OCZ Platinum PC3-12800 2GB Memory Kit Review

Founded in 2000, OCZ Technologies has fashioned a stellar reputation in the enthusiast community, one which started off as being synonymous with high quality performance memory. Since that time, OCZ has taken the computer world by storm, branching out with flash media, cooling, power supplies (both OCZ branded and, more recently, PC Power & Cooling), videocards, and even full blown boutique systems (HyperSonic). But for as much as they've grown, OCZ hasn't forgotten their roots, as they continue to blaze a trail when it comes to cutting edge memory kits. And that's good news as DDR3 struggles to burst into the mainstream market.

Just as DDR2 went through a maturation process, DDR3 is finally beginning to realize its promise. And with kits from the top contenders already pushing the 2GHz barrier, those looking (and who can afford) to make the jump from DDR2 to DDR3 are taking notice. Up to this point, many scoffed at the idea of spending several hundred dollars "upgrading" to a DDR3 based system, and for good reason. DDR2  compatible motherboards based on INTEL's P35 or NVIDIA's 680i have, for the most part, served their masters well. Coupled with the retail pricing landslide that's grabbed hold of DDR2 chips in recent months, yesterday's builds have clung to life longer than many in the industry could have predicted, or hoped.

But Bob Dylan was onto something when he sung The Times, They Are A-Changin'. Up to this point DDR3 support has been limited to INTEL's P35 and X38 chipsets, both of which are officially limited to 1333MHz support (some boards support in excess of  DDR3-1600 when overclocking). However, as enthusiast motherboard makers such as ASUS unleash extreme boards like the Maximus Extreme ROG (ASUS's Republic Of Gamers), and as INTEL's X48 and NVIDIA's 790i based boards finally make their long anticipated appearance, motherboards featuring 1600 to 2000MHz memory speeds are fast becoming the standard for those wanting to push the envelope.

Never a company to miss an opportunity, OCZ has already released not one, but FIVE kits of its enthusiast memory clocked at 1600MHz out of the box. Today we'll look at arguably the best kit of the bunch, the OCZ Platinum PC3-12800 2GB Memory Kit (OCZ3P1600EB2GK), mixing 7-6-6-24 latencies with an affordable $250 price tag.