BlueSmoke - Review : PMI 3200-512DG Turbo Memory Dual-channel Kit

		Date	: Jun 7th, 2004
		Category	: Memory
		Manufacturer	: Power Memory International
		Author	: Jin-Wei Tioh

The name Power Memory International is probably unbeknownst to most computer enthusiasts, including us folks at BlueSmoke. However, PMI is actually a pretty established OEM, producing DRAM modules and IC components since the early 90s. Their product line includes desktop, notebook and CMTL-certified server memory as well as their newly announced line of "Turbo Memory."

With the growing market for performance memory modules, this is PMI's attempt to put more established retail brand names out to pasture. As illustrated in the following table, PMI is making an honest-to-goodness effort at doing just that, from memory rated at DDR333 all the way to a staggering DDR566! These are offered in both single and dual-channel kits.

DDR566 PC-4500 Dual-Channel Series Part Number Size Latency Heat Spreader PMI4500-512DG 512MB 3-4-4-8 Gold     Part Number Size Latency Heat Spreader PMI4500-512DP 512MB 3-4-4-8 Platinum DDR550 PC-4400 Dual-Channel Series Part Number Size Latency Heat Spreader PMI4400-1024DG PMI4400-512DG 1024MB 512MB 3-4-4-8 3-4-4-8 Gold Gold     Part Number Size Latency Heat Spreader PMI4400-1024DP PMI4400-512DP 1024MB 512MB 3-4-4-8 3-4-4-8 Platinum Platinum DDR533 PC-4200 Dual-Channel Series Part Number Size Latency Heat Spreader PMI4200-1024DG PMI4200-512DG 1024MB 512MB 3-4-4-8 3-4-4-8 Gold Gold     Part Number Size Latency Heat Spreader PMI4200-1024DP PMI4200-512DP 1024MB 512MB 3-4-4-8 3-4-4-8 Platinum Platinum DDR500 PC-4000 Dual-Channel Series Part Number Size Latency Heat Spreader PMI4000-1024DG PMI4000-512DG 1024MB 512MB 3-4-4-8 3-4-4-8 Gold Gold     Part Number Size Latency Heat Spreader PMI4000-1024DP PMI4000-512DP 1024MB 512MB 3-4-4-8 3-4-4-8 Platinum Platinum DDR466 PC-3700 Dual-Channel Series Part Number Size Latency Heat Spreader PMI3700-1024DG PMI3700-512DG 1024MB 512MB 3-4-4-8 3-4-4-8 Gold Gold     Part Number Size Latency Heat Spreader PMI3700-1024DP PMI3700-512DP 1024MB 512MB 3-4-4-8 3-4-4-8 Platinum Platinum DDR433 PC-3500 Dual-Channel Series Part Number Size Latency Heat Spreader PMI3500-1024DG PMI3500-512DG PMI3500-1024DGH PMI3500-512DGH 1024MB 512MB 1024MB 512MB 2-3-3-7 2-3-3-7 2.5-3-3-7 2.5-3-3-7 Gold Gold Gold Gold     Part Number Size Latency Heat Spreader PMI3500-1024DP PMI3500-512DP PMI3500-1024DPH PMI3500-512DPH 1024MB 512MB 1024MB 512MB 2-3-3-7 2-3-3-7 2.5-3-3-7 2.5-3-3-7 Platinum Platinum Platinum Platinum DDR400 PC-3200 Dual-Channel Series Part Number Size Latency Heat Spreader PMI3200-2048DGR PMI3200-2048DG PMI3200-1024DGL PMI3200-1024DG PMI3200-1024DGH PMI3200-512DGL PMI3200-512DG PMI3200-512DGH 2048MB 2048MB 1024MB 1024MB 1024MB 512MB 512MB 512MB 3-3-3-8 3-4-4-8 2-3-2-6 2-3-3-6 2.5-3-3-7 2-3-2-6 2-3-3-6 2.5-3-3-7 Gold Gold Gold Gold Gold Gold Gold Gold     Part Number Size Latency Heat Spreader PMI3200-2048DPR PMI3200-2048DP PMI3200-1024DPL PMI3200-1024DP PMI3200-1024DPH PMI3200-512DPL PMI3200-512DP PMI3200-512DPH 2048MB 2048MB 1024MB 1024MB 1024MB 512MB 512MB 512MB 3-3-3-8 3-4-4-8 2-3-2-6 2-3-3-6 2.5-3-3-7 2-3-2-6 2-3-3-6 2.5-3-3-7 Platinum Platinum Platinum Platinum Platinum Platinum Platinum Platinum DDR333 PC-2700 Dual-Channel Series Part Number Size Latency Heat Spreader PMI2700-1024DGL PMI2700-512DGL 1024MB 512MB 2-2-2-5 2-2-2-5 Gold Gold     Part Number Size Latency Heat Spreader PMI2700-1024DPL PMI2700-512DPL 1024MB 512MB 2-2-2-5 2-2-2-5 Platinum Platinum

The PMI3200-512DG is a 512MB dual-channel DDR400 gold kit rated at 2-3-3-6 (CAS-tRCD-tRP-tRAS) and 2.6V. PMI knows that bling bling is definitely a factor in purchasing decisions, adorning the two 256MB modules with an attractive and catchy gold heatspreader design with a raised PMI logo in the middle. The package insert provides adequate protection and the kit comes with PMI's lifetime warranty. Finally, the speed rating, part number and appropriate memory timings are affixed to both the package insert and the individual modules.

Being a dual-channel kit, PMI is clearly targeting the Intel user as the performance gains on the AthlonXP platform aren't nearly as great. The PMI DDR400 was tested at DDR400, DDR433 and the highest stable overclock speeds.

Basic stability was first tested using Memtest86 v3.1. If any memory errors are detected, the memory timings, speed, voltage or some combination therein are adjusted. Once eight Memtest86 passes are successfully completed, the stability results are confirmed by performing 3 passes of makeworld -j4s under FreeBSD 4.9. Finally, performance results are obtained via SiSoft Sandra 2004's unbuffered memory test.

Delivering on the promise is a trial by fire for any new name in performance memory. The PMI3200-512DG is honestly rated and performs with the utmost stability at its rated speed and timings. It even has quite a bit headroom, being able to run reliably at either lower latencies (DDR400 2-3-2-5 @ 2.8V) or higher speeds (DDR433 2-3-2-5 @ 2.8V). The maximum speed we were able to achieve was DDR440 (3-4-3-8) at 2.8V and a 1T command rate. While falling short of what the legendary Winbond BH5 chips could achieve, this is still a pretty solid overclock.

Thus far, the PMI3200-512DG has shown itself to be no slouch when it comes to performance. At its rated speed and timings, the PMI3200 turned in great numbers with rock solid stability. While not offering quite the same amount of headroom as some other modules, it still manages to run very well at DDR433 with 2-3-3-6 timings, albeit at 2.8V. Seeing that the SPD data puts the DDR400 timing at 2.5-3-3-8, we can only conclude that PMI has chosen to rate their memory a little more aggressively than the competition.

Bearing that in mind, PMI really did their homework before entering the fray. The PMI3200-512DG is a very competitive product in the market by virtue of its aggressive pricing, selling for around $15 less than comparable products from the likes of Mushkin, OCZ and Corsair. Coupled with its lifetime warranty and polished finish, we would have a hard time not recommending that you give PMI some serious consideration. Recommended!