(4 star rating)

OCZ Value PC3200 512MB (OCZ4001024V3DC) - great value memory for all types of users

Background
I recently purchased a custom built PC, and one of the stipulations I had before ordering the PC was that I be able to choose the components used in the system. I had done quite a bit of research prior to ordering the system, and the RAM I chose was two sticks of the OCZ Premier Value Series 512MB PC3200. Before finally deciding on the type of RAM I wanted, I went back and forth between choosing a value series or a high-performance series. The value series for most brands of RAM is designed to provide bang-for-your buck, while the performance series is usually the top of the line component that offers the highest level of performance. The value series is, of course, less expensive than the high-performance series. I struggled because I kept coming back to the fact that RAM really plays an integral part of the overall performance of your system. RAM keeps the data moving from the CPU to the other components in your PC, and thus is an absolutely critical component from a performance standpoint. If you have slow RAM, it will be a bottleneck limiting the speed of your PC in every single application or game you run.

I wanted to build the fastest system I could afford (with a pre-determined budget amount). In the end, though, the difference in performance just did not justify the difference in cost. Most high-performance RAM was at least 50% higher in price, while only offering a relatively small performance boost (10% - 20% at best in Synthetic benchmarks, and only a few percentage points of improvement in real world game and application benchmarks) over the value series. After deciding on the value series, I narrowed it down to two brands  Corsair or OCZ. Both brands have good reputations for offering good performance and good reliability. In my previous system, I used the Corsair value series and was very happy with the results. In the end, my final decision came down to the fact that I could get the OCZ at a better price. When you have a set budget that you cannot exceed, the lower priced component trumps all.

Basic information
This RAM is PC3200 or DDR 400(Double Data Rate). This means that, while it really only operates at a speed of 200 MHz, it operates at an effective speed of 400 MHz when set to operate in Dual Channel mode. This effective speed is achieved by doubling the amount of data that can be transmitted by the RAM. What does this mean to the average consumer who has a DDR capable motherboard? It means that you should purchase and install two of the same DDR memory sticks to achieve the best level of performance.

This OCZ memory offers a CAS latency of 3, with default timing settings of 3-4-4-8. A long explanation would be needed to explain these specifications, but I will summarize it by saying that these are average timings when compared to other value RAM offered by other brands.

The following are additional manufacturer specifications for this memory:
Brand: OCZ
Series: Premier Value
Model: OCZ4001024V3DC-K
Type: 184-Pin DDR SDRAM
Capacity: 1GB (2x512MB)
Speed: DDR 400 (PC 3200)
Cas Latency: 3
Timing: 3-4-4-8
Voltage: 2.6V
Bandwidth
ECC: No
Registered/Unbuffered: Unbuffered
Heat Spreader: No
Manufacturer Warranty: Lifetime

Included in the box

1) 512MB memory stick (in my case, 2x512MB memory sticks)

That s it! Don't expect any brand of memory to come with a user manual or instruction manual, etc. since it is a component that is very simple to install and to use.

Installation
Installation of the RAM is very simple and should only take you 5-10 minutes. You may need to refer to the manual to make sure that you are installing it into the correct memory slots on your motherboard. In order for it to operate in Dual Channel mode, you may need to install each memory stick in a specific slot in your motherboard. Most motherboards have 4 slots, so this should not be very complicated.

All you have to do is open up your PC case, slide the RAM into the open memory slots on your motherboard, and then make sure it clamps into place. That is all there is to it - no drivers or other software installation is needed. Once you close up your PC case and boot up your system, your BIOS should recognize the newly installed RAM and you should be ready to go without any extra steps needed. If you want to verify that Windows has recognized the new memory, you can always go to Start -> Control Panel -> System and then verify that the amount of RAM listed in the section titled Computer is correct.

My use of the memory and Performance Results
I have gotten satisfactory results with this memory. It has performed well enough and has met my expectations. It is able to run all of the games and applications I use without causing any problems. In short, it remains behind the scenes and does its job well - just what I expect RAM to do.

Here are the performance results I have gotten using a couple standard benchmarking programs:

Everest Home 2.20:
Memory Read: 5381 MB/s
Memory Write: 1503 MB/s

SiSoft Sandra 2005:
Int: 2836
Float: 2820

I was also able to lower the timings to 2.5-3-3-7 and verify that my system was stable at those memory speed settings. To verify stability, I ran Folding@Home for over 2 days straight without experiencing any issues.

Conclusion
Overall, I am happy with the OCZ Premier Value Series memory. It has performed well at the default speeds and is capable of running at overclocked speeds. It has been reliable and I have not had any issues with the memory at all. With a lifetime manufacturer warranty and a reasonable price, I think that it is a good value for PC3200 memory.