5-5-15 2T. Ovakve postavke je dakako potrebno podesiti ručno, no u slučaju da ste sretni vlasnik ploče bazirane na nForce 680i SLI čipsetu, zahvaljujući SLI EPP postavkama, G.SKILL-ova memorija proradit će na višem taktu automatski.

Ipak, pravi test za svaku memoriju koja je namijenjena entuzijastima je ručno forsiranje maksimalnih postavki. G.SKILL-ova memorija nas u ovom pogledu nije razočarala pa smo je bez problema natjerali da radi na taktu od 1155 MHz uz latencije CAS 5-5-5-15 T2 i uz napon od 2.4 volta što je uredno najviša vrijednost napon podržana od strane proizvođača. Ako ste pak skloniji forsirati agresivne latencije, a ne takt, G.SKILL-ovi moduli se ni tu ne drže loše. Uz 1.9 volta naš je testni kit proradio na taktu od 800 MHz uz CAS 4-4-4-10 1T, a postavljanjem Command Ratea na 2T i povećanjem napona uspjeli smo dogurati do takta od 1060 MHz.

G.SKILL-ove proizvode nažalost nije moguće kupiti u Hrvatskoj, no prema online trgovini Newegg, testirani kit G.SKILL F2-8500CL5D-2GBHK je 20% skuplji od OCZ-ove Platinum PC2-8500 memorije koja ima jednake tvorničke specifikacije kao G.SKILL-ova memorija. G.SKILL-ova memorija doduše nudi nešto bolji maksimalni overclock, no držimo da to nije opravdanje za takvu razliku u cijeni.

Conclusion

Manufacturing process for DDR2 memory is today on such high level that market is saturated with various high-performance memory modules that have considerably faster specifications than those defined by JEDEC. One such high performace memory is G.SKILL F2-8500CL5D-2GBHK. Behind the cryptic name is dual-channel memory kit consisted of two identical 1GB memory modules which are rated for operation on 1066 MHz with latencies CAS 5-5-5-15 T2, standard for "normal" DDR2 800MHz memory. Voltage required to achieve such specs is between 2.3 and 2.4 volts. Of course, such specification need to be forced via BIOS but, if you are proud owner of motherboard based on nForce 680i SLI chipset, BIOS will automatically configure memory for faster operation via SLI EPP data embedded in G.SKILL’s memory.

Of course, what really matters for any hard-core enthusiast is how high memory will go if we overclock it manually. G.SKILL didn’t fail to meet our expectations, we managed to overclock our samples to 1155 MHz while keeping CAS 5-5-5-15 2T. We used 2.4 volts to achieve this result as that is maximal voltage supported by G.SKILL. We could have probably pushed memory even further, but that would require higher voltage and active cooling of memory modules. If you prefer pushing agressive latencies above raw clock speed, we are happy to say that we managed to push G.SKILL’s kit to CAS 4 combined with Command Rate 1T with only 1.9 volts. Unfortunately, such specs are possible only if you don’t mind keeping clock on 800 MHz or below. Recipee for pushing this memory beyond 800 MHz with CAS 4 is dropping Command Rate to 2T. Maximal clock we managed to obtain with such latencies and with pushing voltage to 2.2 volts is 1060 MHz.

Sadly, currently no one sells G.SKILL products in Croatia but we hope that will change in the future. Considering that, we can’t compare price of G.SKILL F2-8500CL5D-2GBHK dual-channel kit with similar products available in croatian computer shops. On the other hand, if we take a look on Newegg, one of the largest US e-tailers, quick search reveales that G.SKILL F2-8500CL5D-2GBHK kit is about 20% more expensive than OCZ Platinum SLI Ready PC2-8500 kit we reviewed some time ago. Altough G.SKILL’s kit offers somewhat higher maximal overclock, factory specifications and duration of warranty are same for both kits, so we see no real explanation for considerably higher price of G.SKILL’s kit.