Overclocking, The Natural Way
Lately we have not reviewed too many system memory modules due to the lack of innovation in this industry that affects the end-user and the miniscule performance differences between similar RAM modules. Late last year OCZ Technology had announced they took their Xtreme Thermal Convection (XTC) memory heatspreader design a step further and branded it the Xtreme Liquid Convection (XLC) heatsink. Coming in contact with the RAM ICs is aluminum on both sides, while on top of that is an array of fins. Optionally, you can throw these memory heatspreaders into your water-cooling loop. With the copper liquid injection system, water is able to flow through the heatspreaders right below the series of fins. This memory water-cooling concept is not new as both Koolance and Thermaltake, but OCZ's product is unique in its design and that it is integrated with the retail package.
The OCZ XLC memory modules we used are not only attention grabbing for their heatspreaders, but using the Micron D9 memory chips they are able to run at DDR2-1150MHz with 5-5-5-18 timings. On top of the PC2-9200 DDR2-1150 kit, OCZ Technology also offers a PC2-6400 DDR2-800 version.
· 1150MHz DDR2
· CL 5-5-5-18
· 2 x 1024MB Dual Channel Kit
· Unbuffered
· OCZ Lifetime Warranty
· 2.35 Volts
· 240-pin DDR2 DIMM
· 2 x 1/4" ID barbs
· Flex XLC Heatsink
· 8-Layer PCB
· 2.4V EVP
The design of the Flex XLC heatspreaders are certainly interesting and pack a lot of potential whether you're using water or air cooling, but we'll reserve final word on its performance till we share how well it handled the Michigan winter. The barbs for the water-cooling portion have an inner diameter of a quarter-inch, but no clamps or other securing mechanisms are included with the memory modules. OCZ's Flex XLC heatspreaders are similar to Corsair's Dominator modules except for the option of water-cooling. Below this cooling contraption, however, is a new 8-layer PCB design along with Micron D9 memory chips that were specially binned. OCZ Technology backs the Flex XLC memory with a lifetime warranty and supports up to 2.40V with the memory before voiding its warranty. Due to the ambient temperature, the OCZ Flex XLC memory was not tested with any water cooling system in this experiment.