Introduction

DDR2 memory is beginning to make inroads into areas of the computing field that a few months ago people said consumers would be hesitant to purchase it for. So what has caused this change to take place? I think for one thing the price has maintained a very reasonable and affordable price point for 1 GB kits thereby making the initial investment not as shocking as some had though it would be. Next up is the fact that the platforms that use the memory have been refined since they were initially released, we are now seeing memory scores that have shown a marked improvement over those from a few months ago.

I also think the wait and see attitude that comes with any new platform is starting to wear thin and people are finding out that with motherboards like the Intel 915 you have the option of switching to an LGA 775 platform almost one step at a time. For example the Gigabyte GA-8I915P Duo-A allows you to chose between DDR or DDR2, or in the case of video you can chose from PCI-E or make use of the GEAR slot and use your older AGP video card.  So with time comes acceptance and as more time passes more and more people will find that DDR2 suites that needs.

About Mushkin Memory

Mushkin Enhanced Memory Systems, based in Denver, Colorado has been operating its memory and components e-commerce site since 1994. It was one of the first "boutique" computer e-stores on the web. Mushkin Enhanced is a complete specialty memory source. Mushkin is a subsidiary of Ramtron International Corporation.

For more information about Mushkin and its products, contact: Communications Department, Mushkin Enhanced Memory Systems, 435 West Colfax Avenue, Denver, Colorado, USA, 80204. Telephone is 800-569-1868; FAX is 303-534-0827. Visit Mushkin at http://www.mushkin.com.

About Ramtron International Corporation

Ramtron develops and markets patented FRAM memories, a new generation of semiconductor memory that combines high-performance and low-power operation with the ability to store data in the absence of power. Due to the product's unique advantages, FRAM memories are expected to revolutionize a variety of electronic consumer and industrial designs. Ramtron also develops and markets ultra-high-performance memory products through its subsidiary, Enhanced Memory Systems, Inc.

For more information about Ramtron and its products, contact: Communications Department, Ramtron International Corporation, 1850 Ramtron Drive, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA, 80921. Telephone is 719-481-7000 or 800-545-FRAM (3726); FAX is 719-481-7058; e-mail address is info@ramtron.com. Homepage is http://www.ramtron.com.

Features

Mushkin's DDR-2 memory is designed for use in the latest generation motherboards. DDR-2 picks up where DDR left off with bandwidth up to 5400 GB/s and plenty of room to grow! These are 240 pin, unbuffered, non-ECC modules. DDR2 consumes 28% less power than first generation DDR allowing for higher clockspeeds and reduced latencies. Includes SPD EEPROM programmed to JEDEC spec latencies of CAS 4-4-4-11.
 

Specifications

• DDR2 533MHz
• 240 pins
• Unbuffered non-ECC
• 1.8-2V
• 64x64 module density
• 32x8 chip density
• Lifetime warranty

Inspection

When our air-filled football arrived from Mushkin two protector sleeves containing the pair of PC2-5300 DDR2 memory were found inside.  In typical Mushkin fashion the use of full length heatspreaders over the memory offer it the maximum amount of safety by drawing any heat that might be generated during overclocking into the aluminum of the spreaders.

Carrying the on the tradition Mushkin embosses each of their heatspreaders with with the company name and who won't when you're as good at making quality memory as these guys are.  You will also notice beneath the company name are the words "Enhanced Memory", meaning this is not Mushkin's stock memory but instead their premium grade memory which ensures you will have many years of trouble-free service from this product.

Looking at the end of the memory stick we can see that the area between the heatspreader and the memory has been purposely filled with frag tape to transfer the maximum amount of heat away as possible. During our testing the heatspreaders did become slightly warm which is a very good indication that the spreaders are doing exactly what they are meant to do.