Mushkin recently announced the availability of HP3-10666 DDR3 modules available in 1GB single DIMMs and 2GB dual-channel kits. DDR3 has seen a low take up with enthusiasts reluctant to jump ship from current high end DDR2 offerings. It isn't stopping manufacturers churning out new DDR3 lineups and clearly the future lies with this new memory spec.

The new Mushkin memory sports 6-7-6-18 latencies, designed to give high-bandwidth, low-latency performance for current and future 3D gaming platforms.

Lower latency and high-bandwidth translates into better benchmark scores and increased frames per second during 3D gaming. The HP3-10666 modules will become available worldwide in the next few weeks in 1GB single modules and 2GB (2 x 1GB) dual-channel kits through Mushkin.com and its authorized resellers. Every module is hand-tested beyond its rated specification and features Mushkin’s FrostByte heatspreader technology which keeps the modules within safe operating temperatures. Like all Mushkin products, the HP3-10666 modules are backed by a lifetime warranty and an industry-leading technical support staff.

Digg those new heatspreaders too. Check out the Mushkin website for more details. 

Every now and then you are faced with the same question: how much RAM is enough RAM? So many months after the last Windows upgrade, it was thought that many people would have switched by now and that they would need more memory. In fact, memory manufacturers were counting on Microsoft sales to raise demand, and are now left with an overstock of modules. That's why prices are so ridiculously low right now.

Vista is some memory eater, but aren't 2 Gigabytes enough? Legion Hardware gives their answer, but if you ask me you will get a different one. Based solely on the data they provide, I see no justification for making the jump. If you have less than 2 Gb... that's another question, but the speed increase you get from buying 2 additional Gigabytes is really small. Programs and archives will load/unload faster and menu responsiveness will be better, but if you have no other option than to throw away your existing RAM, it doesn't look like a very good reason.

One more thing, remember you need the 64-bit version of the OS to take advantage of those 4 Gigas, and we all know how inconvinient WHQL can be in that case. So: no, 2 Gigabytes aren't too little (yet). And it's actually a pitty, because prices are soooo low.

One of the most talked about features of Windows Vista is it's new ReadyBoost technology, wich is supposed to improve memory performance trough the aid of USB cards and sticks. Or that's the theory, because not a single test in any article published to date shows any significant improvement.

The fisrt most common problem encountered is inVista's own benchmark, that specifies that a rate of 2.5MB/s, when reading random 4KB data blocks, and a data-transfer rate of 1.75MB/s, when writing 512KB data blocks, must be met for the drive to be used. It may not look like much, but most devices fail here already.

X-bit labs has found in Sandisk's latest (and more expensive) Extreme IV Compact Flash Card, a true champion that's capable of exceeding Microsoft's expectations. This is particulary so, when pairing the card with the Extreme FireWire reader. That tandem almost delivers the manufacturer's claim of 40Mb/s sequential read and write speeds. Not nearly enough to really help if your system has enough RAM, but a healthy side effect from and otherwise fast memory card.

The race continues.

Micron Z9 chips have definetely inherited the crown that was rightly given to it's DDR2 predecessor. If Samsung is unable to deliver TCCD-class chips, this will be the second time in a row that Micron gets the upper hand, and we all know that lack of competition isn't a good thing. Right now, the only DRAM manufacturer that's giving them some sweat is Elpida, but they aren't getting so close as Samsung did in it's day. The first consequence is high prices: $648 for the kit Anandtech has tested. Usually, as DDR3 becomes mainstream, this price should go down... but then, there's the law of demand and supply. That's not to say it will stay at those levels, it won't, but maybe it will take longer for prices to drop and it will stop dropping earlier.

More news from Computex. Team Group, that we recently reported to be using Thermalright heatspreaders, is using them again, this time to cool DDR3.

It's not clear if the new Team Xtreme TXD3102-4M2000HC9 is a 1GB DDR3 module (rated at 2000MHz) or a 2GB memory kit they managed to qualify up to 2100MHz on the ASUS P5K3-Deluxe. You can go check Anandtech words to solve the riddle. In any case, the modules feature 9-9-9-20 timings at 1.90V~2.1V (DDR3 memory voltage is 1.5V).

Last month the 2000Mhz mark was reached, and we are already seeing products rated at that speed. Micron's new 8x128 ICs surely seem to be living up to the expectations raised by it's DDR2 predecessor (Micron D9 chips). The only difference is that DDR3 is still in it's infancy while DDR2 needed some time to get there. What else will follow?

The heat-spreader competition among memory manufacturers really began with Corsair's original DHX for their Dominator series. Not long after that, OCZ Technology released their Flex XLC and Reaper memory modules. Other companies have relied on old fashioned desings (A-Data, Kingston...) but, in the end, to be at the top of the performance curve, you need something better. Different high-speed memory kits for overclockers have become very similar to one another, because all of them use the same Micron chips. The only thing you can actually do to obtain the last hundred megahertz is upping the voltage; and you won't want to do that unless you pair your memory with really effective cooling desings.

Team Group also wants a piece of this cake, and they should. Being one of the bigger Micron D9 buyers, it was high time they did something better than to sell them with paltry aluminium "stickers". They had the chips, they had the PCB, now they needed the looks, the marketing and the edge.

If you read the list of common features for Team Xtreem memory kits, you will notice they offer a lifetime warranty even with a nominal voltage between 2.35 and 2.45V. And all that thanks to the cooling system: the Thermalright HR-07. Instead of developing their own heat-spreader, Team Group Inc. sought help by a third-party cooler designer.

Xbitlabs has tested a couple of memory kits from them, only to confirm that, no matter what the features list says, if you have D9 chips, and give them the same amount of power, they will perform the same.

On June 5th, Kingston will announce KHX11000D3llK2/2G. A two gigabyte dual channel memory kit that runs at 1375 With 7-7-7 timings. Anandtech has something to say:

"If these numbers still seem high to you, you need to back up a bit for a larger perspective. While lower speed DDR2 can have latencies as fast as 3, DDR3 starts at 800 and the boards we have seen only allow CAS latencies as low as 5. [...] Keep in mind that the actual latency in nanoseconds is what really matters, so while the number of memory cycles from DDR2-533 CL3 through DD2-667 CL4, DDR2/3-800 CL5, DDR3-1067 CL7, and DDR3-1333 CL9 increases, the actual latency in ns only ranges from 11.25ns (DDR2-533 CL3) to a maximum of 13.5ns (DDR3-1333 CL9). While CL7 may sound like a high latency, achieving that with 1333 MHz memory is actually results in a time latency of 10.5ns, and of course that's with much higher bandwidth than some of the other memory speeds."

While most computer enthusiasts might think of other companies when it comes to high-end memory, being number one means you can be first to market with new technology.

It sure is some serious RAM, but far away from what people is reaching with Micron chips, and at $518 I would think twice about buying one. You better keep that money in your wallet a little bit longer. Unlike it was in the launch of DDR2, lower latency DDR3 hasn't waited months to appear and it has much room to improve yet.

But if you just can't wait, know that you can make those DIMMs work at 7-7-7 up to 1500 speed with a modest voltage increase.

High end processors demand some high end components to really fly. There's no point forking out a small fortune on the latest Intel or AMD monster processor and hooking it up with some average DDR2 memory. What you need is some real high speed modules to balance your system and reduce any potential bottleneck between the processor and data. Enter A-DATA's brand new 1200+ line of extreme edition DDR2. We think
they are a cracking choice for Core 2 Duo overclocking.

In order to cope with the introduction of high-end processors such as Core 2 Extreme QX6850 and Athlon 64 FX-62, and to meet the basic appeal of matching FSB, HT (Hypertransport) with the Memory Bus, A-DATA Technology has successfully achieved the next stage of DDR2 1066, and has introduced the amazing DDR2 1200+, enabling the Extreme Edition series to achieve unprecedented high efficiency.

When clock frequency has been upgraded to the DDR2 1200, the bandwidth has also been enhanced to 9.6GB/Sec. Compared with the current mainstream DDR2 800, there is 50% growth (6.4GB/Sec vs 8.5GB.Sec). A-DATA insists on quality, its DDR2 1200+ memory module product adopts 64 x 8 original BGA chips. The highest capacity is 1GB, thus generating a new capacity level for the operation platform

Yesterday we saw this psychological line crossed. And that was yesterday, because today (23 May 2007) the bar has been raised even higher: 2200 Mhz!

You can go to CPUZ Validator Database and see it with your own eyes. If you do, take the opportunity to check that it has not been broken again.

With the aid of a Gigabyte P35 board and some Micron DDR3 here is the main data:

RAM Freq : 1100 MHz
RAM Type : DDR3-SDRAM Single Channel
RAM Ratio : 1:2
RAM Timings : 10-10-10-24

Yes, timings suck, and they give no clue as to what voltages were fed into the system. Nevertheless, the Gigabyte P35-DQ6 is looking really good, and some memory that can go from a rated 1066 to 2200 is nothing to snuff at. When will all that firepower get into our hands?