DDR2 & DDR3 Memory Roundup: Corsair, Patriot, GeIL, Elixir

Written by Dimitar Dinchev a.k.a. Veseliq

Sunday, 26 July 2009

 

Page 15 - Closer look and Conclusion on Elixir (Nanya) 2x2GB DDR2 1066MHz

It is highly likely that you've already heard Elixir. The company behind them though is non other than Nanya, and them being one of the biggest memory chip manufacturers worldwide you can find their OEM chips in brand name computers, notebooks and servers. While, Elixir on the other hand is a retail brand. Some time ago there was a regular import channel for Elixir modules, but nowadays they're hard to locate. A fast Google search showed that some online stores do have some Elixir modules, but nothing in the class of those we're reviewing.

Though modules we received from Nanya are from their "gaming" line, there are few things distinguishing Elixir from other "gaming" modules, that we must point out. First of all this is NOT a dual channel kit. Modules are sold separately. We got two of them in order to run tests in dual channel mode with a Core 2 processor. This to some extent is an advantage - you can get a single module fr your single slot Mini-ITX motherboard for example, though technically dual channel memory kits are tested in pairs to assure that they work fine. We believe that to be irrelevant. The second thing we should point out is the price. Elixir are rather budget oriented and unlike most other 1066MHz 2GB modules, these have nice price.

Modules works on referent 1.8V and have no radiators, still in our tests they were used at 2V too and since no issues with cooling have been witnessed, we cannot say that's a flaw. At 1066MHz though, is with 6-6-6 timings which is higher than other 1066MHz modules that usually run at 5-5-5 (thus being faster).

So, naturally, we overclocked. As whole that Elixir kit did not overclock much. You get what you paid for, mostly. The modules did not run with 5-5-5 timings at 1066MHz, but they ran at 1111MHz with 6-6-6. Still, difference in performance is insignificant.

Conclusion

Pros:

• High frequency
• Very cheap
• Modules sold separately, not in kits

Cons:

• At the current price and performance, the timings (6-6-6) and lack of radiators are somewhat of disadvantage, not huge but disadvantage nevertheless

As you can probably tell, we liked Nanya Elixir DDR2 1066MHz very much. Modules are cheap, stable and thanks to their volume and high frequency they dash swell performance in games. Availability in Bulgaria is questionable at best, not to mention that the DDR2 era is going steadily to its end. And that's that.

Many thanks to Nanya (Elixir Memory) for supplying the test modules.