OCZ 2GB Flex XLC PC2-9200

Here, we compare our overclocks of the memory being reviewed alongside other recently evaluated sticks. These graphs include benchmarks with each kit of ram at DDR2-1000 4-4-4-12-13 2.1v along with each kits own top overclock. While the DDR2-1000 results should not vary much, the top end overclocks will, given that each kit will top out differently.

For reference, here are the top overclocks for each kit of ram included:

• OCZ Flex XLC PC2-9200 – 625MHz 5-5-5-18-16 2.5v (2.81GHz CPU)
• Corsair Dominator PC2-9136 – 635MHz 5-5-5-18-16 2.5v (2.85GHz CPU)
• OCZ Ti Alpha VX2 PC2-8000 – 620MHz 5-5-5-18-13 2.5v (2.79GHz CPU)
• OCZ DFI Special PC2-9000 – 615MHz 5-5-5-18-13 2.5v (2.76GHz CPU)

Additional kits will be included as time passes. I had other kits on hand, such as Kingstons HyperX PC2-8000, but they did not give realistic results. I assume they are not fully compatible with the 680i motherboard.

In our first comparison chart, only the top overclocks of each kit were used. No surprises here. Corsairs Dominator inched over the Flex, thanks to the slightly higher CPU frequency.

Once again, aided by higher frequencies, the Flex falls behind the Dominator, by 1.1ns.

Equipped with our 2812MHz CPU and 625MHz memory, we crunched 8 million Pi digits in 3:37.

In the end, the 9200 Flex is one impressive kit of memory. Although it didn’t keep up to the previously reviewed Dominator with the same voltage, it was very close. I mentioned in the overclocking section that there is more headroom available to those who are willing to use additional voltage. The eVGA 680i is one of the best motherboards I’ve used in recent years, but the lack of “extreme” vdimm capabilities is one of the only things that holds it back. Using upwards of 2.7v should deliver some amazing results.

If there are any immediate downsides to this memory, it’s that it costs more than Corsairs 9136 kits at every e-tailer I checked, by about $20 – $30. However, this is the premium you are paying for their exclusive Flex XLC spreader. If you are a water cooling enthusiast, paying $30 for good blocks is usually something to get excited over. So in that respect, they are priced right. The benefit here though, is if you -do- choose to hook them up to water, you could essentially be one step closer to a completely silent PC. Although I didn’t have the opportunity to connect them to my water cooling, others who have seem to be quite pleased with both temperature and overclocking performance.

I am awarding the OCZ Flex an 8 out of 10 with our Editors Choice award. Although pricey, it’s the only kit on the market to include support for watercooling out of the box, not to mention at the extremely fast 575MHz frequencies. If you are looking to go big without killing a warranty, these are modules you should be considering. I just hope in the future to see revisions made to support larger tubing, as sticking to 1/4" might exclude a fair amount of the audience.

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