Kingmax Mars DDR2-667 KLCC28F-A8EB5

Examination:

One of the many known traits to generally distinguish between budget or value RAM and enthusiast/high-performance memory is the adoption of heatspreaders. Memory heatspreaders on DDR/DDR2 don't serve a useful purpose as all heat output is focused evenly across all ICs where as with RDRAM all activity could be centered on one RAM IC at a time so the heatspreaders would largely even out the heat. Memory manufacturers, however, continue to utilize heatspreaders largely to improve the aesthetics of the memory modules. On the other hand, Kingmax has taken the bare approach to covering the RAM and it shouldn't come at a cost of a compromise in overclocking ability as long as there's sufficient airflow. The memory ICs used on the Kingmax Mars DDR2-667 are Elpida E5108AE-6E-E with a data-code of 052009324. Decoding the Elpida part number, the ICs call for a standard DDR2 1.8V and are rated for DDR2-667 at 5-5-5. Although Elpida has the memory rated for 5-5-5, and Kingmax has them SPD programmed to run at 5-5-5 (CL-tRCD-tRP), we'll see later on just how low they can really go.

As the Elpida chips are in a 64MB x 8 package, the Kingmax DDR2-667 512MB modules are single-sided. To help in the reduction of DIMM counterfeiting Kingmax has added a red ASIC decoder chip to the middle of its modules. It’s what the Kingmax representative referred to as the “anti-fake” chip. This decoder chip uses Kingmax's TinyBGA "color compound" packaging technology. TinyBGA Technology allows for a smaller package size, better heat dissipation, and maximum speed performance. Unlike previous Kingmax modules that used red and different colored PCBs, the Kingmax KLCC28F-A8EB5 sticks continue to use the traditional green coloring.