1.8v DDR2 800 (PC6400) seems rare?

[Davej]

With many motherboards recommending 1.8V memory, why does it seem so
rare? Almost all PC6400 memory seems to be 1.9V or higher...

 

[Paul]

With many motherboards recommending 1.8V memory, why does it seem so
rare? Almost all PC6400 memory seems to be 1.9V or higher...

There are 20 products here that are DDR2-800 and mention 1.8V.
Naturally, you'd want to select one that says just "1.8V" and
does not fudge the spec by saying "1.8-2.0V" or the like.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...80+1052416064&Subcategory=147&srchInDesc=1.8v

*******
Say I want to make modules in my basement. I think up a name
for my company, register it locally, and I'm all set.

So, I open the doors on my new memory company "Frink Ass Memory".

It's Monday morning. How can I make money ?

I could go to the Big Boys, and buy tested memory chips. I just took
a look, and many of the majors (Samsung, Micron, Elpida...) will
sell me tested memory. It would do DDR2-800 5-5-5 at 1.8V. But
the price seems kinda high. When I look at the margin I can make,
something occurs to me. Almost all my competitors can beat me on
price!

So I go to the back door of the memory factory. I say to the man,
"Give me some memory. If you will give me untested chips, just a black
chip with no label on it, I'll give you 85 cents on the dollar for
them". The man says yes, because part of his cost to make the chips,
is testing them. I go home with a dump truck full of untested memory.

I place the memory chips on my brand new tester. Hmmm. When I test
them, only 85% of them are passing. I'm not saving any money. Damn.
But then I spot the voltage knob on the machine. I turn up the
voltage...

Voila! Now 93% of the chips are passing. I can solder them on my
modules and save a little money. Suddenly, I'm competitive with some
of the smaller enthusiast suppliers.

So, all I have to do, is write "2.0V" on my advertising copy,
and nobody is the wiser. They'll never catch me... Quality is
Job 1 at "Frink Ass Memory"...
*******

Just a little sarcasm at the expense of the memory industry.

With heat spreaders on modules, it is easy to put unlabelled (blank)
memory chips on a module. Or stamp anything I bloody well please on
ths smooth blank finish. And you void the warranty if you remove
the spreader. What better reason to install spreaders.

Good luck in yous search for an honest memory maker.

If all the majors memory chip makers offer datasheets for memory chips,
that say DDR2-800 5-5-5 1.8V is possible, why aren't 80% of the modules
rated that way ? Something smells a little fishy. I can understand if
a supplier is trying to offer some 3-3-3 memory, but not 5-5-5 or
slower.

Paul

 

[Davej]

There are 20 products here that are DDR2-800 and mention 1.8V.
Naturally, you'd want to select one that says just "1.8V" and
does not fudge the spec by saying "1.8-2.0V" or the like.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...80+1052416064&Subcategory=147&srchInDesc=1.8v

*******
Say I want to make modules in my basement. I think up a name
for my company, register it locally, and I'm all set.

So, I open the doors on my new memory company "Frink Ass Memory".

It's Monday morning. How can I make money ?

I could go to the Big Boys, and buy tested memory chips. I just took
a look, and many of the majors (Samsung, Micron, Elpida...) will
sell me tested memory. It would do DDR2-800 5-5-5 at 1.8V. But
the price seems kinda high. When I look at the margin I can make,
something occurs to me. Almost all my competitors can beat me on
price!

So I go to the back door of the memory factory. I say to the man,
"Give me some memory. If you will give me untested chips, just a black
chip with no label on it, I'll give you 85 cents on the dollar for
them". The man says yes, because part of his cost to make the chips,
is testing them. I go home with a dump truck full of untested memory.

I place the memory chips on my brand new tester. Hmmm. When I test
them, only 85% of them are passing. I'm not saving any money. Damn.
But then I spot the voltage knob on the machine. I turn up the
voltage...

Voila! Now 93% of the chips are passing. I can solder them on my
modules and save a little money. Suddenly, I'm competitive with some
of the smaller enthusiast suppliers.

So, all I have to do, is write "2.0V" on my advertising copy,
and nobody is the wiser. They'll never catch me... Quality is
Job 1 at "Frink Ass Memory"...
*******

Just a little sarcasm at the expense of the memory industry.

With heat spreaders on modules, it is easy to put unlabelled (blank)
memory chips on a module. Or stamp anything I bloody well please on
ths smooth blank finish. And you void the warranty if you remove
the spreader. What better reason to install spreaders.

Good luck in yous search for an honest memory maker.

If all the majors memory chip makers offer datasheets for memory chips,
that say DDR2-800 5-5-5 1.8V is possible, why aren't 80% of the modules
rated that way ? Something smells a little fishy. I can understand if
a supplier is trying to offer some 3-3-3 memory, but not 5-5-5 or
slower.

Paul

Well, if you limit the search to 1.8V there are very few listed. I
ordered the A-Data 1.8V but there isn't much good said about A-Data
products, and the timing is 5-5-5-18 so I don't know what the 18 means.
People seems to be recommending memory based on the brand name rather
than the voltage spec. Thanks.

 

[Paul]

Well, if you limit the search to 1.8V there are very few listed. I
ordered the A-Data 1.8V but there isn't much good said about A-Data
products, and the timing is 5-5-5-18 so I don't know what the 18 means.
People seems to be recommending memory based on the brand name rather
than the voltage spec. Thanks.

The importance of the timing specs is roughly left to right. So the
18 is not a big factor. The first 5 for CAS is supposed to have the
most impact on performance, as it affects first cycle latency.

This stuff claims to meet timing at JEDEC voltage.
http://www.valueram.com/datasheets/KHX6400D2_1G.pdf

This stuff too, although the prices are terrible.
http://www.crucial.com/store/partspecs.aspx?imodule=CT2KIT12864AA80E

Maybe the problem is a shortage of good chips at DDR2-800 speeds ?
I suppose this is not helping.

http://www.digitimes.com/510.asp

"DRAM inventory drops to below five days

Memory | Jan 9, 21:38
PC OEMs are now worried about whether they can secure enough DRAM
for upcoming shipments, as current inventory levels have fallen to
3-5 days on persistent strong demand, according to sources."

Maybe selecting some speed other than DDR2-800 is the answer.

Paul