OCZ unveils PC2-9200 FlexXLC hybrid-cooled memory

Author: Tim Smalley
Published: 21st November 2006
Comments (11) Stumble
OCZ's new FlexXLC modules can be passively cooled or if you're feeling adventurous, you can watercool them too...

OCZ's new FlexXLC modules can be passively cooled or if you're feeling adventurous, you can watercool them too...

OCZ has announced its PC2-9200 FlexXLC line of memory modules, complete with a new hybrid cooling solution.

The new modules are rated at an impressive 1150MHz with 5-5-5-18 timings and a 2.35V supply voltage. This is slighly less than the PC2-10000 we saw Corsair demonstrating at Computex and we're expecting to see retail modules approaching that speed from Corsair soon. For now though, OCZ's PC2-9200 FlexXLC is the world's fastest memory.

The company claims that the fastest DDR2 modules have exceeded the original projections for DDR2's specifications and in order to produce faster memory, manufacturers have had to amend the operating voltages.

Higher operating voltages mean increased power consumption, increased heat dissipation and increased heat density. In order to maintain signal integrity and high performance at higher frequencies, you need to improve the cooling properties of the modules.

In much the same way as Corsair introduced its Dominator modules with the DHX cooling technology for its premium modules, OCZ has introduced a hybrid copper and aluminium design that is alterable between passive air and water cooling. Of course, you're going to get maximum heat dissipation when you're using the optional water cooling system.



Along with the new cooling solution, OCZ says that it has implemented an 8-layer PCB with thermally conductive power and ground planes to guide heat away from the DRAM chip interconnects. According to OCZ, reducing the heat density around the DRAM interconnects on the PCB facilitates less crosstalk and thus increases the module's signal integrity.

There is no information regarding pricing and availability just yet, but we expect them to cost at least as much as Corsair's PC2-8888 Dominator modules.
Quote DougEdey 21st November 2006, 10:40
Whats the signal integrity like on current DDR modules? (Or any RAM for that matter)

I know the principles behind data problems (did some for Principles of Computing) but is it a significant amount on existing modules?
Quote Tim S 21st November 2006, 11:21
There's that unwritten bit of marketing in anything like this, but DDR2 speed increases have slowed considerably since the initial launch - a bit like the way that DDR got to 550MHz quite quickly, but then didn't go much further. With that said though, I don't think that any of the memory manufacturers would disclose signal integrity details outright, but if two have said that they need to improve cooling to increase speeds, I'd say that the problem is starting to become a problem.

Implementation at 1100-1150MHz suggests that the problems will start to become apparent above 1200MHz.
Quote DXR_13KE 21st November 2006, 11:57
isn't this a little overkill? how much heat can these things make?
Quote DougEdey 21st November 2006, 12:01
That would make a lot more sense, since the current drawn by a stick of RAM can't be a lot. so the only way for signal loss to become apparent would be by inducing current by high frequency.

Micron lists their current draw as 3mA to 4mA
Quote mikeuk2004 21st November 2006, 12:14
PC's are turning into high powered cookers. The future brings 10k watt power supplies and desktop pc's with intergrated hobs and oven :p
Quote rupbert 21st November 2006, 13:25
Quote:
Originally Posted by DXR_13KE
isn't this a little overkill? how much heat can these things make?

You'd be surprised, my Crucial Ballisitx are only slightly over-clocked and after an hour or so of gaming they are so hot you can't hold them for long.
Quote Sathy 21st November 2006, 13:47
Anyone else notice that the "perfectly aligned fin design" won't exactly work all that perfect unless you have your motherboard lying flat - which won't happen in most cases (pun). And boy are they ugly!
Quote Mother-Goose 21st November 2006, 14:38
This seems to be gettin pretty nuts for water cooling. Quite a few people (the people who would buy this ram) will have 2 loops, one for gfx and one for CPU right? So now they would need a 3rd (for maximum effectiveness) to cool their ram?

This is getting obscene (and obscenely expensive) don't you agree?

Also, what kinda rig would require ram at this speed?
Quote Kipman725 21st November 2006, 17:16
yelids of ram chips that can run that fast are very poor so I wouldn't expect to see any much faster than this untill DDR3 or whatever is next.
Quote Marquee 21st November 2006, 17:43
I have been waiting for RAM that has a sleek and smaller RAM block for water cooling.
Quote HourBeforeDawn 21st November 2006, 20:18
nice, I like this as an option for sure instead of having to buy like Ramplex for liquid cooling and its a nice combo with the heat fins. Hope to see more of this design or if anything hope that OCZ will offer a stand alone of this hybrid cooler to attach to existing memory ^^
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