Mushkin 1GB HP3200

For our first Mushkin review, we will be taking one of their value kits for a spin. The HP3200 (991433) rolls in at PC3200 speeds as the name implies, and 2-3-3-6 timings, at a modest 2.6v. These modules use Mosel SAT-5B chips, so we immediately know that overclocking these babies may not be a huge possibility, but we can't conclude until we try! Let's first take a look at the packaging and the modules themselves.

The modules arrived in a clear blister pack that are oh so popular these days. Mushkins blister pack keeps the modules somewhat safer than most though, because each side has a is slightly melted together so that the pack stays closed until you need to open it. Because the package is not that clear, it doesn't really do the modules justice. Once they are taken out of the package, they look great.

 

The heatspreaders on these modules are not as snazzy as some other Mushkin products, but the color won me over. I love this color blue, and if it was glossier.. whoo wee Instead of an embossed logo, the value modules have is printed with colored ink. What is great about these heatspreaders though, is the design. The top of the heatspreader has 'hoops' that arise above the modules themselves to help dissipate heat better. Many memory manufactuers close off the top of the modules so air can't really escape, but this way makes sense.

Because of the design and material that the heatspreader is made of, the modules overall are very light and should prove easy to cool with any sort of active cooling. You'll notice from the sticker on the modules that the timings are 2-3-3, but it doesn't include the tras. CPU-Z detected the default tras to be 6, and that's how I concluded the correct speeds to set in the BIOS.

Ok, well since these modules use Mosel chips, I knew I had a better chance of winning the lottery than actually finding success in overclocking these. I don't even play the lottery! At any rate though, I was definitely up for the challenge and looked forward to seeing if I could squeeze any extra performance out of them.

 

After running an 8 hours session of MemTest 1.60 at default speeds, no errors were brought about so the fun of overclocking could begin. One thing I quickly found out, was that lowering the trcp and trp to 2 was not going to happen. At default speeds, I tried to run 2-2-2 as opposed to 2-3-3 between 2.6 and 3.2v and the computer would simply not get past POST. Max overclock I could hit at default timings was 210, or DDR420 speeds.