OCZ Platinum DDR3-1600 4GB Low Voltage Dual Channel Memory Kit Review

Last week, we received a glimpse of the near future with Intel’s release of the first Core i9 CPU. Though the top end Core i9 won’t generate that much interest, the near future release of the lesser models of the Core i9 will generate a lot of interest in the triple channel X 58 motherboards.

But even with that renewed interest in the massive bandwidth of triple channel systems, it is much more likely that the purchaser of a new Intel enthusiast rig will be buying a Core i7 800 Series, Core i5, or a Core i3 processor, along with a P55, H55, or H57 motherboard, and will need a low voltage dual channel memory kit to go along with them.

The P55 boards have reached memory capabilities of DDR3-2200 with CPU overclocking, but the maximum for most boards without overclocking is DDR3-1600. The i5 600 series processors actually max out at DDR3-1333, but most motherboards will give the capability of DDR3-1600 without CPU overclocking. Keep in mind that though most of us in the PC Hardware website realm generally fall in or near what I call the “extreme enthusiast”, more interested in overclocking, high-end gaming, or just owning powerful rigs…pretty much what you would have considered “an enthusiast” just a few years ago. But the term “enthusiast” has changed, encompassing a large number of new “enthusiasts”…the HTPC crowd, and those with high-end workstations. So rather than purchasing the upper end memory which will generally be purchased by the extreme enthusiast or overclocker, it is more likely that the buyer will get DDR3-1600 or DDR3-1333 memory.

Today I will be looking at OCZ’s Platinum DDR3-1600 Low Voltage Dual Channel 4GB Memory Kit. It sports some tight timings of 7-7-7, and meets Intel’s requirement of doing its thing at a max of 1.65 volts. An has those beautiful platinum-plated OCZ Platinum heatspreaders. Will it live up to the expectations we have for OCZ memory? Read on to see!

Specifications
Series: OCZ Platinum
Part Number: PCZ3P1600LV4GK
Specifications:
Module Type: 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM, unbuffered, non-ECC
Capacity: 4GB (2 x 2GB)
Speed: DDR3-1600 (PC3 12800)
CAS Latency: 7
Timings: 7-7-7-24 (CAS-TRCD-TRP-TRAS)
Vdimm: 1.65v
Heatspreaders: OCZ Z3 XTC platinum layered heatspreaders
Warranty: OCZ Lifetime Limited Warranty
Optimized for Intel P55/Intel Core i7, Intel Core i5

Packaging
The memory is packaged in OCZ’s familiar blue/orange Low Voltage hanging blisterpack. No hermetic sealing here.

OCZ Platinum DDR3-1600 4GB Low Voltage Dual Channel Memory Kit OCZ Platinum DDR3-1600 4GB Low Voltage Dual Channel Memory Kit