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PQI Turbo PQI25400-1GDB DDR-2 Memory Review
PQI Turbo PQI25400-1GDB DDR-2 Memory Review - PCSTATS
Officially rated to run at PC5400 speeds, or DDR2-667, the PQI Turbo memory uses conservative timings of 4-4-4-12 by default.
 90% Rating:   
Filed under: Memory Published:  Author: 
External Mfg. Website: PQI Memory Oct 28 2004   C. Sun  
Home > Reviews > Memory > PQI Memory PQI25400-1GDB

PQI Turbo PQI25400-1GDB DDR-2 Memory Review

When DDR memory was first introduced back in 2001, all everyone did was worry about compatibility, compatibility and compatibility. That was because right from the very beginning, the DDR standard was in a fight for its life against a much larger opponent in RAMBUS and their proprietary RDRAM technology. Of course we know who was eventually victorious, but back then, DDR's victory was not assured.

This time around there are no challengers to the introduction of the DDR2 standard, so manufacturers have a bit of freedom in the way they do things. Considering early adopters of new technology are primarily enthusiasts, it makes sense for companies to get their enthusiast-calibre wares out as quickly as possible.

While not as well known as some of the other manufacturers, PQI has been in business since 1998 and produces a wide variety of memory based products from simple DIMM's to flash card readers.

Today PCStats has the opportunity to play with some of PQI's latest and greatest in the form of their Turbo PQI25400-1GDB dual channel memory kit. Officially rated to run at PC5400 speeds, or DDR2-667, the PQI Turbo memory uses conservative timings of 4-4-4-12 by default; it seems companies from Corsair to Crucial, Kingston and OCZ are being conservative with their ratings these days.

PQI Turbo PQI25400-1GDB

Here's a small tip for those of you who have jumped on the DDR2 bandwagon already, be extremely careful with your DDR2 memory! DRAM modules based on the BGA form factor are very fragile and susceptible to damage. If your DDR RAM comes with heatspreaders preinstalled, it's a very bad idea to try and take them off!

PQI protects their Turbo DIMM's with copper heatspreaders which, as we've tested in the past, do not do much for cooling but work wonders when protecting the memory from physical damage. The chrome or nickel plating on the copper material the heatspreaders are made from smudges quite easily. If you're into case modding you're probably going to want to clean off the fingerprints before you install them into your computer.

The PQI Turbo PQI25400-1GDB is rated to run up to 667 MHz with timings of 4-4-4-12 in a dual channel configuration with 1.8V, although PQI state that the DIMM's should be good up to 2V for overclockers. It should be noted that PQI offers a lifetime warranty with their DDR RAM modules, which should give their users some peace of mind.

In case you're wondering what's under the armor, I'm sad to inform you that we will no longer remove the heatspreaders on DIMM's that use BGA DRAM. If you remember back when we reviewed some Crucial Ballistix PC2-5300 memory, removing the heatspreaders flexed the module enough to crack a solder joint between the BGA DRAM and PCB. It was an expensive mistake to learn!

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Contents of Article: PQI Memory PQI25400-1GDB
 Pg 1.  — PQI Turbo PQI25400-1GDB DDR-2 Memory Review
 Pg 2.  PCStats Test Methodology and Overclocking
 Pg 3.  Benchmarks: Business Winstone 2004, SiSoft Sandra 2004
 Pg 4.  Benchmarks: PCMark2002, PCMark04
 Pg 5.  Benchmarks: 3DMark2001, X2: The Threat
 Pg 6.  Benchmarks: UT2003, UT2004
 Pg 7.  Maximum DDR2 Overclock Speeds, Timings and Conclusions

 
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